Bicheno Penguin Tours

A penguin tour is the best way to see penguins up close and safely without disturbing them, or hurting yourself!

Each evening at dusk, groups of little penguins return from the sea at Bicheno and waddle from the shore, determined to reach their nests where offspring are often waiting to be fed.

Established in 1992, and licensed by Parks and Wildlife, Bicheno Penguin Tours is the natural way to see the fairy (or Little Blue) penguins and visitors have travelled from around the globe to view them.

This tour gives you a rare chance to visit a private rookery and watch the penguins emerge from the ocean and head to their homes – and nothing stops their determined journey.

Aided by soft lighting provided by solar panels, tour participants are able to see the penguins, often within arm’s reach, and sometimes the penguins actually walk over your feet! The penguins are accustomed to our tour and lights, but loud noises and camera flashes will scare them away.

Tour guides are well-versed in every nuance and habit of the penguins and carry out a well-informed narrative of the penguins’ life cycle, biology and their history during the tour.