Kaikoura is world renowned as the whale watching centre of New Zealand. Kaikoura is a lively town with a talent for wildlife encounters, and one of the most breathtaking locations in the South Island of New Zealand, situated midway between Christchurch and Picton on a rugged peninsula, which thrusts into the Pacific Ocean from the edge of a spectacular mountain range.
Visitors to Kaikoura will find several tourism operators offering tours by boat and air, to view these magnificent creatures. The Giant Sperm Whale is present year round and depending upon the season, you may even see Humpback, Pilot, Blue and Southern Right Whales. Encounters with these majestic mammals are a once in a life time experience. If you do not see a whale during your tour duration which typically lasts two - three hours tour operators will refund around 80% of their charge.
For boat tours you can expect to pay around $140 NZD for an adult and $60 NZD for a child. Tour times are usually scheduled throughout the day so it is a good idea to call ahead or look online for a time that will suit you. A few local providers include Kaikoura Whale Watching and Whale Watch.
Tours by plane or helicopter give you a bird's eye view of Kaikoura's whales and sea life with full in-flight commentary. Tour operators generally charge around $145 - $300 NZD dependant on the type of tour you book and number of people partaking in the tour. Local providers include: Wings Over Whales Kaikoura, Kaikoura Helicopters World of Whales and World of Whales.
A bonus of taking one of the above tours
Visitors to Kaikoura will find several tourism operators offering tours by boat and air, to view these magnificent creatures. The Giant Sperm Whale is present year round and depending upon the season, you may even see Humpback, Pilot, Blue and Southern Right Whales. Encounters with these majestic mammals are a once in a life time experience. If you do not see a whale during your tour duration which typically lasts two - three hours tour operators will refund around 80% of their charge.
For boat tours you can expect to pay around $140 NZD for an adult and $60 NZD for a child. Tour times are usually scheduled throughout the day so it is a good idea to call ahead or look online for a time that will suit you. A few local providers include Kaikoura Whale Watching and Whale Watch.
Tours by plane or helicopter give you a bird's eye view of Kaikoura's whales and sea life with full in-flight commentary. Tour operators generally charge around $145 - $300 NZD dependant on the type of tour you book and number of people partaking in the tour. Local providers include: Wings Over Whales Kaikoura, Kaikoura Helicopters World of Whales and World of Whales.
A bonus of taking one of the above tours
