Pete & Barbara's Penguin Page

Places to see Penguins in the Wild

The table below lists most places where penguins can be seen in their natural habitat. For more details, how to get there, what to expect, etc. click on the place names. But remember, many are very difficult to visit.

Location Species of Penguin that can be seen Accessibility

Southern Australia Little Many places easily accessible

New Zealand Fiordland, Yellow-eyed and Little Yellow-eyed penguins are easy to see on the Otago peninsula. Fiordland penguins can be found on the West Coast with a little patience, Little penguins can be seen in many places

Chatham Islands Little Can be reached by ship or by charter flight from New Zealand

South Africa and Namibia African Probably the most accessible penguin colony anywhere in the world is just a few miles from Capetown

South America Magellanic and Humboldt Relatively straight forward, providing you know in advance where to go

Galapagos Islands Galapagos There are many organised trips to the Galapagos Islands - see your local travel agent.

Falkland Islands King, Gentoo, Magellanic, Rockhopper and Macaroni with other species sometimes visiting There are (expensive) flights from the UK and from South America to the Falklands. Once there the penguins are said to be very easy to find. Several cruise ships call at the Falklands.

South Georgia King, Gentoo, Chinstrap and Macaroni Can only be reached by ship

South Sandwich Islands Gentoo, Chinstrap, Adelie and Macaroni Can only be reached by ship in good ice conditions

South Orkney Islands Gentoo, Chinstrap, Adelie and Macaroni Can only be reached by ship in good ice conditions

South Shetland Islands Gentoo, Chinstrap, Adelie and Macaroni Can only be reached by ship in good ice conditions

Antarctic Peninsula Adelie, Chinstrap, Gentoo and rarely Emperor Can only be reached by ship

Weddell Sea Emperor and Adelie Can only be reached by ship (preferably ice-breaker!) in good ice conditions

Tristan da Cunha Rockhopper Can only be reached by ship

Kerguelen Island King, Gentoo, Rockhopper and Macaroni Can only be reached by ship

Marion and Prince Edward Islands King, Gentoo, Rockhopper and Macaroni Can only be reached by ship

Heard Island King, Gentoo, Rockhopper, Macaroni and occasionally Chinstrap Can only be reached by ship

Macquarie Island King, Gentoo, Royal and Rockhopper Can only be reached by ship

Snares Islands Snares Can only be reached by ship

Auckland Islands Rockhopper and Yellow-eyed with occasional Erect-crested Can only be reached by ship

Campbell Island Rockhopper with a few Yellow-eyeds. We have seen a King and a Chinstrap here as well. Can only be reached by ship

Antipodes Islands Rockhopper and Erect-crested Can only be reached by ship

Bounty Islands Rockhopper and Erect-crested Can only be reached by ship

Balleny Islands Adelie, Chinstrap Can only be reached by ship in good ice conditions

Ross Sea Emperor and Adelie Can only be reached by ship in good ice conditions

Guide to Pete & Barb's Penguin Pages Front Page and Introduction · Descriptions of the Penguins · Detailed Species Notes · Breeding Behaviour · Common questions · Penguin Goodies · Penguin Bibliography · Good Penguin Guide · Photo Index · Links to other penguin sites · 'Penguin-balls' · Endangered Penguins · Return to the top of this page

Location	Species of Penguin that can be seen	Accessibility
Southern Australia	Little	Many places easily accessible
New Zealand	Fiordland, Yellow-eyed and Little	Yellow-eyed penguins are easy to see on the Otago peninsula. Fiordland penguins can be found on the West Coast with a little patience, Little penguins can be seen in many places
Chatham Islands	Little	Can be reached by ship or by charter flight from New Zealand
South Africa and Namibia	African	Probably the most accessible penguin colony anywhere in the world is just a few miles from Capetown
South America	Magellanic and Humboldt	Relatively straight forward, providing you know in advance where to go
Galapagos Islands	Galapagos	There are many organised trips to the Galapagos Islands - see your local travel agent.
Falkland Islands	King, Gentoo, Magellanic, Rockhopper and Macaroni with other species sometimes visiting	There are (expensive) flights from the UK and from South America to the Falklands. Once there the penguins are said to be very easy to find. Several cruise ships call at the Falklands.
South Georgia	King, Gentoo, Chinstrap and Macaroni	Can only be reached by ship
South Sandwich Islands	Gentoo, Chinstrap, Adelie and Macaroni	Can only be reached by ship in good ice conditions
South Orkney Islands	Gentoo, Chinstrap, Adelie and Macaroni	Can only be reached by ship in good ice conditions
South Shetland Islands	Gentoo, Chinstrap, Adelie and Macaroni	Can only be reached by ship in good ice conditions
Antarctic Peninsula	Adelie, Chinstrap, Gentoo and rarely Emperor	Can only be reached by ship
Weddell Sea	Emperor and Adelie	Can only be reached by ship (preferably ice-breaker!) in good ice conditions
Tristan da Cunha	Rockhopper	Can only be reached by ship
Kerguelen Island	King, Gentoo, Rockhopper and Macaroni	Can only be reached by ship
Marion and Prince Edward Islands	King, Gentoo, Rockhopper and Macaroni	Can only be reached by ship
Heard Island	King, Gentoo, Rockhopper, Macaroni and occasionally Chinstrap	Can only be reached by ship
Macquarie Island	King, Gentoo, Royal and Rockhopper	Can only be reached by ship
Snares Islands	Snares	Can only be reached by ship
Auckland Islands	Rockhopper and Yellow-eyed with occasional Erect-crested	Can only be reached by ship
Campbell Island	Rockhopper with a few Yellow-eyeds. We have seen a King and a Chinstrap here as well.	Can only be reached by ship
Antipodes Islands	Rockhopper and Erect-crested	Can only be reached by ship
Bounty Islands	Rockhopper and Erect-crested	Can only be reached by ship
Balleny Islands	Adelie, Chinstrap	Can only be reached by ship in good ice conditions
Ross Sea	Emperor and Adelie	Can only be reached by ship in good ice conditions