Travel review of New Zealand: The amazing wildlife

Spring 2014 we were on a cruise from Auckland, New Zealand to Sydney, Australia with Celebrity Cruises. One of the standout memories of this trip were the amazing animals we came across in all our excursions and adventures. Some we found in passing; and some we sought out deliberately. Learn more by reading this travel review of New Zealand.

In Auckland, we experienced the joy of penguins at Kelly Tarlton’s Sea Life Aquatic Adventure. An amazing aquarium with lots to see and explore.

In Akaroa, we enjoyed a fantastic sheep farm with Murray Johns, complete with watching his dog herd the sheep with simple whistles; and a sheep shearing followed by hugs with the sheep! They were very affectionate!

travel review of new zealand — Murray John and the family sheep farm; one of his devoted dogs

In Dunedin we visited a coastal wildlife reserve. Elm Wildlife Tours took us along the Otago Peninsula to see the abundant wildlife. From penguins creeping out from the brush, to sea lions trying to mate after mating season, we were absolutely thrilled with all the critters we saw! I was lucky enough to score a picture of a royal albatross – very challenging given the bright sunshine and how high they fly. Hooker sea lions, yellow-eyed penguins, and the New Zealand fur seal (including very rarely seen females!) were all there.

A great selection from our time in Dunedin along the Otago Peninsula

We finished our wildlife engagement in New Zealand watching the waters of Doubtful and Milford Sound, looking for humpbacks seeking shelter from a winter storm (we were!). Our travel review of New Zealand would be incomplete without all these furry friends!