Port To Port Cruises And Wildlife Tours

03/06/2026

Finally! Someone fondly described my commentary as intense!! (Google reviews)
It does feel a little intense to me sometimes because Ive got alot of stories to tell! But only a certain amount of time, so I pick and choose what each particular group will get. So I choose my words carefully, deliberately and clearly!
Its one of my favourite parts of my 'job'! My absolute and most favourite though, is the connection and the laughs with my passengers!!

THANK you for reviewing and your word of mouth!! Once again, you have helped Port To Port Cruises and Wildlife Tours to achieve the Trip Advisor Travelers' Choice Award for 2026! (Trip Advisor reviews.)
This places us in the top 10% of experiences WORLD WIDE!
As voted by our actual passengers and not an award we have applied or paid for, as are many tourism awards.
But we have been chosen because of the many wonderful reviews we receive from our valued passengers 😍Thank you for helping us win this and also thank you for keeping this little local business afloat. If it weren't for you, we wouldnt be here!
Rachel:)

https://www.tripadvisor.co.nz/Attraction_Review-g4013742-d14189031-Reviews-Port_To_Port_Cruises_and_Wildife_Tours-Port_Chalmers_Otago_Region_South_Island.html

30/05/2026

With some special dolphin viewing this week on our Wildlife Cruise, I just has to search for and reshare this video from a few years ago! I put my camera under the water and unexpectedly captured dolphin conversations! Squeaks, shrieks and clicks! Listen when the camera is under the water! These guys were very talkative!!
(If you done want to watch the whole things the most talkative is at about 1.55mins and 3mins. But also 56 sec and 1.37 mins)

Bottlenosed dolphins on July 14th 2020 at Taiaroa Head

29/05/2026

16/05/2026

Yes! We are still operating every day!
As long as we've got a few bookings in the system!
The forecast for tomorrow and almost every day this week looks PERFECT for cycling the Otago Harbour Loop!
Hop on the Original Port to Port Cycle Ferry with me, to get across from Port to Port with your bike!
Bookings essential!

Use this link below to go directly to our official website.

Porttoport.co.nz

Or call 020 416 24250

Rachel 🤗 ❤️ 💜

10/05/2026

A New Zealand Sea Lion has been at Back Beach alot this week!
Has anyone else seen him hanging around?
It was a little bit hard to launch the Sootychaser as he was lying on the boat ramp one morning!
It's quite hard to convince a Sea Lion to move once they are comfortable!
(Update! It's fish skin in the sea lions mouth, not plastic!)

03/05/2026

FREE CHILDREN!
We are doing it again! We are giving away children especially for Mothers Day!
They’ve cost you a small fortune so far—here’s your chance get children for free!!

Purchase a voucher (link below or send us an email) and we’ll give you one free child's ticket with every adult ticket for Wildlife Cruise, Ferry or Mini Tour.

Vouchers are emailed to you, so you can print a nice one to gift. Prefer it posted? Just let us know on purchasing.
(👉 The voucher can be used anytime, not just on mother's day)

If you would like a free child or two for Mother's Day, or know someone who could do with some themselves, share this post or gift them a voucher, to use when they are ready!

(Just to be clear, you wont be receiving additional children, you’ll need to bring your own) 😉

Please click the link to see prices for each product. And browse our website to see the details of each option!

porttoport.co.nz
[email protected]
02041624250

https://porttoportcruises.rezdy.com/762594/mother-day-gift-voucher-free-children

28/04/2026

See anything unusual? 😅
Apparently the unusual object is more of a novelty and nuisance then practical and enjoyable 😅❤️💜
These ladies were up for a fun afternoon!
It ended up being a private 'ladies cruise' on Sootychaser '!

25/04/2026

Well that was awhile ago!
2014.
Which was 8 years into my first commercial skippers role on a 16.95m old wooden boat, single screw, Detroit Diesel, carrying up to 75 passengers at a time!
Sometimes we were so full (and I am so short!) that I used to berth (park) the boat without being able to see the sides of it or the wharf.
I maneuvered based on the shape of the people lined up against the rails (that must be where the boat ended!) and also on where those people were looking (they were usually looking at the wharf as it got closer)!
That's how I knew where the side of the boat was in relation to the wharf!
This photo was taken near the end of my career with this company and the start of a new era on other vessels, mostly workboats , until Sootychaser was built , completed in 2018.

16/04/2026

Did you know the Port To Port Ferry is liquor licensed?
Not that we are planning on serving alcohol on Anzac day, Good Friday, Easter, or Christmas day, but we have just been advised that we CAN!
But we DO plan on offering you bubbly, beer and wine on your birthday, engagement or wedding party, hens or stag party, graduation or Christmas work party, if you ask us to!

Get in touch for us to have a bar board for your private party!

Because we are the only licensed ferry on Otago Harbour.
Up to 20 passengers at a time, bathroom onboard, heated cabin and quality sound system for music or commentary or both.

Wildlife Cruise, Mini Harbour Tour or Pub to Pub ferry with a bar onboard:)

BYO snacks or we can organize a local business to bring some quality food to us:)
Enquires:
020 416 24250
[email protected]

16/04/2026

Treasure Hunts and Cycle Ferry today, despite the wind!
The Quarantine Island Treasure Hunt was not affected by the winds as the wharf and buildings/playground are all on the sheltered side of the island luckily!
Children bring back 'gold' in exchange of 'real treasure '.
They also bring back 'natural treasures' to keep, usually rocks or shells.
Though today children brought back a sick (real) mouse 🐭 🫣 and a birds nest complete with an entire deceased bird family!
Hmmmmm! Love the kids!😅
We got a rotten bird egg once too which managed to get broken onboard 😅🤢
Treasures instead!

And a hardy family on a Bespoke Tours Dunedin came onboard the Cycle Ferry on e-bikes, to combat the strong winds!

A memorable day for sure!

It was exciting, windy, fun and a little bit disgusting 😅🥰

New Zealand Festival of Nature