Kaikōura Whale Watching Scenic Flight (40 Minutes)
Overview
Available languages
40 minutes
Mobile ticket
Discover Kaikōura’s world renowned sperm whales & marine life with an unforgettable Whale Watching Flight.
From above, you’ll have the ultimate vantage point to admire these majestic creatures in their natural habitat, fully appreciating their incredible size & beauty.
Along the way, we may also spot dolphins, humpback whales, blue whales, orca, & other passing cetaceans. Your flight will also treat you to breathtaking views of Kaikōura’s dramatic mountains meeting the vibrant seas- a truly unforgettable sight.
For over 30 years, Air Kaikōura’s friendly team has been providing high quality experiences, combining expert knowledge with exceptional service.
While we do everything possible to locate whales, they are wild animals, & sightings cannot be guaranteed. Refunds or rescheduling are not available if whales are not sighted, but we’re confident you’ll love the stunning scenery & the unique opportunity to experience Kaikōura’s incredible landscapes & marine environment from above.
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Please check in 30 minutes prior to your flight time.
If you are over 120kg, please contact us. Unfortunately we are unable to provide refunds if you arrive and exceed our weight limits, please call us in advance to discuss if you have any concerns.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
-Meet for check in and a pre flight briefing on Kaikoura's Whales and other marine life. -Depart from the airport to the whale watching area just off the coast to see Kaikoura's whales from above. -Enjoy the dramatic alpine and coastal scenery before returning to land.
What‘s Included
40-minute scenic flight
Headset with live pilot commentary
Window seat for every passenger
Hotel pickup/drop-off
Food & drinks
Options
Kaikōura Whale Watching Scenic Flight (40 Minutes)
Reviews
229 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Awesome experience
Go39853788611,May 12, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great experience with great pilot. Amazing views of sperm whale, seals, costal scenery and Southern Alps. Highly recommended.
Kaikōura Whale watch above and beyond
jennyfZ7800GN,Apr 29, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Fantastic service . They totally went the xtra mile . Huge thank you to Jamie . My husband Neville is blind so she took us to a special reserved place so he could here the whales spouting and breathing then she took to the captain Tekaani who let him wear the hyraphone earpiece and listened to the sperm whale to hear its echo as it dived to its feeding depth . They made this a truely memorable day for us both . Thanks you Kaikoura Whale watch
Whales and (many) dolphins
Trek23249817321,Mar 21, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Nice 6 seater plane, experienced pilot. Of course it remains to be seen if you see whales, but the pilot does his best to find them. Eventually we saw 4 of them and the plane turned 2 circles so everyone had a good view of them. It's hard to take a good picture, but the memory remains!
Whales and killer whales
MichaelT8386,Mar 8, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great experience, we had the chance to observe two sperm whales and killer whales. The pilot was very good and gave us lots of information about the whales.
Excellent experience.
Rachel D,Mar 6, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00We saw 2 sperm whales and a humpback, as well as dolphins. We were fortunate the weather was really clear, so the view of the whales and also the scenic views of the mountains and peninsula were excellent. Everyone gets a window seat, and the pilot circles the whales in both directions so everyone gets the chance of an excellent view. I’ve done lots of boat-based whale watching previously, so it was great to do something different - and get a clear view of the ‘whole whale’, not just the tail! Seeing these giants blow from above was an incredible experience! Everyone on our flight was fine; but I can imagine that if you’re prone to motion sickness, the circling might get to you a bit, and be wise to take some pills before-hand. The only other observation is that whilst the pilot gives you a great explanation through your headset, you can’t reply, so not possible to ask any questions, and we had a few. Overall, an outstanding and memorable experience.
Ok!
AlexaRydberg,Mar 1, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
3.00A bit disappointing to see only one whale after 40 mins and then swiftly heading back to shore. No commentary during the 30 minutes just circling the same area.. Of course there is no way to control wildlife. A bit scary when the pilot was turning. Well organised otherwise but should be called scenic flight and whale watching flight.
This was a fantastic experience
Seren dipity10000,Feb 26, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The best moment of my trip to New Zealand! Absolutely magical to see two blue whales hanging out together…
Fabulous!
Deo37,Feb 22, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00A fabulous flight on a beautiful day. We saw a sperm whale and pods of dolphins as well as having stunning views of the coastline in Kaikoura. Our pilot, Ben, was great and very knowledgeable. We highly recommend this experience.
An incredible experience🐋🩵
Sherpa67376723283,Jan 26, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00If you’re in Kaikoura this is a MUST do! A great experience and so surreal to see the sperm whale from above. Ethan, the pilot did his absolute best to ensure each of us had a good view of the whale. We was able to see the whale surface and then go back down again. The 40 minutes flew by (pardon the pun) but it was honestly so amazing!! Would highly recommend.
we felt safe and secure.
reise2579,Jan 25, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Interesting flight with optimal view of whales and dolphins. The experienced pilot steered the plane safely. All passengers had good visibility, window seat.
From NZ$275.00
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