Few things make people squeal like children more than spotting tiny penguins waddling their way up the shore. The little blue penguin (kororā in Māori) is Aotearoa New Zealand’s smallest. They’re ultra-cute and no bigger than a ten-pin bowling pin!

Sadly, they’re classified as ‘at risk’ and populations have been impacted by the introduction of predators and habitat erosion. The Ōamaru Blue Penguin Colony was born in 1993 and started with just 30 breeding pairs. Thanks to their incredible conservation efforts, that number has grown to around 350 breeding pairs today!

You can visit the colony all year round by booking a guided tour, and the revenue from your visit directly funds scientific research and conservation efforts to protect these little penguins. Tours run from 10:00 am to 6:30 pm, or you can stay for the evening viewing at 8:15 pm.

If you love wildlife, conservation, and adorable penguins, this is a must-do when visiting Ōamaru!