The superyacht Pangaea Ocean Explorer off Roseneath yesterday. Photo: Otago Daily Times / Stephen Jaquiery
An Australian billionaire's $69 million superyacht, which doubles as a marine research vessel, has cruised into Dunedin.
The Pangaea Ocean Explorer arrived in Port Otago on Wednesday from Port Lyttelton, sailing under the Jamaican flag.
The 58m yacht is owned by Australian businessman Andrew Forrest, executive chairman and former chief executive of global metal mining company Fortescue.
In 2025, Financial Review ranked Dr Forrest as the eleventh richest person in Australia, with a network of $14.81 billion.
Andrew Forrest pictured in 2019. Photo: Jack / Imaginechina via AFP
Much of his philanthropy has focused on education, Indigenous Australians and ending modern slavery.
In 2023, his Minderoo Foundation partnered with the Australian government to monitor the health of marine parks, contributing $8.4m and using the Pangaea Ocean Explorer which was adapted for use as a research vessel.
It is valued at $69m with annual operating expenses of about $6.9m.
Yacht charter website Charter World advised similar models could be hired for up to $950,400 per week.
Built in 1999, it has six cabins and can host 12 passengers and more than 13 crew.
It is not the first superyacht to appear in Dunedin this season.
In December, the 49.1m superyacht Teleost, owned by former Microsoft chief technology officer Nathan Myhrvold, docked in the harbour.
It could be chartered for $336,000 per week, plus expenses - a similar model could be bought for about $25.8m.
This story was first published by the Otago Daily Times.