Operating at all times of the year, Whale Watch Kaikoura is the best experience on the South Island to see the biggest creatures of the sea, making for an extraordinarily magical experience. The experience is definitely one of the books and makes for a special outing, with around 1-2 whale sightings per session. Giant Sperm Whales are usually the stars of the show and are the popular year round residents, but you can expect to see several other species on this unique tour including: New Zealand Fur Seals, Dusky Dolphins, Migrating Humpback Whales, Pilot Whales, Blue Whales, Southern Right Whales, and Orca (Killer) Whales.
Kaikoura also attracts the largest concentration and variety of seabirds on mainland New Zealand including 13 species of Albatross, 14 varieties of Petrels and 7 types of Shearwater. You can be sure to have an epic experience on the water during this tour as you marvel in the natural wildlife beauties that the South Island has on offer.
Meet at the Whale Watch Kaikoura shop and undergo an introduction and safety meeting for your designated tour.
Enjoy a whale sighting tour for roughly just over 2 hours with commentary from the vessel’s team.
Enjoy beautiful sights of wildlife and scenic views while aboard the vessel of the South Island.
Return back to land and board your transfer back to your accommodation as your reflect on your day.
What are the tour times?
All year: 7.15am, 10.00am, 12.45pm & 3.30pm (November-March)
Tour scheduling is subject to customer demand, please note that check-in times do not indicate when the actual tour departs but when check-in procedures begin. Whale Watch operate tours every day (weather permitting) excluding Christmas Day.
What time should I meet for the tour?
Tour times given are check-in times only. This is the time you need to meet at the Whaleway Station (Whale Watch Office) to collect your boarding pass.
Terms and conditions
We do not guarantee that your tour will take place at the scheduled time. Schedules may change without notice for a variety of reasons including, but not limited, to bad weather and technical disruptions. Scheduled times do not form part of your contract with us.
We reserve the right to cancel or change a tour or to replace any boats at any time in the interests of passenger safety. Weather and sea conditions can change quickly and this may alter the status of your tour at any time. In rough sea conditions, the boat captain may increase child age limits or place restrictions on or refuse to carry passengers with medical conditions and/or limited mobility and on passengers who are pregnant.
Tour Cancellation
In the event that your tour is cancelled due to adverse sea or weather conditions a full refund will be given. Please note when booking through a third party sellers that your refund will be processed back to that point of sale & you will need to contact them directly.
If you need help with an existing booking please email us at [email protected], if your enquiry is urgent please follow up your email with a quick call on +61 2 5633 1149 so we can help you.
Absolutely, we understand that paying off a big trip in one go isn’t always that easy. We offer flexible payment plans to suit all types of travellers with zero interest or fee’s (minimum $100AUD deposit required).
We endorse the recommendation of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade that all travelers take out travel insurance. If you already have Travel Insurance please understand that it is your responsibility to ensure that your Travel Insurance covers you for all of the adventure style travel you have booked with us.
World Nomads travel insurance policies offer coverage for more than 150 activities. Get a quote, make a claim, or buy or extend your policy while on the road.
Absolutely, just let us know your preferred start and finish location and we’ll make it work.
There is definitely no wrong way. We recommend either taking a WHIMIT or Hop on Hop off bus pass such as Greyhound or renting a campervan with some mates and hitting the open road. If you feel like getting pretty adventurous and want to get amongst the true Australian terrain, a 4WD may be better suited for you. Enquire now and we can help you find the most suitable transport option.
We get it. Life is all about the unexpected, especially when you are travelling. If you are unable to make your pre-arranged tour you will need to reach out to our support email so we can give you a helping hand. In all cases we strongly recommend having a valid travel insurance policy which covers you for unexpected cancellations.
Yes. All of our packages are customisable so if you would like to make any changes please contact our team.
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