Depending on the season there’s a diverse mix of stunning seabirds that can be seen on the tours. Check out the Seabirds section to read more about the ‘Seabird Species’ we’ve seen to date as well as the ‘Seasons’ page which talks about the difference between tours in each season and the birds that could be encountered.

We do our best to find as many seabirds on the day as possible, especially any speciality local seabirds. Please bear in mind that with seabird watching, like all bird watching, there’s no guarantee on what will be seen on any particular day as there’s a lot of factors that can dictate what happens on a day (calm vs windy etc).

Super close! We get amazing up-close encounters with lots of seabird species coming within metres of the boat either soaring around or settled on the water nearby.

Storm Petrels (particularly New Zealand Storm Petrel), most Albatross, and many Petrel and Shearwater will be really close and often hang around for quite a while.

Some species are more cautious and will come in for a flyby to see what’s going on.

It’s no worries if you’re new to seabirds – actually it’ll be super exciting as everything will be new to you :)

In saying that, a little knowledge can greatly enhance your enjoyment on the day. We recommend you do a bit of research on some of the seabirds we could see, which will make it more fun when we call out species as they turn up (especially if it’s doing a brief fly-by).

By the end of the day people have generally learned a lot about the characteristics of many of the species seen and are often the ones excitedly calling seabirds out as they arrive in.

Check out the Seabirds section to read more about the ‘Seabird Species’ we’ve seen to date as well as the ‘Seasons’ page which talks about the difference between trips in each season and the birds that could be encountered. Looking at some images etc can really help and there’s lots of photos of the various seabirds in the ‘Gallery section’. And you can find out more about each species on the very informative www.nzbirdsonline.org.nz website.

Seabirds like to fly as efficiently as possible so on windy days the seabirds are really in their element and are generally very active and soaring around, but the ocean will likely be more uncomfortable due to the bigger swells and chop.

On the low wind or calm days the ocean may be quite calm and comfortable as there’s usually less swell, but we may see less seabirds and activity. Naturally the calmer oceans make for great photography conditions.

Every day is a different experience out there (which is what we love about the tours :).

When we select tour dates we can't predict what the conditions will be like on the day, and there's no guarantee on what seabirds we will encounter.

These full day tours usually depart just after sunrise and return to Tutukaka late afternoon, which usually gives us about 9 to 10 hours out on the water, which is plenty of time to enjoy the stunning seabirds.

Exact departure time is confirmed closer to the the tour date.

The Petrel Station location, out on the shelf edge, is approx 40km offshore, and usually takes around 1.5 to 2 hours to get out there depending on conditions.

The tours depart from the Tutukaka Marina. Tutukaka is in Northland, New Zealand and is approx half an hour from Whangarei, and 2.5 hours north of Auckland, New Zealand.

There is plenty of all day, free parking available at the marina.

If you're booking domestic flights within NZ to get up here then we’d recommend using the 'Flexi-fare' option just in case the tour gets cancelled.

For tour costs, booking information, payment options and cancellation details go to the Costs & Booking page.

The skipper monitors weather and swell conditions regularly and will aim to make a decision 2 days out from the tour date as to whether it goes ahead or not. On occasion this decision may be made the day before if weather and swell conditions dictate. We still go out if it’s raining. The skipper’s decision is final.

If we have to cancel a tour due to not enough people booked then we’ll try to let everyone know a week before the tour date, where possible.

If you're booking domestic flights within NZ to get up here then we'd recommend using the 'Flexi-fare' option just in case the tour gets cancelled.

These tours aren't your standard calm water tourist boat cruise – it's an open ocean adventure activity, and we may encounter a variety of ocean / weather conditions on any given tour.

We’re out on the water for a long time (9 to 10 hours), about 40kms offshore, and depending on the day it could be relatively calm conditions, or, right through to some pretty windy and choppy conditions. Generally the most we go out in is about 20 knot winds and 2.5 meter swells but this depends on a number of factors for each trip, and may be more or less than this, depending on the day. We sometimes cancel tours due to adverse conditions – we still go if it’s raining.

It’s worth noting that strong wind is great for the seabirds as they are really active and soaring around which is always marvellous to watch.

In general the tours are suitable for most people, as long as you are stable on your feet, are able to move around the boat unassisted, and have a good general fitness.

These tours are an open ocean adventure activity (approx 40km offshore) and due to the boat being an unstable platform that is moving around from the wind and swell there are some exceptions though to who can be onboard, so these tours are not suitable for:
– people with serious back or neck problems.
– people who have stability issues
– expectant mothers.
– people with mobility issues or in wheelchairs (there isn’t room on the boat for wheelchairs sorry).
– children under 10 years old

Please let us know in advance any medical conditions or mobility issues you have that may affect you being on the boat and taking part in the tour. If you don’t let us know, and the skipper deems it not safe for you to come on the boat then he has the right to stop you coming onboard (and no refund will be given).

Also, anyone under the influence of alcohol or drugs will not be allowed onboard and no refund will be given.

This is for the safety and enjoyment of everyone onboard and to help avoid issues when we are out on the boat.

Please also read the FAQ notes on ‘Stability and general fitness requirements’, and ‘Sea sickness’.

