seabird charter tours

Tutukaka, New Zealand

This is ideal for a bunch of birding mates or a 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.

We’re more than happy to organise single day or multi-day pelagic seabird charter tours out to The Petrel Station for private birding groups, from New Zealand or internationally.

We can take up to 8 people (and if you’re a couple of people short we can always try and find extra people to help the costs down). And every seabird charter tour out also helps out towards seabird research project.

To request a private charter simply complet the form below, with the date(s) you’re interested in, and the number of people in your birding group, and we’ll let you know the boat availability and charter costs.

Check out this tour report for a recent three day private seabird charter to The Petrel Station to see the impressive list of seabirds we recorded over the three days.

Charter tours work well for:

  • Groups of birdwatching friends who want a unique seabird experience.

  • Overseas birders travelling to New Zealand who only have set days available.

  • People who want to have a personal experience with New Zealands stunning seabirds.

  • If the scheduled tour dates don’t work for you but you’re keen to get out.

  • Research / University groups

Make a charter Request

To request a private charter seabird tour out to The Petrel Station please fill in this charter request form, and then we’ll let you know the boat availability and costs.

Before booking please note that we have certain requirements for people participating on our seabird tours to ensure they are suitable to be onboard, as we travel well offshore. All people in your group will need to meet these requirements. Please read through our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) page which has lots of info about the tours, paying particular note of the following sections: 'Are the tours suitable for everyone?', 'Stability and general fitness', 'Ocean / weather conditions', 'Seasickness', 'Can children come onboard?'

If you would like to enquire further about private charter seabird tours 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).

Cancellation policy for charters

Cancellation (by you):

  • If you cancel your charter booking MORE than 60 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 charter booking WITHIN 60 days prior to the tour date then there are no refunds or credits

Cancellation (by us):
We reserve the right to cancel any tour due to adverse conditions, Covid, or any other reason. 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 agreed upon tour date.

When is a decision made on whether a tour goes ahead or not?
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. The skipper’s decision is final. In regard to adverse 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 tour (and may be more, or less, than this depending on the day). We still go out if it’s raining.

get some gear

Get that super stylish seabirdy look with The Petrel Station’s official team t-shirts and hats.

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Find out when new seabird tour dates are added, and other news from The Petrel Station.