Spying on the Little Blue Penguins

The Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony offers a unique opportunity to observe the world's smallest penguin.

Blue penguins are found right around the coast of New Zealand and southern Australia, but none closer to human activity than in Oamaru. The birds nest right around the harbour area and the Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony offers a unique opportunity for you to observe the world's smallest penguin arriving home from their day at sea and returning to their nests. Each evening, groups of blue penguins gather offshore and wait for dark. Just after dark, they swim ashore below the viewing stands. They quickly climb the steep bank, before resting a while at the top. When they are ready, they cross the parade area and head towards their nest sites, often to be greeted by mates or hungry chicks.