How: Through March 31, elephant seals can be viewed via 2.5-hour docent-led walks, involving a moderate, 3- to 4-mile hike on varied terrain that includes sand dunes. Tours operate rain or shine.

Southern elephant seals are not a common sight on the mainland of New Zealand, but they certainly used to be "from Cape Reinga to Bluff" on our prehistoric beaches, according to the new research.