Seal Coast Safari

OVERVIEW

Head off-road into the unspoiled wilds along Wellington’s southern coastline to observe a thriving colony of fur seals in their natural habitat. Expect an immensely scenic trip as your driver transports you in a 4-wheel-drive vehicle specifically designed for traversing rugged terrain. The landscape around here certainly qualifies; it’s craggy, hilly, and lots of it is inaccessible to anything short of the kind of rig you’re riding in. You’ll travel southwest along a fault line that runs the length of the North Island, treated to jaw-dropping views of the surrounding mountains and even those of the South Island across Cook Strait. Your destination: Tongue Point, a rocky spit of land jutting into the sea, where you’ll drive onto the beach and into a seal bonanza. Once on the brink of extinction, now-protected fur seals have made a steady comeback. Their hallmarks are visible external ears, pointy whiskered snouts, and delightfully social and animated behavior. You’ll have more than two hours to watch them interact here on the rocky shore and regularly head into the sea to cool down. Able to dive underwater for as long as 11 minutes at a time, they are spectacularly nimble in the water.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Head out from the pier by specially equipped 4WD, bound for the very southern tip of the North Island.
• Revel in spectacular views, including all the way across windy Cook Strait, as your driver follows a fault line out to wild Tongue Point.
• Now down on the rocky beach, spend over two hours observing a thriving colony of fur seals in their natural habitat.
• Watch in fascination as these plush-furred, highly social marine mammals interact on land and dive into the sea to hunt for fish, squid and octopus.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear casual, weather-appropriate clothing; include a light jacket or raincoat.
• Flat, sturdy walking shoes are recommended.
• Bring a hat, a bottle of water from the ship, and sunglasses and sunscreen as needed.