North Island

Gannet Safaris Overland tour to Cape Kidnappers Gannet Colony

North Island, New Zealand
Gannet Safaris Overland tour to Cape Kidnappers Gannet Colony
  • 3 hours
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Overview

The gannets at Cape Kidnappers are well known to conservationists and Hawkes Bay locals but, because their colony is situated on a private station, it can be difficult to get up close to say hello. With permits to cross the land, this tour offers an experience of the bay that most visitors to Napier miss out on. Cross Cape Kidnappers Station's riverbeds, gullies and pasture in comfort and style; your journey is operated using rugged, air-conditioned vehicles.
  • Fit this tour in around your other plans, with morning and afternoon departures
  • Avoid walking long distances and drive to within meters of the gannet colony
  • Stop at a cliff top to enjoy views of Hawke's Bay across to the Mahia Peninsula
  • Learn all about farming on Cape Kidnappers Station with your guide's commentary

What's Included

  • Beverages
  • Air-conditioned vehicle
  • Transport by air-conditioned minivan
  • Coffee and/or Tea
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off (if option not selected)
  • This tour is not available for cruise ship passengers

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

  • 396 Clifton Road, Clifton 4180, New Zealand

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Cape Kidnappers (Pass By)

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Stroller accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Most travelers can participate
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 50 travelers
Operated by Gannet Safaris Overland

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
  • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
  • This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

See more
Featured review
Paul_T
A complete experience - very interesting learning about the life of Gannets. Our tour guide (Mick) was outstanding and gave an excellent running commentary about the Gannets and the farm and features of the peninsula.

