View Yellow-Eyed Penguins in their natural habitat…

Otago

Only three species of penguins breed on mainland New Zealand and of those, the rarest is the Yellow-Eyed Penguin – in fact it is the rarest penguin in the world. If you visit Curio Bay in the south Catlins at dawn or dusk you are likely to see the tall handsome bird making its way to or from its nesting place and the ocean. The hoiho can easily be distinguished by its yellow eyes and a yellow band of feathers around its head. The Yellow-Eyed Penguin is known as hoiho, a name given by the Maori which translates as ‘noisy shouter’ – if you hear the hoiho you will understand why! A trip to Curio Bay to view the Yellow-Eyed Penguin is a magical experience – just make sure you give the shy bird some space and watch from a distance.