Dunedin Day Tours

The guided Dunedin Day Tours are ideal for small groups on a tight time schedule. They are effectively a half-day or day-long, tailor-made tour – with you choosing your day’s activities from the list below. Generally, four people are required for the tour to be economic, although we can cater for fewer people on a charter price basis. If you are looking for a scheduled tour, you are most welcome to join one of our Cruise Ship Shore Tours (yes, even if you’re not on a cruise ship!) or check out one of our daily scheduled tours to Natures Wonders

Nature’s Wonders | The Sheep Shed | Royal Albatross | Aquarium | Larnach Castle | Catlins | Orokonui Ecosancturay | Moeraki Boulders | Speights Brewery | City Sights | Farm Tours | Sport Events | Senior Citizen | Gold Mine | Wine Tours | Jet Boating | Forsyth Barr Stadium | Enquiries and Bookings

Natures Wonders

Let Awesome Tours help you experience Natures Wonders on one of their daily small-group tours.  The beautiful Otago Peninsula provides the scenery on this exhilarating off-road adventure, but it’s the wildlife that steals the show. The tour includes a one-hour guided tour at Natures Wonders

Daily wild-life ecotours information and booking

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The Sheep Shed

Stepping inside a working shearing shed is unlike anything you’re ever experienced before. The smell of the wool’s lanolin, the buzz of the shearing machines, the excitement of the dogs pushing the sheep up into the shed. The energy is incredible. This tour is a rare insight into the day-to-day activity of a genuine New Zealand sheep farm. You will experience shearing and wool handling, just like it happens on farms through New Zealand every day. Expect to touch the wool and talk with farm staff during your visit. We’re confident that you will not forget your time inside the Sheep Shed.

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Royal Albatross

The Royal Albatross Colony at Taiaroa Head, on the tip of the Otago Peninsula, New Zealand, is the only mainland breeding colony for any albatross species found in the southern hemisphere. The sight of a soaring albatross is unforgettable – held aloft on slim wings up to 3 metres (9’6″) across, the great Albatross is capable of swooping speeds of more than 115kph. Viewing these majestic seabirds in their natural environment is not to be missed. A tour of the Colony can be as added to our daily Otago Peninsula tour (1/2 hr express tour) or if you want to take the full 1 hr guided tour contact us here for more information.

Note: Sorry the Albatross Centre is Closed (& Cafe) through August – September however, arrangements can be made for groups of 6 or more to tour the Colony during this period.
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New Zealand Marine Studies Centre & Aquarium

Close encounters of the marine kind! Octopus, seahorses, crayfish and sharks – dive into the unique marine life showcased at the New Zealand Marine Studies Centre & Aquarium! Live displays of native New Zealand species. Spectacular touch pools. Take a virtual deep sea trip in a yellow submarine and meet a life-size colossal squid replica! Open daily 10am-4.30pm, also a guided tour at 10.30am daily – call to book. Special tours and programmes available for groups – call or email for details. Located on Otago Peninsula, just 30 minutes drive from Dunedin. Guided tours for groups can be arranged at other times if booked in advance. Concessions are available for students and seniors (with ID).

SORRY – THE AQUARIUM IS TEMPORARILY CLOSED FOR RENOVATION.

HOWEVER THE NZ MARINE STUDIES CENTRE AT PORTOBELLO IS STILL OPEN FOR EDUCATION PROGRAMMES – SEE THEIR WEBSITE FOR DETAILS.   WWW.MARINE.AC.NZ

Contact us here for more information and bookings

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Larnach Castle

Dunedin’s Must See Visitor Attraction

Discover New Zealand’s only Castle, Larnach Castle. Built 1871 by William Larnach, merchant baron and politician, for his beloved first wife Eliza. It took over 200 workmen three years to build the Castle shell and master European craftsmen spent a further 12 years embellishing the interior. Larnach spared no expense on his dream home, which features the finest materials from around the world. The Castle is still privately owned and cared for by the Barker family who purchased it as their home in 1967. Decades have been spent on the Castle’s restoration, with the family having restored empty buildings from ruin and assembling a large collection of original New Zealand period furniture and antiques. Open to the public throughout, this conservation project has been funded through admission fees. The family has always been committed to opening their home and sharing this significant period of Dunedin and New Zealand’s history.

Scandalous and tragic stories, spectacular tower views and a Garden of International Significance complete this enjoyable award winning experience.

Contact us here for more information and bookings

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Catlins

Our day takes in the following stops after traveling via Balclutha and Kaka Point.

Nugget Point Light House – Short walking track to view fur seals, elephant seals and NZ sea lions. This is a breeding area for, sooty shear-water, shags and yellow-eyed penguins.

Surat Bay – a walk along sandy beach, named after the sailing vessel ‘ Surat’ wrecked in 1874. A great place to catch up with the hooker sea lions.

Purakaunui Falls (15 min walk, pictured) and or McLean Falls (40 min walk)

Cathedral Caves – 45 min bush & beach walk to spectacular caves. These are only accessible at low tide so it will depend on the day if we can do this walk. There is an additional gate charge of $3 per person with this option.

Curio Bay – One of the world’s finest fossil forests exposed at low tide. Might even get to see a Hector dolphins at next doors Porpoise Bay.

Not to mention lots of beautiful scenery, morning, afternoon and lunch stops along the way. You can either bring their own lunch or you can purchase at stops along the way. There are lots to do and see in the Catlins and these are just a few suggestions. It’s a long day, leaving Dunedin by 8am returning between 6-7pm.