Reviews

5.0
645 reviews
Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
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Reviews by Viator travelers.
Showing 1-10 of 645 reviews
A bucket list experience
Paul_T, Mar 2024
A complete experience - very interesting learning about the life of Gannets. Our tour guide (Mick) was outstanding and gave an excellent running commentary about the Gannets and the farm and features of the peninsula.
Gannet Safari Overland Tours is absolutely recommendable
Sren_O, Feb 2024
20000 gannets in one place is an amazing sight, and seeing the young birds trying to get on their wings is a really special experience. Gannet Safari Overland Tours did a great job and is absolutely recommendable.
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Kia Ora, isn't it amazing seeing all the gannets at all their different life stages! We appreciate your review :)
Great Gannets tour
Clare_B, Feb 2024
Excellent trip, drive through the reserve to the Gannets was incredible great scenery and great commentary for the duration. Guide was very knowledgeable and happy to answer questions.
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Kia Ora, we are pleased you had such an excellent out to the plateau. The scenes out at the cape are wonderful aren't they! Nga Mihi for your review :)
We’ll worth doing.
Ann_L, Feb 2024
Fabulous trip. The guides were so knowledgeable….we learnt so much about the gannets but also about farming in the area. To see so many birds together in one place was amazing.
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Kia Ora, we are so pleased you enjoyed our tour and our drivers wonderful expertise! We appreciate your review :)
Highlight of trip
pat_s, Feb 2024
Mick was a wonderful driver! The ride was amazing and the view at the top of the gannets was stunning. We had enough time to watch the gannets and the scenery.
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Kia Ora, we are pleased you enjoyed our tour out to the plateau. The views out at the cape are amazing aren't they! Nga mihi for your review :)
Super Cape Kidnappers
Cris_M, Feb 2024
Gannet colony fantastic Bus driver very knowledgeable Would highly recommend this experience. Beautiful views
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Kia Ora, we are pleased you enjoyed the wonderful scenes and the knowledge of you driver on our tour! We appreciate your review :)
The sceneries were great...
Jitesh_S, Feb 2024
The sceneries were great but not worth for the price paid. It would be great to provide reasonable and cheaper package.
Enjoyable commentary on...
Shane_H, Feb 2024
Enjoyable commentary on route. Friendly staff. Wonderful experience from start to finish. Highly recommend to all.
Response from Host, Feb 2024
Kia Ora, we are pleased you enjoyed our tour out to the plateau and the commentary of your knowledgeable driver. We appreciate your review :)
Fantastic trip to see the gannets in Napier
Charles_F, Jan 2024
The Gannet Safari Tour was outstanding in every way from booking, reception, the tour through the farm/golf course, Wayne's commentary to the absolute wow of seeing the gannet colony from just feet away. You see gannet chicks being fed, others stretching their wings to migrate, whilst the parents continually fly back and forth collecting food. The transport was very comfortable and we felt very safe. Virtually no walking is necessary (5 paces from the bus) and tea and coffee are provided. All in all a really good trip.
Response from Host, Jan 2024
Kia Ora, we are so pleased you found our tour to be an outstanding experience. Isn't it spectacular watching the gannets interact with one another! Nga Mihi for your review :)
A very special must do tour
Debbie_L, Nov 2023
The highlight of our north island stay. The farm is spectacular and the birds add to the joy of being there. Very informative guide.
Response from Host, Nov 2023
Kia Ora! We are thrilled to hear our tour was the highlight of your north island stay. Thank you so much for your review :)
Fantastic trip, our Guide...
carey_F, Oct 2023
Fantastic trip, our Guide Jan, was very knowledgeable about the birds and of the local history of Cape Kidnappers and surrounding districts. We would definitely do this trip again, we found it fascinating.
Response from Host, Nov 2023
Kia Ora! All of our guides are extremely knowledgable about the cape and the birds. We are so pleased you enjoyed your tour with Jan :)
unreal fantastic breathtaking
wally, Sep 2023
It was great enjoyable and the view was remarkable and the garnets were magnificent the service was great and Grahame was very friendly
Response from Host, Nov 2023
Kia Ora, the views out at the plateau are breathtaking aren't they! We are glad you appreciate them as much as we do.
The tour was overpriced...
Silvana_C, Nov 2022
The tour was overpriced (to me) for what we did. Basically a ride out, look at gannets and come back. It was billed as a three hour tour. Two hours would be plenty. The many difficulty was for Americans snd foreigners to understand the guide. He was very professional and accommodating, but his accent was very strong. There were some Dutch people who spoke English, but they could understand him so they talked amongst themselves in Dutch, making it harder to hear. Same with some French people. The Americans kept saying” what did he say?” It was a bit of a free for all on the bus ride.
Response from Host, Nov 2022
Many thanks or the review, we value all feedback. Usually we get that is not enough time at the colony as everyone loves the scenery and birds so much. It does get difficult with accents & always good to have reminders about seeking slowly. Enjoy the rest of your travels.
Birds
Maria, Feb 2020
A great experience. This was real, not a film. Our tourguide David gave a good explanation. We had enough time to watch the birds.
Response from Host, Apr 2020
Thank you for taking the time to review our tour. Everyone loves it. Cheers :)
Must do trip
Gordon_C, Feb 2020
Amazing afternoon. The gannets were incredible. The trip overland was very interesting, wonderful scenery and Tony's commentary was excerllent
Response from Host, Apr 2020
Thank you for reviewing Gannet Safaris Overland. It was a pleasure to have you join our tour.
Fantastic tour !
CorneliaN_P, Jan 2020
This is like National Geographic tour with an amazing photo opportunities. Long adventurous drive. Highly recommended.
Best Tourist Attraction in Hawke’s Bay
Michael_E, Jan 2020
What a wonderful trip! Great commentary and stunning views and that was BEFORE reaching the gannet colony. As screeching cacophony of sound greets you on arrival. How on earth they manage to differentiate each other’s calls is staggering. A visual never ending delight of swooping birds circling the area. A memory to treasure! Just one critique - no safety briefing beforehand. Seat belts are fitted so should be worn. Also, when stopping on steep hills when the diver has to leave the bus to open/close gates, the vehicle should (in addition to the hand brake) be left in gear. This gives back up in the unexpected event of any brake malfunction.
Amazing Gannets
juliesmithvos, Jan 2020
This was a fantastic trip to see wildlife up close. The weather gods were looking on us that day which made for a very pleasent 3 hours. Great commentating and an amazing photo opportunitites. All the people I dealt with were very friendly and answered any questions that I asked.
Birds of a feather
Gerald_R, Dec 2019
The scenery to the Gannet colony was awesome. Our guide was very knowledgeable about the area and the gannets. Coming around the corner and seeing the mass amount of gannets was an experience we will never forget. We would highly recommend this tour.
Best Bird Bus
stevem950fhg, Nov 2019
A trip to the Napier is not complete without taking the Gannet Safaris Overland tour to Cape Kidnappers Gannet Colony. The drive through the rugged region just to get to the colony is worth it all by itself. Our guide Jan was superb and explained everything we saw and also what to look for in advance. The gannets are the star of the show and they did not disappoint. Flying, soaring, sitting on their egg, doing their mating dance, we saw it all. The tour left us with lots of time on top of the bluff to see it all and take as many photos as we wanted. Great coffee and tea with a biscuit too. Well done Gannet Safaris Overland tour!
Response from Host, Nov 2019
Thank you for reviewing Gannet Safaris Overland. It is such an amazing trip isn’t it. Jan is wonderful as all our guides are. The birds are just spectacular aren’t they and they really do like showing off! Happy travels

From $59.52

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

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