The Department of Conservation was called about 3.30pm by members of the public concerned for the safety of a penguin on the rock wall below the St Clair Hot Salt Water Pool.
Department biodiversity manager Jim Fyfe said rangers went to the site due to fears it was injured.
It was easy to catch as they "caught it napping'', he said.
Once caught it was taken to the Dunedin Wildlife Hospital to be checked.
"It has a small injury that looked superficial and old, but they'll check it before sending it out to Penguin Place for rehabilitation.''
At this time of year some Fiordland and other crested penguins appeared on Otago shores.
"They're not nesting here, they're not resident here; they just spend a week or so ashore for the moult.''
Mr Fyfe urged people to contact the department if they saw penguins which seemed injured or in a dangerous area.
"They don't know where the dogs are or where the safe areas are.''
