The Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony
The Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony provides you with the perfect opportunity to watch blue penguins as they return from a busy day at sea. You will see them arrive on the beach, climb the steep rocks and make their way inland to their burrows. All this, five minutes from Oamaru town centre by car.
Oamaru is the easiest place in New Zealand for people to see good numbers of blue penguins close and view them. The local penguin population is approximately 3,000 birds and growing steadily. The penguins may be viewed every day at nightfall, when they return from the sea. Time of arrival on shore varies with the season.
There is a charge for admission to support conservation, management and research at the colony.
Viewing is from a covered stand overlooking the foreshore and colony. There is a modern visitor centre with informative displays and shop.