Kaikoura is one of the best places to go whale watching in New Zealand.
If you’ve read any of my other posts about whale watching, you’ll know just how much I love anything to do with whales.
Kaikoura is a very special destination to see whales. It’s one of the only places in the world where you can see sperm whales all year round. So, whale watching was very high on my list of things to do in Kaikoura.
I’ve already written a complete guide about whale watching in Kaikoura. But there are a couple of options, including a whale watching flight or a regular whale watching boat trip.
I wanted to see as much as possible, so in the end, I opted to do both.
There’s only one whale watching boat operator in Kaikoura – Whale Watch Kaikoura. In this post, I’ve shared my honest review of my experience and whether or not I believe the activity is worth it.
If I’m entirely honest, this wasn’t my favourite whale watching experience. However, it’s still a fun activity and a great way to see whales in New Zealand. Read on to find out more.
How to go whale watching in Kaikoura
Whale Watch Kaikoura are the only whale watching boat operator in Kaikoura.
They’ve been running tours since 1989 and are a well-oiled machine. The tour starting point even has a gift shop.
I love that they’re the only boat allowed to go close to the whales. It means the animals won’t be surrounded by too many boats. I’ve been in situations where there are several boats, and it’s very uncomfortable.
The Whale Watch Kaikoura office and meeting point is at the end of Station Road.
There is ample parking here. Once you check in, there is a waiting room with some information on the whales. Two coaches eventually come to take everyone down to the pier. It’s a few minutes drive from the main office.
If you don’t have your own car in Kaikoura, the meeting point is a short walk from Kaikoura’s town centre.
A recap of my experience with Whale Watch Kaikoura
Upon check-in, I was warned that the sea conditions were looking quite rough. The staff member checked that I was still happy to go, and allowed me to move my booking if I wanted.
This is a really nice touch and something I’ve not seen other operators offer. Normally, it’s a case of being told to put up with bad weather. I have quite a strong stomach, so I stuck to my plans.
The coaches came to take us to the main pier. After driving for a few minutes, we arrived at the boat. There seemed to be more than one boat, and I’m assuming that in peak season, more than one boat goes out at a time.
After a safety briefing, we got on our way.
A few points to be aware of:
- You must be inside the boat while it’s moving (which I hated)
- The sea can get very rough, so take seasickness medicine
- You can upgrade to a VIP area, but I don’t think it’s worth it
- There are toilets on the boat
- There is free water to refill your reusable bottles
It only took us about 20 minutes to find our first whale – a sperm whale. Once the boat was stationed, we were allowed outside to view it. We then continued to search for whales and were lucky enough to see another two sperm whales.
After two hours, it was time to head back to shore. Once you arrive at the pier, you’ll jump back on the bus and head back to the office.
An honest review of Whale Watch Kaikoura
Okay, I’m going to be completely honest… I can’t say this was my favourite whale watching experience. The tour ran very smoothly, the crew were professional, and we saw three sperm whales.
However, a couple of things frustrated me a little.
This tour was the most commercialised whale watching I’ve done. The boat was packed with people, and it felt like the staff were there purely to manage the crowds rather than share any passion or knowledge about the whales.
It’s worth noting that I’ve been lucky enough to have some exceptional and intimate whale watching experiences. This means my standards are probably a lot higher than normal.
My least favourite part of the tour was not being allowed outside when the boat moved. I understand this is for safety reasons, but I’ve never encountered it before.
One of the best parts about whale watching for me is being outside and searching for whales. This wasn’t possible on this tour.
When we did see a whale, there was a rush of 80 or more people to get outside through tiny doors. It just didn’t feel like the intimate experience I’ve had on other tours. People were pushing and shoving at times.
As it was pretty rough, a lot of people were suffering from seasickness. Not being able to get away from the smell was… well… very unpleasant.
Despite my frustrations, it was still a good tour. If you’ve never seen whales before, it’s a great option.
They can also use a hydrophone to locate the whales which is something very unique to this tour.
I will say that Whale Watch Kaikoura was very mindful of the whales. I never once felt like we were disrupting the animal’s behaviour or getting in their way.
Responsible wildlife tourism is very important to me, and seeing them operate ethically here was a relief.
Summary: Is whale watching in Kaikoura worth it?
It depends! If you’ve never been whale watching before and are desperate to see whales, then whale watching in Kaikoura is a fantastic option.
If you’ve had some epic whale watching experiences in other parts of the world, such as Canada or Iceland, I would personally opt for the whale watching flight or swimming with dolphins.
Overall, I can’t fault the running of my whale watching tour and their commitment to getting us to the whales in an ethical way.
However, the boat felt too crowded, and I disliked that we couldn’t go outside. The tour also felt a little but too commercial for my liking. I would love to see smaller boats for a more intimate experience.
