Though Auckland was mostly rest, I can’t resist a good wildlife encounter. I found the Penguin Passport experience while googling wildlife encounters near Auckland and at first I was hesitant. After giving them a call to dig a little bit into the ethics I found that this is the world’s largest sub-Antarctic penguin colony and that they are part of a breeding program.
The penguins on site have either been rescued or rehabbed from injuries that wouldn’t allow them to return to the wild, that coupled with the fact they are part of a larger breeding program and you aren’t allowed to touch the penguins helped me feel like I could ethically participate in this experience.
We were able to get into the icy penguin enclosure and the photographer snapped away. It turns out they are very curious little creatures and though we can’t touch them, they can certainly touch you. My sweater zipper was nibbled and then I was chosen by a female penguin named Piwakawaka or Piwi for short and it was love at first nibble. She followed me around everywhere and eventually hopped in my lap and tucked her beak in my hair.
I can die happy now.
Wandering Wild 