Whale Watching in Kaikoura

Kaikoura, New Zealand whale

Kaikoura, New Zealand is one of the best places in the world to get up close and personal to sperm whales. The whales are year-round residents of the area thanks to the 2km deep Kaikoura Canyon just off-shore.  Kaikoura is located between Christchurch and Picton on the South Island's Eastern Coast.  Besides whale watching, Kaikoura is also an excellent place to tour vineyards, swim with dolphins, or hike mountainous trails.  The company I toured with, Whale Watch, has a 95% success rate in spotting whales on their tours.  They are so confident that customers will see whales that they offer customers an 80% refund if they don't spot any whales! 

What to Expect

Whale Watch operates tours year-round at 7:15am, 10:00am, and 12:45am with an afternoon tour added from November to March.  A local advised me that Kaikoura whale watching is best in the morning, though I'm not sure if there is any scientific data to back-up the claim.  The total tour time is about 2.5 hours.  There is not food or beverage sold on board, so be sure to eat a snack beforehand (but not too much if you get motion sickness).

Kaikoura dolphins coming to play

The Whale Watch vessels were specially designed for whale watching.  They offer comfortable seating and viewing areas both inside and outside of the cabin.  I chose to sit on the inside cabin while we waited for whales, and then moved to the top deck to take pictures.  The boats have cool plasma screen TVs that, along with the guides, enhance the whole experience. During my tour we saw three different whales as they surfaced for air.  The whales were at the surface for about 5 minutes before they dove to deeps to feed.   Whales really do show a grace and intelligence unlike any other creature I have seen.  There is also a good chance that you will see dolphins during your tour--we had a small school swim along our boat.  

Kaikoura whale just before diving

Just the Basics

• Location: Kaikoura, NZ
• Cost: $145NZ (approximately $106US)
• Website: http://www.whalewatch.co.nz/
• Phone: 0800 655 121--You must call ahead to book tours.  
• Accommodation:  For advice on Kaikoura hotels, Kaikoura motels, and Kaikoura hostels, go to http://www.kaikoura.co.nz/
• Advice: Take motion sickness medication  before the whale watching tour if you are prone to seasickness.