Pelagic Birding Tours

Cruise through Paterson Inlet to Foveaux Straits and to nearby islands. Look out for and view seabirds including majestic albatross, petrels, prion, shearwater, skua, penguins and cormorants. Enjoy some excellent photo opportunities.  Your Skipper / Guide will provide useful information and assist with bird identification.

Note

We recommend combining this cruise with our Ulva Island Birds & Forest or Ulva Island Birding and / or Evening Eco Watch / Kiwi Spotting.  Alternatively we can also offer a water taxi charter for independent walking on Ulva Island.

location

For small groups we use our vessel: Paterson Inlet and nearby Islands out from Halfmoon Bay, in Foveaux Straits.
For larger groups we charter a bigger vessel (as available): Nearby islands out from Halfmoon Bay, Foveaux Straits, Wreck Reef.

Birds Seen

Birds commonly seen in the area include:

Southern royal albatross, white-capped mollymawk, Buller's mollymawk, Salvin's mollymawk, northern giant petrel, skua, sooty shearwater, common diving petrel, cape pigeon, white-fronted tern, black-fronted tern, fairy prion, little blue penguin, yellow-eyed penguin, Fiordland crested penguin, Stewart Island shag, spotted shag, pied shag, little black shag, pied and variable oystercatchers.

Wildlife Seen

We see New Zealand fur seals and sea lions. Occasionally we may see bottle-nosed dolphins.

Special Offers

Please also see our Gift Vouchers & Special Offers page for combined tours that include our Ulva Island Birding tour.