What people say about The Petrel Station tours

Seabird Tour Reviews

Here are some of the glowing reviews that birdwatchers, wildlife enthusiasts, and photographers from around the world have shared about their experience with us on The Petrel Station seabird tours offshore from Tutukaka ... If you’ve been out with us recently and would like to send us a review, just complete the ‘Leave a Review’ form below – we’d love to hear from you.

All reviews and comments are genuine comments from people who have joined The Petrel Station seabird tours.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

“This is one truly special pelagic experience, not simply for New Zealand but globally, and I thank the Petrel Station team for an amazing trip. The tens of thousands of birds were spectacular, and the prolonged chumming stop was fantastic, with repeated opportunities to study and photograph New Zealand and White-faced Storm Petrels, Cook’s and Pycroft’s Petrels, Parkinson’s Petrels, and many others – 20 species of tubenose in a day is never a bad thing!”
Steve N. G. Howell - (US, Dec 2024).
Author of Oceanic Birds of the World (Princeton University Press, 2019).

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

“Amazing day with The Petrel Station squad off Tutukaka. Maybe the best single-day pelagic in the world. 80,000 seabirds seen, including Pycroft’s, Cook’s, Mottled & Black-winged Petrel, New Zealand Storm-Petrels, the site where all the world’s Buller’s Shearwaters nest, plus 1,000s of Fairy Prions and so much more.”
George Armistead - (US, Dec 2024)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

“Two days at The Petrel Station were a dream come true!! When you are going there, you know it will be good, but it was much more than that. Giant Petrel. Wandering Albatross. What more can you want? But you get much more! In the end, 28 species of seabirds, including 6 albatross species, both Giant Petrel species, Prions, Shearwaters, New Zealand Storm Petrels, Mako Sharks… it seems like a dream now being 18,000km away! Everything was well organised by Scott, he really knows his business, where the birds are and when. Gary is sitting somewhere on the boat, and you are not aware of him until he shouts out new species approaching the boat. Luke, the captain, knows winds and sea more than I ever seen someone. Thank you for everything! If you like seabirds, this MUST be on your bucket list!”
Luka Jurinovic - (Croatia, Oct 2024)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

“The Petrel Station is unlike any other seabird experience on earth. My next trip out with Scott will be my tenth out of Tutukaka, and we've been lucky enough to find and photograph rarities like Blue Petrel, Streaked Shearwater, Chatham Island Albatross, and New Zealand Storm Petrels every time! Every trip is different and I definitely plan to keep coming back for more.”
Oscar Thomas - (NZ, been on multiple tours)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

“Having now been out over 85 tours with Scott to The Petrel Station, I can say it never gets old. Every tour there is something new and exciting, and hearing other people on board using superlatives like ‘Wow!’, ‘Overwhelming’ and ‘Extraordinary’ pretty much says it all.”
Gary Setterfield - (NZ, been on over 85 tours now!)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

“In my opinion, The Petrel Station pelagics are the best in New Zealand. I’ve been on about 20 trips and it never disappoints. The birding is truly spectacular. It is the best spot to see New Zealand Storm Petrel and a great place to to pick up the odd rarity! On the tours I've also seen Chatham Albatross, Light Mantled Sooty Albatross, Pink-Footed shearwater plus all the seabird endemics and natives. Most of these birds come up really close to the boat, so you can get great photos. Alongside the rarities, there are also huge numbers of Fairy Prions and Buller's shearwaters, which are a spectacle to watch! Scott the tour leader is knowledgeable, friendly and very approachable, and always checking in on everyone. The skipper Luke is also super friendly, hard working, and great at chumming. In my view, The Petrel Station is an absolute must for any birder or naturalist visiting New Zealand.”
Harry Boorman - (UK, been on multiple tours).
Author of ‘New Zealand's Biggest Year’

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

“On a recent trip to NZ I booked onto two pelagic seabird tours with The Petrel Station and I was not disappointed. I’ve been on many of the worlds pelagic trips and I would rate The Petrel Station in the top 3. If you’re looking for an opportunity to photograph and view large numbers of seabirds in a comfortable and safe setting then here you have it, and all at a very reasonable cost”
Mike D - (UK, Nov 2023)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

“What a great two days out on the water! I cannot recommend Scott, the skipper, and these pelagic trips highly enough. I went on two tours over the first weekend in November 2025. The sheer numbers of seabirds, along with the great variety of species, are mind-boggling. I’ve been on a number of pelagics in Australia, where I’m from, and also on three other pelagics in different locations while in New Zealand. Not one of them came close to the pelagics with The Petrel Station. Scott and the skipper are so knowledgeable and so willing to share their expertise that it makes for a really informative and interesting day. The icing on the cake was seeing the recently rediscovered New Zealand Storm Petrel up close. The Petrel Station pelagics are really are not to be missed if you enjoy being out on the ocean surrounded by nature’s aerial and oceanic wonders.”
May Britton — (Australia,  Nov 2025)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

“Thanks so much for a great day on the water. It was not only my favourite pelagic I’ve been on, but one of my top nature experiences overall. I’ll always remember the swirling clouds of prions that surrounded us!”
Ryan O’Donnell - (US, Dec 2023)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