These tours are an open ocean adventure activity and you MUST be stable on your feet and you must to be able to move around the boat unassisted, especially on the rougher days when the boat will be moving about. These tours aren't your standard calm water tourist boat cruise, and we may encounter a variety of ocean / weather conditions on any given tour.

If you don’t let us know, and the skipper deems it not safe for you to come on the boat then he has the right to stop you coming onboard (and no refund will be given). This is for the safety and enjoyment of everyone onboard and to help avoid issues when we are out on the boat.

Please also read the FAQ note on ‘Is this tour suitable for everyone?’ which outlines some exceptions of who these tours are not suitable for.

These tours are a fantastic chance for kids to see some stunning seabirds and gain an awareness of these ocean going masters in their environment.

But due to the open ocean nature of the tours any children would need to be 10 years or older to come onboard, and if they are between 10-16 years old they MUST be accompanied by an adult who will be responsible for them for the entirety of the tour. There may be exceptions for a younger child to come along if they have good ocean going experience already, but this needs to be discussed in advance. If you are considering booking with a child you MUST let us know when you make your booking, and please indicate the child’s age.

Through experience some children are better suited to being on boats, and seasickness seriously needs to be considered. Please read through the other FAQ notes about ‘Ocean and Weather conditions on the day’, and ‘Seasickness’.

If you are prone to seasickness then please ensure you have taken adequate seasickness medication before the tour departs as we won’t cut the trip short if someone is feeling seasick. It can get rough / choppy on the trips if the wind / swell gets up.

There are a number of seasickness medication options available, and it seems like different options seem to work for different people. You’ll need to consult with your doctor or pharmacist about which anti-seasickness option might best suit you.

And ensure you take the medication well before we depart (some need to be taken the night before), as most are ineffective if taken when you are already out there and have started feeling sick.

It’s recommended you have a good sleep, and avoid alcohol the night before the tour.

It’s definitely well worth getting out there to experience the stunning seabirds in their environment.

Also please be advised that seasickness during the tour is not grounds for a refund.

We have a limit of one bag per person to ensure there's plenty of room onboard to move about the boat.

You’ll need to provide your own food, drink and other supplies for the tour. Please don’t bring alcohol onboard.

New Zealand's sun can be pretty harsh (including sun rays reflected off the ocean surface), so sunblock and a hat are a necessity. Sunglasses are useful too.

A camera (with charged batteries) and binoculars will both enhance your day and leave you with lasting memories too.

For clothing on the day be sure to dress for the conditions for the season you are going out in, and remember weather conditions can change quickly at sea. In summer it is generally pretty warm but can still get wet. In winter it can get very cold (especially if we get a cold southerly wind blasting through) so plenty of warm layers is recommended. Spring and autumn days can be a mixed bag depending on weather so be prepared for any conditions during these seasons. When we’re motoring there can be sea spray/splashes or rain, and mixed with the wind it can get wet/cold. Wet weather gear is recommended at any time of year. Gumboots / waterproof shoes are very useful for the cooler months – and ensure all footwear has good grip to avoid slipping on the deck.

If you have a medical conditions please ensure you bring required supplies onboard, and we request you let us know of any medical conditions in advance.

Also bring along a sense of adventure and discovery :)

These tours are fantastic for upclose viewing of our stunning seabirds – and you’re going to want to take some photos. Binoculars will greatly enhance your day as well for picking up the birds at a distance, and overall observation of their features and behaviour.

When considering focal length on your camera it’s helpful to know that often the seabirds come in right by the boat, or are flying around quite close as well.

Make sure your batteries are fully charged before you come and you’ve got lots of space on your memory card as most people take a LOT of photos during the day.

As we are venturing into an ocean environment you need to take extra care of your optical equipment. All camera equipment and binoculars are the responsibility of the owner for the entirety of the tour and all care should be taken with your equipment to ensure it’s well protected while we are moving and out at various stops during the day. There is potential for sea spray/splashes and rain on the tours.

Also please don’t bring tripods or scopes on the boat as they take up too much room, and are basically useless as the boat is always moving due to swell and wind.

The boat we use has fantastic all round viewing for exceptional seabird spotting and photography opportunities. When we’ve stopped motoring you can walk completely around the boat so you can easily see and track the seabirds as they fly around the boat.

The boat is 30.5 feet long x 10 feet wide, and fairly stable – we also use a drogue (sea parachute) which stabilises the boat further when we are out over deep water. The boat is not high off the water so the seabirds are often within metres of us, either flying around or settled on the water next to us. There’s also 1 metre high side walls all around the boat which are perfect to lean against for stability and when taking photos.

The boat is pretty basic in terms of facilities. For seating there are a couple of benches and a few big chilly bins (so there can be a bit of standing involved). There’s a small private marine toilet onboard as well. An overhead canopy offers great shade when it's sunny, and there's pull down plastic sides to shelter behind if the weather gets a bit wet. Lifejackets are available for all onboard.

There’s lots of accommodation and food options locally in Tutukaka and Ngunguru (a nearby coastal village).

It’s recommended you check out the cancellation policies with any accomomdation providers, just in case the tour gets cancelled.

Check out the Tutukaka Coast Info page for more details.

Yes. The sightings from each tour are added into eBird in several checklists (from various locations/zones visited during the day).

These checklists can be shared to the people who are onboard the tour (once they’ve supplied their eBird username or email).

Yes we do – Check out the Private Charters page for more information about this.