Find out everything you need to know before your visit to Ōamaru Penguins. Check opening times, plan your journey, and learn everything you need to know about what to expect.
Opening time
The centre opens at 10am each day. Christmas Day we open at 7pm.
Day entry
Available every day from 10am, until one hour before the Evening Viewing begins.
Evening Viewing
Start time is determined by the time of sunset.
October - March
The viewing begins between 7pm and 9pm and finishes between 8.30pm - 11.00pm.
April - September
The viewing begins between 5pm and 6.30 pm and finishes between 7pm and 8.30pm
Ōamaru is a 3½ hour drive south of Christchurch and 1½ hours north of Dunedin.
We’re only 5 minutes from the centre of town, in the south-east corner of the Ōamaru Harbour, a few hundred metres past Sumpter Wharf.
There are two car parks available for visitors: a smaller park near the building with accessible parks available, and a larger park nearby with room for campervans and buses.
Allow 1-2 hours for the experience and dress warmly! Even in summer, Ōamaru evenings can be chilly.
Respect the penguins at all times. To avoid disturbing them, cameras and filming devices are not allowed during the Evening Viewing. If a penguin is nearby, stay quiet and still.
If you are a Waitaki resident, please email us directly with evidence of address to book: bookings@penguins.co.nz.
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