Kaikoura is one of the best places in New Zealand to spot whales and it’s the reason many visitors head there. If you’ve read any of my posts on Iceland, you’ll know I’m a HUGE lover of whale watching so I couldn’t miss the opportunity to see whales in New Zealand. In this post, you’ll find everything you need to know about whale watching in Kaikoura.
Kaikoura is one of the few places in the entire world where you can see the resident sperm whales all year round. The underwater landscape here is unique in that there is a deep trench system close to land that stretches out into the Pacific Ocean. The trench reaches depths of 1200 meters in places and creates a rich feeding ground for many whales, including sperm whales. The trench begins less than a mile from shore meaning you don’t need to travel far to find the whales.
Even if whale watching isn’t your thing, I’d highly recommend a visit to Kaikoura. It gives off similar vibes to that of the South Island’s west coast and almost has a Jurassic feel to it. It’s one of my favourite places in all of New Zealand. For more inspiration, here’s the 5 best things to do in Kaikoura.
How to get to Kaikoura
Kaikoura is about 111 miles (180km) north of Christchurch. It takes around 2 and a half hours to drive there. The road is relatively easy to drive on but there is a section of windy and steep roads.
If you don’t fancy doing the drive, InterCity runs a bus from Christchurch to Kaikoura.
Where to stay in Kaikoura
If you’re travelling with a campervan or motorhome, there are a couple of freedom camping spots in the town that can be found on CamperMate. However, the area isn’t overly friendly to freedom campers and there are tough restrictions in place. For paid camping, I’d highly recommend Top 10 Kaikoura. It’s a great spot close to the beach and has a few facilities.
For backpackers, check out the Dusky Lodge Hostel. It’s a great hostel with a good kitchen and clean facilities. I found it social but not too loud or chaotic.
For other places to stay, check out booking.com.
What whales can I see in Kaikoura?
Kaikoura is a hot spot for marine life which makes it great for whale watching. The most sighted species of whale in Kaikoura is the sperm whale and this is what you’re most likely to see on any whale watching trip. The sperm whales in the area are all male and tend to live there all year round. This is the species of whale that the operators tend to focus on finding. They know the spots to find them and they can also track them using an underwater hydrophone.
There are also migratory species that can be seen throughout the year. These include humpbacks, orcas, blue whales, pilot whales, and southern right whales.
Kaikoura truly is a hot spot for whales.
When is the best time to whale watch in Kaikoura?
The sperm whales live in Kaikoura all year around so there’s not really a “best” time for whale watching as such. Having said that, migratory species such as orcas and humpbacks can be seen at certain times of the year.
For Humpbacks, you’ll want to visit between June and August. For Orcas, November to March tends to be the best time but it’s never guaranteed with orcas.
If you’re VERY lucky, you may also get to see the ruler of the ocean – the blue whale. The blue whale is the largest animal on earth and can occasionally be seen off the coast throughout the year.
I personally wouldn’t stress too much about going at a certain time. The tour operators generally focus on the sperm whales so there is no guarantee you’ll see any other species. I went during peak humpback season and only saw sperm whales (no complaints from me!).
How to see whales in Kaikoura
Okay now for the reason you’re here… whale watching in Kaikoura. Thankfully, there’s very little you must do to see the whales other than book an activity and hope for the best. There are several ways you can spot the whales in Kaikoura which I’ve listed below.
Whale watching boat trip
A boat trip is the most common way to see the whales in Kaikoura. There’s one boat operator in Kaikoura, Whale Watch Kaikoura, who has been operating since 1989.
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The company uses purpose-built boats to take passengers out searching for whales. Once out in the ocean, they’ll use an underwater hydrophone to listen out for signs of the sperm whales to check they’re in the right place. The resident sperm whales tend to stay in the same area so it’s not always a challenge to find them.
We were lucky enough to see three sperm whales the day we went. I’ve written about my experience with Whale Watch Kaikoura here.
Prices start from $165NZD but there are various offers and discounts available throughout the year.
Whale watching flight
There are not many places in the world where you can see these gentle giants from above. Thankfully, the operators in Kaikoura make whale watching from the air easy and stress-free.
I decided to book a flight at the very last minute (20 minutes before). I had just gotten off the boat and decided to do the flight – it was now or never. I’m SO thankful that I did. It was such an incredible experience.
The flight lasts around 30 minutes and takes you out over the ocean to search for whales. We saw two sperm whales during our flight and spent time circling both. After this, our pilot took us for a scenic flight up the peninsula. It was worth every penny.
I’d recommend going with Wings over Whales. They work closely with the boats in the area to help find the whales.
If you’d like to do a helicopter instead, check out South Pacific Helicopters.
Sea kayak
Okay, you’ll need a bit of luck with this one but it does happen. Kaikoura Kayaks offers you the chance to kayak out into the ocean to see the seals. If the weather and ocean conditions are in your favour, you may get the chance to paddle further out to sea – this is your possible chance to encounter a whale.
I loved the sea kayaking and even though the chance of seeing whales is low, I still think it’s a fun thing to do. I asked our guide how many times they encounter whales and he said it can vary. Sometimes they will see them once or twice a week, other times they go a few days if not weeks without seeing them. They encounter dolphins more often than not, however.
The kayaks are all two-seaters and you’ll be given the right equipment including waterproofs for the activity. We went out into the ocean but weren’t lucky enough to see whales or dolphins, but did get up close and personal with some seals.
The best way to see whales
Narrowing down the best way to see whales is quite simple – it’s either by boat or by plane. My personal preference is the boat. While it was fantastic to see the whales from above to show their true size, I don’t think anything can beat being on a boat standing next to them. You get to spend longer with them, hear their sounds and be in the moment.
Having said that, the flight was a brilliant experience and if you have the time and budget to do both, I’d highly recommend it.
When booking your tickets, I’d recommend checking all the operators “deal” pages. They often team up with each other to offer discount packages. For example, you can do both a flight and a boat trip with a big discount if you book together.
Are you guaranteed to see whales?
You’re never guaranteed to see whales on any natural whale watching trip. The whales are wild animals and can come and go as they please. The operators always do their best to find the whales and work together to have the best success. As the sperm whales are residents, the crew also knows where they like to frequent which increases the chance of finding whales. Despite this, it’s never guaranteed.
Another popular marine based activity in Kaikoura is swimming with wild dolphins.
