Our most popular half-day shore excursion
The amazing beaches of Dunedin are a must-see, and will have you kicking off your shoes and dipping your toes into perfect white sand and crisp, clear water.
Make the most of your shore excursion in Dunedin, the oldest city in New Zealand — impressive sandy beaches and rugged coastlines, home to rare wildlife including the yellow-eyed penguin. Your guide shares the region’s geology, history and conservation story along the way.
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before · instant confirmation · small groups
On fine days, shorts or light trousers and an everyday shirt are fine — but come prepared for a southerly change. We suggest three layers on top and a waterproof jacket, comfortable footwear (avoid denim), and a small backpack with snacks and a water bottle.
Departures 8:45am / 9:45am / 12:45pm / 1:15pm inside Port Chalmers or from centrally located accommodation; return 12:15pm / 1:15pm / 4:15pm / 5:15pm. Departure times can vary with visiting cruise ships and are confirmed at booking.
Signal Hill Lookout is the starting point for your half-day shore excursion of Dunedin. Before our scenic journey, enjoy this vantage point over a landscape of rock domes and vents now covered with pasture and forest. We then admire the historical architecture of Dunedin, the oldest city in New Zealand, including Baldwin Street, the ‘steepest street in the world’, and the historic Dunedin Railway Station, with another great vista at Smails Beach.
Winding along the coastal road, the journey continues onto the Otago Peninsula, where you learn about the volcanic origin of Dunedin. This stretch of coast is what postcards are made of, and we stop to capture the rare and spectacular flora and fauna before descending to the Tidal Inlets near Portobello — a birdwatcher’s paradise of kingfishers, herons and other waders.
At our furthest point, a short walk into a wildlife reserve gives us 20–30 minutes looking for the rarest sea lion in the world — the NZ sea lion. We then admire one of the peninsula’s most stunning beaches (shoes off, sand between your toes!) with amazing basalt rock formations, before taking the low road back to Port Chalmers.
