Kaikoura Scenic Flights and Attraction Tours

Tours worth booking in Kaikōura

Most attraction tours here are wildlife trips by boat, plane or helicopter, plus one zipline course. Prices are in New Zealand dollars, were checked in October 2026 and change each season, so confirm with the operator.

Whale Watch Kaikōura

The flagship boat tour leaves from the South Bay marina after check-in at the Whaleway Station. Adults pay about $185 and children aged 3 to 15 about $60. If no whale is seen, the operator refunds 80%. Allow about 3 hours 15 minutes in total. Whale Watch also sells winter combinations with a scenic flight: a helicopter combination at about $399 and a fixed-wing combination at about $255.50. A Christchurch day trip with Canterbury Leisure Tours is about $320. See the Whale Watch tour list .

Flights over the coast

  • Wings Over Whales flies Gippsland Airvan aircraft with seven passengers and a pilot, and large dome windows. The whale watching flight is from about $265 for 30 minutes in the air; allow 60 minutes in all. The extended whale flight and the mountain scenic flight are from about $415 (allow 1 hour 15 minutes). A private flight starts from about $1,900. See Wings Over Whales .
  • Kaikōura Helicopters (GCH Aviation, 16 West End): a 30-minute whale watch from about $420, a 40-minute extended flight from about $620, a 60-minute Top ’n’ Tail from about $750, a 40-minute Mt Fyffe Summit flight from about $420 and a 75-minute Heli-Picnic from about $525. Minimum passenger numbers apply. See Kaikōura Helicopters .

Flights depend on weather and visibility. Ask what happens if the flight is cancelled.

EcoZip Adventures

The zipline tour starts in town, then a Unimog truck crosses the Kahutara River to Rakanui Station. There are five ziplines totalling 2.2 km, and the tour takes about 3.5 hours. Adults pay about $199 and children about $129; a child must go with a ziplining adult. A family ticket is about $527. See EcoZip Kaikōura .

Dolphins and albatross

Dolphin Encounter and Albatross Encounter share an address at 96 Esplanade. The albatross trip is a boat outing over the canyon, with about 15 to 20 minutes to reach the birds and about 2.5 hours in total. The mainland royal albatross colony is at Taiaroa Head near Dunedin, not at Kaikōura. See the Albatross Encounter tours .

Combining tours

A Kayak Zip Combo from Kaikōura Kayaks and EcoZip takes about 6 hours and has been listed at about $349 to $364. Ask the operators for current combination prices.

Tips

  • Seasickness is the main medical issue on every boat tour, and boats cancel in rough seas.
  • Drones count as aircraft near marine mammals. Stay more than 150 m away horizontally and never cast a shadow over an animal.
  • Book summer departures early.

Read more: Adventure tours in Kaikoura and bus tours in Kaikoura .

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