untamedNZ tour company

We had a half day tour booked with Mateo, we visited the Orokonui reserve and had a blast spotting all kinds of birds with his bird-whispering abilities.After that we had a short but very interesting tour of the city, which we thoroughly enjoyed.Also the tips Mateo gave us for the continuation of our journey were spot on, we saw tons of wildlife on the few spots he recommended around Dunedin.Definitely recommend!

The best tour we've ever taken, hands down. Mateo knows Otago, having grown up there on his family farm (the first in Dunedin and still in the family). He also really knows his birds, having worked at the Penguin Place. A delightful day - we learned so much, and the relaxed pace made it easy and fun. Thanks, Mateo!

I went on a ski trip facilitated by untamedNZ and it surpassed my expectations. Mateo is a friendly and knowledgable tour guide, a good conversationalist who has fantastic info about NZ's natural landscape and creatures. As a solo traveller, I felt very welcome and comfortable within the small group tour. He went out of his way to provide photo opportunities throughout the trip, and even took some photos and video of my first time on the ski hill. My trip was fantastic value for money, and I wholeheartedly endorse going on adventures with untamedNZ!

We thoroughly enjoyed Mateo's wonderful guided tour though Orokonui Ecosanctuary. Mateo went above and beyond to customize the tour for us. It's so much fun and refreshing to learn about the stories behind the birds and plants. We were truly impressed by Mateo's wealth of knowledge and genuine passion for nature. It's definitely the highlight of our Dunedin trip and we can't stop talking about it. If you are ever in the area don't miss the opportunity to be inspired by Mateo and his love for nature.

Mateo is the best guide I could have asked for, highly recommended. He has an in-depth knowledge of the NZ flora and fauna, and of the history and impact of human settlements on the NZ nature. He's also a lovely and funny guy, with the ability to quickly understand what would really make your day.

Mateo Winter’s Untamed NZ Tour was awesome in all respects and accordingly I give it my highest recommendation. We recently signed up for the tour leaving from Port Chalmers, NZ (southern-most deep water port for S. Island, NZ and near Dunedin). Mateo’s tour was purposefully kept small/personal in #. On the drive, he took us to back country scenic hilltops of the bays, to wide expansive beach areas and wildlife sanctuaries to see endangered Yellow eyed Penguins, seals, other penguin species, a wide range of birds including the majestic Royal Albatross. During our drive, Mateo educated us with local history, bird species, penguins and other creatures. He is a very knowledgeable naturalist with an engaging personality. He imparts his knowledge and luv of the area and wildlife to his customers. He also provided us with various pics of our trip. When in the area, don’t miss booking his trip !

We were in Dunedin for a day when we met Mateo, the nicest, most genuine tour guide, full of local and national knowledge.  Mateo has deep roots in Dunedin and shared a bit about his family’s history in the area (dating back 150+ years). A true naturalist with a wealth of info to share about the birds, wildlife and culture. The tour was excellent value but beyond that our day touring Dunedin with Mateo remains one of our favourite New Zealand memories.

What great day our adult family had with Mateo touring Dunedin and the Otago Peninsula. We packed everything we wanted to do into the day despite the ship docking 30 minutes late. The van was big, new and perfectly clean. Mateo's driving and the tour of Dunedin was perfectly executed. On the peninsula, we were able to get in a nice short hike at Sandfly Bay where we saw Sea Lions, Oystercatchers and other coastal flora and fauna. Lunch at Larnach Castle was tasty and we're glad we had a few minutes to tour the beautiful grounds. After that we went to see Kingfishers, Spoonbills, Royal Albatross, Penguins, Seals and more. At the end, the weather deteriorated and Mateo navigated the windy roads expertly in a small hail squall to get us back to the ship right when we hoped, We certainly made the most out of our day in port thanks to UntamedNZ. As a special bonus, Mateo gave us a some photos that he took while on the tour. He is an amazing photographer, too. Simply put, Mateo was the best guide ever.

We had the pleasure of taking a 1-day tour with Mateo and it was an amazing experience! Mateo was extremely knowledgeable about the local bird species and their habitats, sharing fascinating insights into the behavior and ecology, making the tour not only enjoyable but also educational. His kindness and patience were also greatly appreciated, as he took the time to ensure that everyone in the group had the opportunity to observe and learn about the birds we encountered (and he took photos for us!) We can't wait for our return!