Overview

Pohatu is the largest Australasian Little Penguin colony on mainland New Zealand. Francis and Shireen Helps have worked over the last three decades protecting White-flippered Penguins (Eudyptula minor albosignata), Canterbury's own variant of Australasian Little Penguin, from introduced predators and have won recognition in a number of awards for their work in penguin and habitat conservation. Because of the sensitive wildlife habitat only guided groups are taken into the breeding colony to view the White-flippered Penguins.

Pohatu Penguins/Plunge NZ LTD offers unique nature and sea kayak tours from Akaroa, New Zealand. The tour options all visit Pohatu Marine Reserve at a small coastal bay nestled between dramatic volcanic headlands on Banks Peninsula. Pohatu is home to the largest Little Penguin colony on mainland New Zealand.

On these tours you may also see one of the Yellow Eyed Penguins who frequent the bay.