Whale Watching

Attractions ▷ Animal Attractions ▷ Whale Watching ▷

Kaikoura Region

The Best Spot in NZ for This

Kaikoura is the place in New Zealand for whale watching, and it's not particularly close. The deep Kermadec trench sits right offshore, which keeps sperm whales here year-round. Most places you might see a whale, it's a maybe. Here it's a probably.

Promo code RANKERS - good deal done!

Wings Over Whales

Promo code RANKERS. Save 10%

4.5 34 reviews

Whale Watch Kaikoura

Promo code RANKERS. 10% Off

4.3 679 reviews

Kaikoura Helicopters World of Whales

Promo code RANKERS. 10% Off

4.3 12 reviews

Albatross Encounter Kaikoura

Promo code RANKERS. 10% Off

4.8 19 reviews

Seal Swim Kaikoura

Promo code RANKERS. 10% Off

4.6 54 reviews

Dolphin Encounter Kaikoura

Promo code RANKERS. 10% Off

4.6 256 reviews

Glenstrae Farm 4 Wheel Adventures

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4.9 6 reviews

Kaikoura Kayaks

Promo code RANKERS. 10% Off

4.8 328 reviews

Seal Kayak Kaikoura

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4.5 1 review

Kaikoura Fishing Tours

Promo code RANKERS. 10% Off

4.3 2 reviews

South Pacific Helicopters

Promo code RANKERS. 10% Off

Sea or Air, Pick Your Thing

By sea is my pick. You get right up close, and if you haven't seen a whale surface near a boat before, it sticks with you. The first sailing of the day tends to be the calmest, which matters if you're prone to seasickness. If you want the scale of the thing, a scenic flight over the whales gives you a completely different perspective and doubles as a pretty stunning flight along the Seaward Kaikoura Range.

Both operators take the promo code RANKERS, which is handy given whale watching isn't cheap. There's also a helicopter option if that's more your speed, and the same code applies there too.