Gannet Safaris Overland
396 Clifton Road, Te Awanga 4180
Rating: 4.8 ★ (497 ratings)
Details
Gannet Safaris Overland offers a distinctive tour experience in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand, providing the sole overland access to the impressive gannet colony at Cape Kidnappers. This adventure transports visitors across a beautiful working farm, pristine coastline, and indigenous bush to a significant privately-owned nature reserve. The character of the journey is one of immersive exploration and close encounters with wildlife, establishing a captivating atmosphere for those eager to connect with New Zealand's natural splendour in a truly remarkable setting. With over five decades of operation, it stands as a testament to dedicated conservation and showcasing natural wonders.
The primary highlight is undoubtedly the exceptional opportunity to observe over 20,000 gannets from just a few metres away in their natural breeding environment at the Cape Kidnappers colony, with the added convenience of no walking required. Travellers embark on a comfortable 4x4 expedition through varied terrain, including riverbeds, expansive pastures, and steep gullies, all whilst enjoying breathtaking panoramic views across Hawke's Bay. Throughout the approximately three-hour tour, knowledgeable guides provide engaging commentary on the local geology, European history, and farming practices, enriching the overall discovery. En route, stops at spectacular cliff-top lookouts offer sweeping vistas of Hawke Bay stretching towards the distant Mahia Peninsula.
This safari is perfectly suited for wildlife enthusiasts, nature lovers, and anyone seeking an accessible yet thrilling outdoor adventure. It caters well to individuals, families, and groups, including those visiting via cruise ship, as the lack of walking makes it enjoyable for all ages and mobility levels. The compelling blend of exciting off-road travel, magnificent New Zealand landscapes, and the chance to witness a flourishing gannet colony at such close quarters creates indelible memories of a genuinely unique wildlife experience. Operating seasonally from August or September through to April or May, including Christmas Day, the tour offers various options such as regular, sunrise, private, and cruise ship excursions.
Location
Opening Hours
Monday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Thursday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Sunday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Contact
+64 27 243 7508 | http://www.gannetsafaris.co.nz/
Comments
You start the tour at their heart quarters which had a cute gift shop, restrooms & all the info needed! They broke our large tour into two groups (I loved that they didn’t pack us all on one bus) and we broke into groups in the buses.
The ride out to the gannet colony is pretty long- which ended up being really nice! Great views & lots of history the entire ride.
We really loved our guide, John, who was not only knowledgeable, but also had a great sense of humor! He shared lots of information while driving us to the colony.
Once at the colony (on a beautiful sea cliff with amazing views) you get out and up close to the gannets! I read online you get close but didn’t realize you get INCHES close!! They have a wooden divider were you can’t go across but the gannets come super close and seemed curious about the humans visiting their land. It was seriously breathtaking to see the thousands of birds, all nesting, flying around, doing mating calls and waddling around up close! Great for photographers!
It was really unique to just be let out of the bus and enjoy the gannets on your own terms. They gave us about 45 minutes at the colony so lots of time to see them and soak it in! The colony was massive during Mid January when we did the tour. It was really out of this world to be that close and witness nature.
After enjoying the colony, they drove us back to the head quarters! John stopped at a beautiful cliff overlook on the way back which was a nice bonus!
We really enjoyed the tour from the beautiful drive up to the colony and getting to witness such a majestic colony up close!
Don't Miss destination. Fabulous tour. Very knowledgeable guide, Wayne, the OG. Stunning views. And the gannets! So many. So cool. Late summer we could see adults, juveniles and even a few late babies. Loved their ruckus.
Amazing to see and photograph. Wayne produced tea, coffee and biscuits to break our journey. He entertained us with facts and past/current stories. Despite the damp weather, we thoroughly enjoyed our afternoon out. Thanks Wayne for a great time!