
To request a booking on any upcoming Petrel Station pelagic seabird tour(s) check out the costs and booking info, and then complete the request form below.

Get 20% off winter 2025 seabird tours!
We’re knocking 20% off the price for all The Petrel Station’s seabird tours going during MAY to AUGUST 2025. It’s a great time of year for Albatross and a range of other stunning seabirds (check out The Seasons page to see what's been seen). It’s always a great day out…. and the best way to experience them is out on the ocean, in their world :).
COST & booking info
TOUR COSTS (per person):
NZ$375 - Standard cost.
NZ$300 - WINTER 2025 SPECIAL
For all tours during May to August 2025.
Tours go for 9 to 10 hours which gives you lots of time out on the ocean to enjoy the stunning seabirds we can encounter.
Each tour needs 8 people booked or the tour may not go ahead. If the final number of people booked on a tour is less than 8, but everyone booked agrees to go ahead, then we’re happy to run the tour but an additional cost p/p will apply.
When is payment due?
Payment in full is required upon booking for a tour. Please note: a booking isn’t confirmed until payment is received.
What payment options are there?
Within New Zealand payment is via online banking.
For people outside of New Zealand payment can be made either using PayPal (please note theres an additional 5% fee on top of the p/person cost to cover the fees that PayPal charges us), or via WISE (which generally has less fees).
Private charters:
We’re happy to organise private charter pelagic seabird tours out to The Petrel Station for individuals or birding groups, from New Zealand or international. For more details and to request a booking, please check out the Private Seabird Charters page.
IMPORTANT FAQ’s:
Before making a booking request please read the following FAQ’s to ensure the tours are suitable for you (or anyone coming with you), and our cancellation/refund policy, tour decisions and alternative tour options. There’s also lots more info about the tours on our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) page.
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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 you will be on a boat (which can be an unstable platform) for the duration of the activity, and may be moving around to varying amounts depending on the size of the wind and swell. Due to this there are some exceptions to who can be onboard ... so these tours are not suitable for:
– people with serious back or neck problems.
– people who have stability issues.
– people with heart conditions.
– people who have recently had surgery.
– expectant mothers.
– people with mobility issues or in wheelchairs.
– children under 10 years old.Please let us know of any medical conditions, allergies or mobility issues you have that may affect you being on the boat and taking part in the tour. We travel well offshore so it's important for us to know any medical conditions, allergies or stability/mobility issues in advance. 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). You must also ensure you have the required amount of medication supplies with you for the duration of the tour.
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’.
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These tours are an open ocean adventure activity and you MUST be stable on your feet and you must be able to move around the boat unassisted, and also have a good general fitness, especially on the rougher days when the boat will be moving about. The boat may also make sudden movements due to swell.
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.
The decks and hatches may be slippery when wet, or from fish residue. Please take care when getting on and off the boat, and when moving around on the boat while its stationery or moving. Also be aware there are some small steps on the boat as well.
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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 (up to around about 15-20 knot winds and 2-2.5 metre 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 generally go if it’s raining.
It’s worth noting that stronger wind is great for the seabirds as they are really active and soaring around which is always marvellous to watch.
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If you are prone to seasickness then you must 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 also recommended you have a good sleep, and avoid alcohol the night before the tour.
Also please be advised that seasickness during the tour is not grounds for a refund.
It’s definitely well worth getting out there to experience the stunning seabirds in their environment.
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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 and must actively supervise them for the entirety of the tour. You must also make sure they follow any instructions given by the crew.
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. 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.
Please read through the other FAQ notes about ‘Ocean and Weather conditions on the day’, and ‘Seasickness’.
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The following is our 'Cancellation and Refund' policy:
Cancellation (by you):
If you cancel your booking MORE THAN 45 days prior to the tour date then any tour money paid to us will be refunded (less a 10% cancellation fee), or, money paid can be credited over to a future tour date.
