Things to Do in Kaikoura: Wildlife and Land

Kaikōura at a glance

Kaikōura sits on State Highway 1, 183 km north of Christchurch and 154 km south of Picton, so allow about 2.5 hours from Christchurch. The main draw is marine wildlife: sperm whales, dusky dolphins, fur seals and seabirds, mostly seen from boats. Prices below are in New Zealand dollars and were checked in October 2026, so confirm them with the operator.

Whale Watch Kaikōura

Whale Watch is based at the Whaleway Station, where you check in 30 minutes before departure and ride a bus to the South Bay marina. Adults pay about $185 and children aged 3 to 15 about $60; the VIP Captain’s Cabin is about $265. Children under 3 are not permitted. The operator offers an 80% refund if no whale is seen, and allows about 3 hours 15 minutes in total, with just over 2 hours on the water. Tours run daily except Christmas Day, and in November to March the usual sailings are 7:45am, 10:30am, 1:15pm and 4:00pm. The company is owned by the Kāti Kurī people. See the Whale Watch FAQ .

Dolphins, albatross and seals

  • Dolphin Encounter (96 Esplanade): swimming from about $265 for adults (15+) and $240 for children (8 to 14); watching from about $150 for adults and $95 for children (3 to 14). Summer swims sell out, so book ahead. Do not touch the dolphins.
  • Albatross Encounter (96 Esplanade): a boat trip over the canyon, not a land colony. A standard adult ticket is about $200 and a child’s about $95. The whole outing takes about 2.5 hours.
  • Seal Swim Kaikōura: about $159 to $179 for adults and $129 for ages 12 to 15, with a 5mm suit and snorkel kit supplied. The season runs from about October or November to April and it may not run every year.

On land and in the air

  • EcoZip Adventures: five ziplines totalling 2.2 km on a farm, about 3.5 hours, with adults at $199 and children at $129 (a child needs a ziplining adult).
  • Kaikōura Kayaks (17 Killarney Street): wildlife and sunset paddles, family tours and kayak or paddleboard hire. Ask for current prices.
  • Scenic flights: Wings Over Whales and Kaikōura Helicopters both fly over the coast; see the attraction tours page.
  • Quad biking, scuba, surfing, mountain biking and stargazing are all offered locally.

Seafood stops

Kaikōura Seafood BBQ on Fyffe Quay serves crayfish, whitebait fritters, chowder and mussels, with half a crayfish from about $45. Nin’s Bin, on SH1 at Half Moon Bay about 15 to 20 minutes north, has been a roadside crayfish stop since 1977.

Tips

  • Seasickness is the main medical issue on every boat trip. Eat lightly before boarding.
  • Boats cancel in rough seas, so keep a spare morning.
  • Stay at least 20 m from seals and keep dogs and children away from them.
  • Book early for the 5:30am and 6:00am summer sailings.

Read more: Family-friendly activities in Kaikoura and sightseeing in Kaikoura .

Official wildlife rules are on the DOC Sharing the Coast page . To compare departures, try GetYourGuide Kaikoura tours .