Pohatu Penguins offers adventure & wildlife tours and packages to explore Akaroa’s diverse landscape. The tour options all visit Pohatu Marine Reserve in a small coastal bay nestled between dramatic volcanic headlands on Banks Peninsula, home to the largest Little Penguin colony on mainland New Zealand. Francis and Shireen Helps run this family owned business, and have protected the penguins on their property for more than four decades, and have won recognition in a number of awards for penguin and habitat conservation.
Pohatu Penguins offer unique eco tours from evening penguin tours, nature safaris and sea-kayaking safaris to Pohatu, a beautiful working sheep farm that with 40 years of conservation efforts. Conservation is at the heart of what Pohatu Penguins represent, and the Helps are very happy to share their family story, and inspire those to do the same.
New Zealand’s largest mainland colony of Little penguins is located right in Akora! Visitors can see the world’s smallest penguin up close, and monitor their nesting sites.
Pohatu Penguins tours provide visitors the ability to enjoy a nature safari to the spectacular, award-winning Wild Side Conservation area. Guests’ learn about the area’s rich history, native flora and fauna, and Pohatu’s unique penguin conservation program. Their Nature Safaris offer stunning views of Akaroa harbour, the outer coast, farm land and forested hillsides. Be greeted by the farm’s friendly pet sheep and see White-Flippered penguins as you can monitor their nesting sites. If you’re lucky, you may even get the chance to see some rehabilitation efforts such as supplemental feedings and swim therapy. For those with only a few hours in Akaroa, this is the perfect day trip! Giving individuals the chance to learn more about Pohatu Penguins while still having time to explore the historic little town.
Spend the day exploring the outer coast of Pohatu Marine Reserve by kayak! Marvel at its spectacular towering cliffs, rock stacks, reefs, and deep sea caves.
Pohatu Farm Stay
For those who are entranced with Akaroa and wish to relish in the charming area, Pohatu Penguins offer an overnight farm stay. Spend the night in a historic and cosy private unit in the middle of the penguin colony. Guests can enjoy the safe swimming beach just outside their door and explore the surrounding and secluded landscapes of Banks Peninsula.
The farm stay lets you embrace natures joys by enjoying a complementary evening penguin tour, discounted sea-kayaking and an opportunity to walk the beautiful bush and waterfall section of the well-known Banks Track. For those who are keen, a visit to the spectacular cliff-tops of the Akaroa Heads Lighthouse Reserve is a must! At night you can gaze up and see the milky way, and wake up to the sounds of birdsong, sheep and the sea. This ideal location is the perfect way to spend the night truly indulging in the raw beauty of this remote coastal spot.
Cosy units are available to enable you to spend more time at Pohatu Bay and free time to relax and explore Pohatu´s many secret places. The accommodation is located within easy walking distance to a beautiful safe sandy beach.
Whats included in the Overnight Farm Stay?
Complimentary Evening Penguin Tour (if in season). Penguin presence.
Highly discounted sea-kayaking (guests pay $25 vs. $80)
Visit the spectacular cliff-tops of the Akaroa Heads Lighthouse Reserve.
Opportunity to walk along the gentle river and waterfalls of the Tutukakahikura Scenic Reserve. Fully forested and downhill walk part of the well-known Banks Track (3-hour & 1.5-hour options available).
Gaze up at the night sky to see the brilliant Milky way, or enjoy waking up to the sound of birdsong, sheep and the coastal sounds of the sea.
Fully equipped kitchen, linen, toilet, shower, etc.
Even Better! As of the 26th of September for the school holiday and carrying on until the end of October, guests will receive a welcoming basket made of a bottle of French peak wine and a selection of 4 cheeses from the award winning Barry's bay cheese factory.
To visit the conservation, guests are picked up in a 9 seaters 4WD mini bus in Akaroa and will enjoy breathtaking views and commentary of their unique history as you go. Small group tours run from Akaroa over one of the most scenic back country roads by 4WD van to Pohatu/ Flea Bay and Pohatu marine reserve, a beautiful sheltered bay out on the wild south eastern corner of Banks Peninsula and home to the largest Little Penguin Colony on mainland New Zealand with over 2000 penguins breeding there.
With so much wildlife, this sanctuary is definitely a hidden gem to New Zealand. To this day, the Helps family continue to be leaders in conservation and their efforts continue to be fully self funded via Pohatu Penguins’ tours. To observe the diverse wildlife and marine species, and by spending time with the team at Pohatu Penguins, you are helping the preservation of these beautiful birds, and wildlife for future generations to come.