If you cancel your booking WITHIN 45 days prior to the tour date then there are no refunds or credits. However, (1) if the tour ends up being cancelled by us, or, (2) in the event that we manage to fill your place on the tour, then any tour money paid to us will be refunded (less any applicable payment fees incurred), or, money paid can be credited over to a future tour date.
Cancellation (by us):
We reserve the right to cancel any tour due to adverse conditions, not enough people booked on a tour, or any other reason whatsoever. If we cancel a tour then any tour money paid to us will be refunded (less any applicable payment fees incurred), or, money paid can be credited to a future tour.
Please note:
There is no refund if you’re late & miss the boat.
We are not responsible or liable for any other costs you may incur getting here to participate in the seabird tours. If a tour is cancelled you will only be refunded the actual tour cost itself (less any applicable payment fees incurred).
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The skipper monitors the 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 need to be made the day before if weather and swell conditions dictate. The skipper’s decision is final.
We will let you know about the tour decision via email to the email address you provided when you made the booking (please check your spam folder if needed)
In regard to adverse conditions, generally the most we go out in is about 15-20 knot winds and 2 meter swells but this depends on a number of factors for each tour (and may be more, or less, than this depending on the day). We generally still go out if it’s raining.
Note: If you're booking domestic flights within NZ to get up here we'd recommend using the 'Flexi-fare' option just in case the tour gets cancelled.
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In the event that there aren't enough people booked on a tour date then that tour may be cancelled. We will get in touch with the participants booked on that tour date approx 1 to 2 weeks prior to the tour. In this case our first option will be to check if the participants currently booked would still like the tour to go ahead based on the fact that additional costs p/p will apply to cover the minimum booking numbers requirements.
If this is not an option then the tour will be cancelled and any tour money paid to us will be refunded (less any applicable payment fees incurred), or, money paid can be credited to a future tour.
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.
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If a tour is cancelled due to adverse weather/ocean conditions we may be able to offer an alternative 'Closer to shore' tour option to an area that may not be affected as much by the conditions so you can still get out (ie. it may be too rough to go out 40km offshore, but it may still be possible to do a closer to shore tour). The decision on where we might go will be based on conditions on the day, but please note that for the closer to shore option there will likely be a decrease in the number of seabird species encountered on the day as some species are only generally found out in deeper waters (ie NZ Storm Petrel) but it still gives the chance to get out with the seabirds.
For the closer to shore tour option to proceed either all the participant on that tour will need to agree to doing the alternative option, or if only some participants want to proceed then there will be additional shared costs per person to cover the difference.
For some tours that get cancelled it's not possible to offer an alternative option for the same day (ie the adverse weather/ocean conditions make it not possible to get out at all). In this case, where possible, we may look to try and move the tour to either the day before, or the day after the scheduled tour date but this is dependant on boat availability, and if conditions are suitable. In general the boat is usually already fully booked up during our busy spring and summer seasons (Sep through to April) so an alternative date option is usually not possible during those months but we'll still try to make it work if we can. In the quieter autumn and winter seasons (May to August) the boat is more likely to be available so we may be able to offer an alternative date around these times.
If none of the above options are possible then the tour will cancelled and any tour money paid to us will be refunded (less any applicable payment fees incurred), or, money paid can be credited to a future tour.
Make a booking request
You can make a Petrel Station seabird tour booking request by filling in this booking form. We will get back to you with availability for your selected date, the payment details and any further information.
You can find the current available tour dates on our Upcoming Tours page.
If you would like to enquire further about booking then you can either email us at seabirds@thepetrelstation.nz, or you give us a call on 021 322 324 (from within NZ), or +64 21 322 324 (for outside NZ).
get some gear
Get that super stylish seabirdy look with The Petrel Station’s official team t-shirts and hats.

charter tours
Ideal for a bunch of birding mates or birdwatching group to have your own stunning New Zealand seabird experience out at The Petrel Station ... and every bird tour helps towards the seabird research project.