Contact us here for more information and bookings

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Orokonui Ecosanctuary

The 307-hectare Orokonui Ecosanctuary just 20 minutes north of Dunedin, is the largest and most protected area of native forest in mainland South Island where indigenous plants and animals can live in the wild without threat from most introduced pests. It is home to some of New Zealand’s most fascinating and rare forest wildlife including 17 species of native birds.

Visit the Ecosanctuary’s protected habitat where you will experience a natural encounter with South Island forest wildlife in a forest ecosystem. By visiting you will be supporting the preservation of biodiversity today and contributing towards a better tomorrow for our natural heritage. Both guided walks (day and after dark) and self guided walking are available.

Contact us here for more information and bookings

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Moeraki Boulders

Almost Unique in the world, the Moeraki Boulders are situated about 50 mins north of Dunedin along, they can be seen emerging from the cliffs and slowly disappearing into the sand and the sea. Visitors can walk along the beach to visit the boulders, best seen at low tides, but visible most of the time.

The soft mudstone containing the boulders was raised from the sea bed around 15 million years ago and sea erosion of the cliff is exposing the erosion-resistant boulders.

Emerging from the cliff, as if being born from the earth, the World famous Moeraki Boulders are septerian concretions formed some 65 million years ago. Crystallization of calcium and carbonates around charged particles in muddy undersea sediments gradually formed the boulders in a process taking as long as four million years.

The soft mudstone containing the boulders was raised from the sea bed around 15 million years ago and sea erosion is exposing the erosion-resistant boulders.

A 3-4 hr tour from Dunedin. Lunch at Moeraki Boulders (own expense) and enjoy a walk along the beach to look at the boulders. Visit the unique and picturesque fishing village. Then out to the light house and a short walk to view some yellow eyed penguins and a seal or two.

Returning to Dunedin via some stunning scenic coastal roads

Contact us here for more information and bookings

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Speights’ Brewery

Still on the same site it has occupied since 1876, Speights’ Brewery has become one of Dunedin and Otago’s biggest icons. Not just the “Pride of the South”, the Speights brand is one of New Zealand’s most loved beers.

The Speights’ Brewery Tour is an award winning interactive and informative tour guided tour through an historic working brewery. You’ll see, smell, touch and taste the ingredients which go into making Speights’ beers and discover how Speights became a legend in the south.

Contact us here for more information and bookings

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City Sights

Combine your morning Sightseeing tour – with an afternoon wildlife on the Otago Peninsula.

Contact us here for more information and bookings

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Farm Tours

We cater for all types of tour groups interested in experiencing a NZ sheep farm up close and personal.

This tour shows off the very best of sheep farming in one of the most beautiful areas – the Otago Peninsula.

You will have the opportunity to chat to the farming family, some hands on experience (if you want to get your hands dirty) and enjoy some genuine “kiwi” country hospitality.

The tour includes: dog handling demo, shearing, rousing, wool grading, wool packing – the works.

Some interesting facts:

Population:

• 4.5 million people
• 3.5 million dairy cows
• 5 million beef cattle
• 40 million sheep
• 2.5 million deer

Contact us here for more information and bookings

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Sport Events

Whatever Your Sport, Awesome Tours can offer you a Sports Tour solution!

This means we make all arrangements in the South Island on your behalf and provide a complete Tour Package… OR

If you wish to make your own arrangements within New Zealand, Awesome Tours can simply provide mini coaches  (11 seats) and take care of the transport.

Contact us here for more information and bookings

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Senior Citizen

Our UNIQUE TOURS TO SPECIAL PLACES are also designed to maximise the opportunities for you to experience the local flavour and culture of the areas that you have always wanted to visit.

If you enjoy visiting special places, stately homes – gardens and areas of natural beauty, cultural and historical significance, we are sure you will enjoy our range of escorted tours – especially designed for people, just like you, who enjoy a stress free tour while getting off the beaten track.

Contact us here for more information and bookings

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Gold Mine

Enjoy a golden day out at Macraes Gold Mine where you will take their 2 hour tour (4hrs ex Dunedin return) which takes you to see enormous trucks and excavators in action.

Visit heritage mining sites including a complete battery stamper. View the gigantic Fraser’s open cast pit and the CAT maintenance base.

We also visit the Otago Fish and Game hatchery and see the rainbow trout breeding ponds followed by a stop at the gold processing plant.

Visit the historic village of Macraes and see the churches, stables and agricultural machinery of a bygone era.

The tour is an exciting mix of the old and the new all set in the amazing landscape of East Otago

Contact us here for more information and bookings

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Wine Tours

We will help arrange visits to premier vineyards recognised for excellence in your preferred wine styles .

Contact us here for more information and bookings

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Jet Boating

Wild Clutha ecology/historic adventure with Beaumont Jet

Just 1 1/2 hour’s drive from Dunedin 5-6 hours return trip including the Jet Boat trip of approximately 45 minutes where we will follow the river from Beaumont Bridge travel up white water shoots and rocky outcrops to Horseshoe Bend then on to the historic Swing Bridge and learn the story behind the Lonely Graves. Birdlife thrive on the river including native wood pigeons, shags, ducks, geese and many more. Blast back to Beaumont for a BBQ by the river before returning to Dunedin via Lawrence, (historic gold-mining town) Lake Mahinerangi and Waipori Falls.

Contact us here for more information and bookings

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Forsyth Barr Stadium

Tours available now!

 

 

Go behind the scenes. See the changing rooms, corporate and team areas, walk around the pitch and go right up to the world-famous roof. For an experience that’s fun, exciting and educational for kids and adults alike, a tour of Forsyth Barr Stadium is a must.

Contact us here for more information and bookings

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Contact us here for more information and bookings

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