Frequently Asked Questions

Can I request penguin stones for my trip?

Yes. If you would like to take penguin stones on your travels, hikes, school projects, road trips, or adventures, you can request them through the website. We love seeing penguins end up in unexpected places around the world. To get a penguin stone, fill out the form online.

Please do not leave the request until the very last moment before your trip. Every penguin stone package is prepared and shipped by us, and delivery takes some time, depending on where you live.

We are currently shipping from Europe, so international shipping times can vary significantly. If you already know about an upcoming adventure, it is always better to request your penguin stones earlier rather than stressing two days before departure because the penguins are still somewhere in postal limbo.

How much does shipping cost?

Shipping depends on where you are located because we currently ship penguin stones from Europe. We calculate the shipping cost individually based on the destination and package size.

The goal of the project is not to sell the penguin stones. We ask people to help cover shipping and packaging costs so more penguins can continue traveling around the world.

What is included in the package?

Every package usually includes:

• Hand-painted and numbered penguin stones (10–20)
• Short instruction guide
• Penguin fact sheet
• Penguin endangerment information table
• Cute penguin stickers
• Occasionally, there are a few extra surprises depending on the package

Every penguin stone is painted by hand, so no two are the same.

I found a penguin stone. What should I do?

First of all: congratulations. You officially found a traveling penguin.

You have two options:

• Leave the stone where it is, take a photo, and enjoy the discovery
• Or take it on a new adventure and re-hide it somewhere else

If you move the stone, please register the new location on the map so others can continue following its journey.

Do I need to hide the penguin stone in a famous place?

Not at all. Some of our favorite penguin stone locations are small hidden spots, local parks, quiet hiking trails, beaches, cafés, viewpoints, or places that feel meaningful to you. The project is also about encouraging people to discover places beyond the usual overcrowded travel destinations.

Where should I (and shouldn’t I) hide penguin stones?

Almost anywhere that makes someone smile — with a few important exceptions. Penguin stones are about leaving joy behind, never damage or litter, so please hide responsibly:

• Check the rules of the place. Some national parks, nature reserves, and protected or heritage sites don’t allow leaving any objects behind (many operate strict “leave no trace” rules). If leaving a stone isn’t allowed there, pick a different spot — the penguin won’t mind.
• Ask before using private property. Only hide stones on private land with the owner’s permission, and never go anywhere you’re not allowed to be.
• Be kind to nature. Don’t place stones in or near water, don’t disturb plants or animals, don’t bury stones, and don’t attach anything to trees, rocks, monuments, or buildings.
• Keep it safe. No cliff edges, roadsides, railways, or anywhere that would tempt a finder into danger.
• Crossing borders? Some countries (like Australia and New Zealand) have biosecurity rules about natural materials — keep your stones clean and declare them if asked.

The full details are in our Terms of Use. In short: if a spot needs permission, damage, or danger to reach, it’s not the spot.

Can I keep the penguin stone if I find one?

Of course. Once you find a penguin stone, what happens next is completely up to you.

You are welcome to keep it as a souvenir, especially if the moment or location feels special to you. But ideally, we would love for the penguin stone to continue its journey somewhere new.

There might be somebody out there specifically searching for that little penguin based on the map, and nothing is more disappointing than reaching the location only to discover the penguin disappeared forever.

Many people choose to take the stone on a new adventure and re-hide it somewhere else, helping the story continue across different places, countries, and travelers.

Are penguin stones waterproof?

Mostly yes, but they are still hand-painted stones traveling outdoors through different weather conditions, in backpacks, on beaches, in the mountains, and through random adventures. Over time, small imperfections, scratches, or fading may happen, and honestly, that becomes part of the journey too.

How do I register a penguin stone?

You can register a hidden or re-hidden penguin stone directly on penguinstones.com.

You will usually need:

• The penguin stone number
• Photos/videos
• GPS location
• Optional clue or short story

The more details you include, the more fun it becomes for future explorers.

