We have had some wild weather during our stay in New Zealand, and this time it worked in our favor…read more Albatross like windy days to fly on the currents. They don't flap their wings much. We had a perfect day for flying and we saw many albatross at the observation deck. The tour starts with a short video and guide led discussion. You then walk to the observation deck to see albatross in the wild. They provide binoculars to enhance your viewing. We saw birds sitting on their nexts, preening each other, and flying. It was a great show. Our guide was very knowledgeable about the albatross and many other birds within our view. I'm so glad we were able to go to this tour. I learned so much and the birds were amazing to see in the wild showing us their natural behaviors.

Fort Taiaroa here has hidden tunnels & a 1886 Armstrong Hidden Gun. Besides a military history…read morehere it's the only mainland breeding colony of Royal Albatross. There is a gallery, gift shop & cafe here. Many different tours are offered and a virtual :45 tour from their website. The albatross' are nesting on the grass now. They arrive in September, mate, lay eggs, incubate, have hatchlings & then guard them for a year. The albatross have a 9 Ft wing span & they gently lift off cliffs & glide not flap. They can live to 60 yrs & mate for life. The females go out further for food & are getting caught in fishing nets. There is a female shortage & there are same sex pairs now. The center was fascinating, unfortunately we didn't see any albatross, a lot of seagulls. Thought we saw some gem a distance near the lighthouse.

Great place to visit for a brisk hike, the pano views of the rugged coastline, and the namesake…read moretunnel. The hike can be a strenuous one coming back up as it is steep incline on a dirt path, so allow an hour to fully do the hike down, enjoy, and the hike back up. The "tunnel" where the stairs take you down to the actual beach can be slippery when it rains and you have to climb over several large rocks to get to the beach from the end of the tunnel, which can be a bit perilous, especially in the rain. You do traverse private property, so there are signs everywhere stating to not stray from the marked trail. It is a pretty easy place to find via GPS and there is not really designated parking, so I just pulled up along a fence in front of the entrance and did not have any problems.

Absolutely beautiful place to take a walk! The path down was steep, so have good traction on your…read moreshoes, but it's an easy enough walk. Long, but easy - fine to do with kids. The views of the beach and the cliffs are stunning.

Orokonui Ecosanctuary is a truly beautiful biodiversity sanctuary located just outside of Dunedin,…read morewhere you will have the opportunity to experience many of New Zealand's unique native bird species in a protected setting. During our visit, we were lucky to spot several incredible species, including the Takahe, Kaka, and Tui. They currently have a family of 6 Takahe near one of the small ponds. We spent quite a while sitting quietly on a nearby bench, just watching them go about their day. There are feeding stations scattered throughout the sanctuary as well and these make excellent spots to observe birds like the kākā and tūī up close. The walking trails are well-marked, with many sections being relatively well paved, making it quite accessible as well. Overall, this is definitely a must-visit for anyone interested in New Zealand's remarkable wildlife!

Orokonui IS worth the trip and the entrance fee. This is a very special slice of wild New Zealand…read more Trails are impeccable, from wheelchair/pram accessible to slightly more athletic options, it's full of stunning wildlife and educational reading. Views are also spectacular!

After recently completing the Otago Rail Trail (HIGHLY recommend doing this, by the way), I felt…read morecompelled to give a shout out to the folks at Cycle Surgery, who organized our bike rentals, bag transport and shuttle service along the trail. Not only were the bikes in impeccable condition, the team went above and beyond making sure everything ran smoothly for us. They have branches in Clyde and Middlemarch so that you can start the trail on either end (we started in Clyde - which, after witnessing the epic tail winds, would suggest you also choose this as a starting point). The team fitted our bikes, collected our bags and even added panniers and clip-on pedals to those that desired some extra pedal-oomf. Our bags awaited us at our first stop (Wedderburn) where we enjoyed some delicious wine and hot showers. Finally, the lovely team at Cycle Surgery transferred our luggage to our final stop, Middlemarch, where we were served complimentary barista coffee and given a space to freshen up and remove our sweaty cycling gear (yum). We were then transported by the team to Dunedin airport (about 45 minutes away) and dropped off the continue our journey home. I was extremely impressed with both the quality of the Cycle Surgery bikes as well as the professionalism of each person we interacted with. If you are looking to do the Otago Rail Trail, sort your bike rentals here!

This Hostel was a great experience for our group of Americans. Although we are used to the…read moredifferent time zones, the hostel managers were able to let us know about their quiet hours with no issue.

A really great experience for those who enjoy these puzzle games. The place is set in an actual…read moreprison and brings a nice and unique atmosphere to the experience. The espionage themed one was the game we tried and although they may say it's difficult, it can be solved by two persons and within the time allotted. Looking forward to trying out redemption which is having a prisoner type of setting.

I found these guys online during my trip to New Zealand. We met at a restaurant during our initial…read moremeeting to discuss what kind of experience that I wanted to have. Mind you, I had zero experience with firearms and zero experinece hunting before coming to New Zealand. I've lived in cities and suburbs my entire life. After 2 outings with these guys, I had learned how the basics of using a I learned how to handle a rifle, took down a couple wild goats, and a red deer. Sheldon is the owner of the business and really a good hunting guide and firearms instructor. He is very detail oriented and meticulous about safety, encountering animals in the wild, butchering animals, and even taking high resolution photos of you with the animal after the kill! If I go back to New Zealand, I look forward to more trips with Sheldon and his crew!