Points forts de la ville de Dunedin, paysages de la péninsule d'Otago et visite guidée de la réserve de manchots

Thank you for your email and for taking the time to share your feedback following your tour. We understand that you were hoping to see penguins in the wild, and we are sorry to hear that this was disappointing for you on this occasion. As mentioned in our previous correspondence, wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed. Yellow-eyed penguins are the rarest penguin species in the world, with only around 300 breeding pairs, and are extremely difficult to encounter in the wild. At this time of year, sightings are particularly not guaranteed due to the penguins’ breeding cycle. The chicks have already been raised and the moulting period has finished, meaning both Yellow-eyed and Little Blue Penguins spend significantly less time on land and are mostly at sea. During your visit, there were over 20 Yellow-eyed penguins in the rehabilitation centre, where they receive care before being released back into the wild. While this is not the same as seeing them in their natural habitat, it still provides a valuable opportunity to observe and learn about this endangered species. Your tour with our guide Teresa included over six hours of service, covering Dunedin city highlights, the Otago Peninsula, and a 1.5-hour guided experience at the penguin reserve, as outlined in the itinerary. All components of the tour were delivered as advertised. Based on feedback from both our guide and the OPERA reserve staff, we were advised that throughout the tour you expressed strong dissatisfaction, including disputing information provided by their team. Several guests present also noted that this created an uncomfortable environment for both staff and fellow travellers. In addition, we were informed that there were multiple occasions where you did not return to the bus on time at various stops. This placed additional pressure on our driver-guide to keep the tour running on time for all guests. We would also like to clarify that we have contacted the management of the OPERA reserve directly, and they have confirmed that no refunds were agreed or authorised on their side. Fantail Tours does not have control over any informal discussions that may have taken place during your visit. As the tour was delivered in full and wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, we are unfortunately unable to offer a refund. We appreciate your feedback and will continue working with our partners to ensure expectations are communicated as clearly as possible. We are sorry that this experience did not meet your expectations and hope you were still able to enjoy the unique landscapes and other aspects of your day.

Thank you for your feedback. We’re pleased to hear the tour gave you a good overview of the area. Our tour is advertised as a 6-hour experience, although on some days the guide may extend it slightly if the ship’s departure time allows. We do aim to keep it close to six hours, though occasionally it may run a little longer due to factors such as different walking paces at the Botanic Garden or traffic conditions. Regarding lunch, we do allow 30–40 minutes for a quick lunch break. While there isn’t time for a long sit-down hot meal, the stop is intended to give guests time for a light meal or café visit. As our tours aim to include many highlights in a single day, we find this to be a good balance. We appreciate your comments and will continue working with our guides to keep the tour close to the advertised duration while ensuring guests have time for a short lunch break.

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed exploring both Dunedin city and the beautiful Otago Peninsula during your day with us. It’s wonderful that the wildlife viewing was such a highlight, especially seeing penguins and sea lions in their natural environment. The peninsula is a very special place for that. We’re also pleased to hear that Teresa looked after you well and ensured the day ran smoothly while fitting in as much as possible. We’ll be sure to pass your kind comments on to her.

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience. We’re very happy to hear that your day was so well organised and enjoyable, and that you were able to experience so much during your time with us. We’ll be sure to pass your kind words on to Teresa—she’ll be pleased to hear them. Your recommendation truly means a lot to us.

Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! We’re so happy to hear that you enjoyed the full experience, from the scenic stops to the wildlife encounters. We will pass your kind words on to our guide, Teresa—she’ll be delighted to hear them. It’s always great to know our efforts to provide a memorable, informative, and fun day are appreciated. We truly value your recommendation.

We’re really pleased to hear the day was enjoyable for your whole family and that the tour struck a nice balance between learning and fun. It’s especially lovely to know the younger travellers had a great time too—those moments often become the most memorable. Thanks again for choosing to tour with us.

Thank you for sharing your feedback with us. We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed your time exploring Dunedin and the surrounding areas. It’s great to know the day felt well paced and that the variety of scenery and wildlife made the experience memorable. I’ll be sure to pass your kind comments on to Teresa—she’ll really appreciate them. We hope you left with wonderful memories of your visit and thank you for choosing Fantail Tours.

Thank you so much for your wonderful review! I’m thrilled to hear you enjoyed the experience. It was a pleasure sharing the day with you and finding ways to make it special along the way!

Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback. We’re thrilled to hear the day was both enjoyable and informative, and that the energy and passion behind the experience made it stand out for you. Knowing it ranks so highly among your excursions truly means a lot to our team. We really appreciate you sharing your thoughts.