Are there different types of penguin stones?

Yes. Not all penguin stones look the same.

Standard Penguin Stones. These are the classic black-and-white penguin stones most people encounter. They are the original version of the project and the ones most commonly hidden around the world.

Golden Penguin Stones. Golden penguin stones are rarer and more special. They follow the same design as the standard penguins, but the stones are painted gold instead. Our long-term goal is to eventually have at least one golden penguin stone hidden in every country in the world. So if you ever find one… congratulations, you found one of the rare penguins.

Special Edition Penguin Stones. These are one-of-a-kind stones that usually use the natural shape, texture, or color of the original stone as part of the design. Some are painted blue, some have unusual patterns, and some already looked so interesting that we decided not to paint them over fully. Instead, we incorporated their original texture and structure into the penguin itself. These tend to be the most experimental and unique penguin stones in the project.

Why penguins?

Because penguins are amazing, and we always loved them. But also because many penguin species are currently threatened by climate change, habitat loss, pollution, and changing oceans. Part of this project is helping people learn more about penguins and the environmental challenges they face. Also… penguins themselves collect stones for their nests, so the idea felt strangely perfect from the beginning.

Can children participate?

Absolutely. Families and kids are among the most enthusiastic penguin stone explorers, and hunting or hiding stones together is what the project is all about. We only ask everyone to hide stones responsibly and respectfully toward nature and public spaces.

One small note: registering a stone on the website requires being at least 16, so if your young explorer hides a stone, a parent or guardian should submit it for them using their own details.

How many penguin stones are out there?

The number keeps growing constantly.

Our long-term goal is to spread one million penguin stones around the world. One tiny penguin at a time.

What if somebody cannot find the penguin stone?

That happens sometimes, and it is part of the adventure. Weather, animals, curious humans, maintenance workers, or simply nature itself can move things around. Some penguins disappear for months and randomly reappear later. This is why good photos, videos, and clues help a lot.

Can I request a specific number of penguin stones?

Usually, yes, depending on availability and the destination. Some people request a few stones for a local trip, while others take larger groups of penguins on long adventures across multiple countries. In a standard package, you get 10–20 penguin stones.

Can I hide more than one penguin stone in the same place?

You can, but we usually recommend spreading them across different locations so more people have a chance to discover them. Penguins apparently enjoy traveling too much to stay together forever.

I lost a penguin stone before hiding it. What now?

It happens more often than you would think.

If you lose a penguin stone before hiding or registering it, let us know. We will create a replacement penguin stone with the same number.

Penguins are surprisingly talented at disappearing into backpacks, car seats, airport luggage, jacket pockets, and random corners of the house before their adventure even starts.

How Do I Earn Badges?

Badges are awarded automatically as you take part in the Penguin Stones adventure. Whether you hide a stone, find one, or help a penguin continue its journey, your profile will unlock new achievements along the way.

Current badges and criteria:

• 1st penguin stone placed — after you hide your first penguin stone.
• 50 stones placed — after you hide 50 penguin stones.
• 100 stones placed — after you hide 100 penguin stones.
• 500 stones placed — after you hide 500 penguin stones.
• 1,000 stones placed — after you hide 1,000 penguin stones.
• 5,000 stones placed — after you hide 5,000 penguin stones.
• 10,000 stones placed — after you hide 10,000 penguin stones.
• 50,000 stones placed — after you hide 50,000 penguin stones.
• Golden Penguin — after you hide a golden penguin stone.
• Golden Guardian — hide 15 golden penguin stones.
• True Explorer — after you place a penguin stone in at least 5 different countries.
• Continent Hopper — after you place a penguin stone in at least 2 continents.
• City Explorer — place a penguin stone in 20 different cities.

Every badge has its own requirements, which you can see on any contributor's profile. Keep exploring, hiding, finding, and re-hiding penguin stones to unlock them all.