“As a seabird ecologist on his third trip to New Zealand I came across The Petrel Station Facebook page and knew that this was a trip I absolutely had to get onto. It was my first dedicated pelagic trip, and it truly blew me away! The diversity was incredible – we encountered large flocks of Buller’s Shearwaters near their breeding islands, and out deep plenty of species came in including New Zealand Storm Petrels, Black Petrels, Flesh-footed Shearwaters, which remained with us for hours, with visits from some Albatross, Cook’s and Pycroft’s Petrels, and more, which kept all those on board excited. Scott and the team were super helpful with identification challenges such as separating Cook’s from Pycroft’s, so there was a real sense of inclusivity on board. On the way back in we also visited the Grey Ternlets, and the Australasian Gannets colony. Scott’s friendliness, enthusiasm and knowledge of seabirds and the local area made the trip for me. If you’re interested in seabirds generally and want to experience some of the spectacular seabird diversity then this trip is an absolute must do! It’s now the number one trip to do for me the next time I return to New Zealand, and I can’t recommend it highly enough.”
Craig Nisbet - (UK, Feb 2023)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

“If you’re a birder looking for a pelagic adventure, or simply craving an unforgettable nature experience, I can’t recommend this trip highly enough. Scott, Gary, and Skipper Luke go above and beyond to make it memorable for everyone, whether you’re an expert or a beginner. The sheer number of birds, and how close you get to them, is incredible. The sights, sounds, and even the smell are something words and photos just can’t capture. It’s an experience that stays with you, and I honestly can’t wait to get back out there.”
Nick Cook - (NZ, Oct 2025)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

“Wow, what an absolutely amazing day out with Scott and Luke! We had a fantastic day on the boat — the birdwatching and photography experience was next level. Special species included New Zealand Storm Petrels, Black Petrels, Pycroft’s Petrel, and Albatross. Seeing massive groups of thousands of birds feeding, diving, and flying past, and hearing the wings fluttering, is something indescribable — sights and sounds that you do not easily forget. Both Scott and Luke were very knowledgeable, freely shared information, and patiently identified birds for me. It is very clear that they love what they do, while always being professional and friendly. I would recommend this tour to anybody who loves birds, photography, or both. Photo opportunities were abundant, and everybody on the boat had ample chance to get their shot. Thank you Luke and Scott for a memorable experience — I hope to see you again on another tour.”
Frederique Hurly - (NZ, Jan 2026)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

“The highlight of my recent visit to New Zealand was definitely joining the pelagic trips by The Petrel Station in Tutukaka, New Zealand. I was totally overwhelmed by the number of seabirds that we saw in two days. There were just so many seabirds all around – over 50,000 individuals at once!.”
Ayuwat Jearwattanakanok - (Thailand, Nov 2024)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

“Knowing I was coming to New Zealand, I googled pelagic providers. The Petrel Station came up and a quick review of past tours looked perfect. I had a week in the area but there was no trip scheduled, so I contacted Scott, who was incredibly helpful and indicated a tour was likely and he’d be in touch. True to his word he did get back to me and I was booked in. The day arrived and it was spectacular day in terms of numbers of birds, but what was really impressive was the way Scott and the team engaged with us all. Happy to share knowledge and anecdotes, and be able to pick out a Black Petrel at a 100 paces, were just some of the highlights – along with 21 seabird lifers, around 200,000 birds, a 100 laughs, and a lifetime of memories. Highly recommend.”
Phil Novis - (UK, Sep 2024)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

“A tour out to The Petrel Station has always been on my husband’s bucket list, so I booked in for both of us. Even though I'm not that into birdwatching, I went in with an open mind, expecting to be disinterested, but to my joy I was completely blown away by the phenomenal journey. The crew, including Captain Luke, our lovely host Scott and spotter Gary, were an incredibly fun and knowledgeable bunch to be with on the boat all day. The trip itself was mesmerising. We encountered an astounding 200,000 birds and lots of different species. It was incredible to witness such an abundant display of nature. I loved every second of this magnificent adventure. Thank you so much to the entire team! I will definitely recommend this trip to anyone looking to add something extraordinary to their bucket list!!”
Bianca Boyd - (South Africa, Sep 2024)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

“Take your birding or bird photography to the next level. I’ve been a regular for the past five years and try and do a couple of trips a month – yes, it’s that good! Plenty of seabirds, both in species and numbers, as well as other sealife. The boat is ideal for birding with a complete walk-around design and low enough freeboard to get great angles on your photos. Scott is an amazing host and bird guide with a wealth of pelagic birding knowledge. Luke, an experienced skipper can be relied upon to keep everyone feeling safe. I always return home buzzing with a good dose of soul food.”
Steve Collins - (NZ, been on over 50 tours now!)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

“Thanks so much to you and the team for a wonderful day out today. You guys do a great job! That was definitely my best pelagic day ever.”
Miles Tindal - (Canada, Dec 2024)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

“If you are a birder looking for a full day pelagic trip, I can highly recommend The Petrel Station. I can honestly say it was the best pelagic I have ever been on, both in terms of number of birds and diversity of species. To see huge albatross flying and sitting on the water only a few meters away is truly breathtaking! We had 45 New Zealand Storm Petrel, several species of Petrels, Shearwaters, and Fairy Prions clustered around the back of the boat at length – with so many birds so close there was ample opportunity for photos. On the way back to port we had great views of Australasian Gannet nesting colonies and Gray Noddy roosting among the cliffs. The skipper was very experienced, and tour leader Scott was very knowledgeable about the local seabirds, and he also took care of the E-bird checklists and then shared them with everyone (I really appreciated this gesture). Overall, it was an awesome trip and exceeded all my expectations.”
Daniel Bastaja - (Hungary, Apr 2024)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

“We really enjoyed our trip with you – the seabirding was world class! It was an awesome trip, run superbly and very successfully. Thanks again to you and the skipper.”
Howard Laidlaw - (USA, Jan 2026)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

“My cheeks hurt from smiling so much!! Amazing”
Izzy - (NZ, June 2025)