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The Opera




The Opera - Otago Peninsula Eco Restoration Alliance

Located on the spectacular Otago Peninsula, on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand, The OPERA Otago Peninsula Eco Restoration Alliance - is a private eco-reserve dedicated to conservation, rehabilitation, restoration, and education.

Our guided tours offer guests the potential of seeing hoiho (yellow-eyed penguins), kororā (little penguins), sea lions, fur seals, sea and forest birds, native flora, and other wildlife within our reserve.

We invite you to become part of our story by joining us for a tour and learning more about our work. Visit our site at TheOPERA.co.nz for booking times and details. Daily tours including:
  • Penguin Tours
  • Native Bush Tours
  • Private Bespoke Tours

Creating Experiences Unlike Any Other

The OPERA - Otago Peninsula Eco Restoration Alliance—is a private eco reserve focused on conservation, rehabilitation, reforestation, and education. The operation was originally founded as ‘Penguin Place’ in 1985, making it one of the oldest ecotourism operations in New Zealand.

We invite you to join us on one of our guided tours, for a unique experience unlike any other in New Zealand. Penguins, fur seals, sea lions, various sea, shore and land birds, native flora, and more await you within our private reserve. Best of all, by taking a tour you are joining our work, as tour operations directly fund our conservation efforts at The OPERA.

Tour Information

  • Penguin Tour
  • Our 'Penguin Tour' offers the most exclusive opportunity to view one of the world’s rarest penguin species, the hoiho (yellow-eyed penguin), in their natural habitat. Numerous kororā (little penguins) also call The Opera home.

    This 90-minute guided tour consists of three parts. Our guests begin their experience in a theatre setting, where they learn about the hoiho and our conservation efforts to protect them. Guests then move into our rehabilitation centre where hoiho, and occasionally other penguin species, can be seen up close (when penguins are in our care). Finally, guests take a short bus trip into our reserve where they are guided on an approximately 2km (1.25 mile) nature walk. Within the reserve there is the potential to see numerous New Zealand native plants and animals, including hoiho (yellow-eyed penguins) and kororā (little penguins), fur seals, sea lions, and several other species of sea, shore, wetland, and forest birds, many of which live or visit within the reserve.

    Please note, it is important that guests feel physically capable of a 2km (1.25 mile) walk over uneven terrain and more than 100 steep steps, which may be experienced within our reserve. If individuals are claustrophobic, please note that portions of the tour may pass through a trench system (which is narrow at times) and opens into dug out viewing hides which allow for observing wildlife at eye level.


New offerings

  • Native Bush Tour

  • 90-minute guided tour. Learn about the historical forests of the Otago Peninsula and our work to reforest hundreds of hectares of land that was previously cleared for farming. Be guided on an approximately 2km (1.25 miles) walk through mature regenerated bush and learn about the unique flora and fauna along the way. Finish out through our wetlands and enjoy the view of Pipikaretu Beach. Opportunity for observing a wide variety of flora as well as land, sea and shore birds, sea lions, fur seals, and little penguins along the way.

  • Tripple Crown Tour

  • Why do one tour on the Otago Peninsula when you can do three at a 20% discount off each. The OPERA has partnered with Monarch Wildlife Cruises and The Royal Albatross Centre to bring together a package that includes our 90-minute Penguin Tour, a 1-hour wildlife cruise through the bay and out around the headland, and a 1-hour guided tour of the only mainland albatross colony in the world.

  • Private Tour

  • Our private guided tours are tailored to meet the preferences and needs of our guests. A designated member of our tour and operations team will work with guests to design the tour that aligns with your specific objectives and interests. Wildlife photography, botanical experience of touching and tasting, sunset tea and stargazing, there are numerous possible experiences within these crafted tour experiences. Private tours start at 90-minues but can be expanded based on tailored objectives.




Address: 45 Pakihau Road, Harington Point ,Dunedin
Phone: +64 478 0286  
Email: info@theopera.co.nz
Website: theopera.co.nz
GPS coordinates: -45.796607,170.730105