Whale Watching in Kaikoura by Boat
Overview
Available languages
3 hours 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
Whale Watch is located in the small coastal town of Kaikōura on the East Coast of New Zealand’s South Island a scenic two and a half-hour drive north from Christchurch and two hour drive south from Picton. Kaikōura is a special place of lush pastures and towering, snow covered peaks that fall to the sea. This rare magic continues just offshore where a deep undersea canyon combines with unusual sea currents to attract an extraordinary abundance of marine life, the most famous being the Giant Sperm Whale.
Whale Watch is New Zealand's only vessel-based whale watching company offering visitors an exciting up-close encounter with the world’s largest toothed predator the Giant Sperm Whale in their natural environment at all times of the year. Whale Watch scheduled tours operate daily. Our 95% success rate means we guarantee an 80% refund if your tour does not see a whale. Whale Watch tours are extremely popular so we recommend booking early.
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Tours operate all year: 7.15am, 10.00am, 12.45pm & 3.30pm (Nov-Mar)—Please note that these are check-in times only - please do not come earlier than the times specified.
The minimum age limit for children traveling on a whale watch tour is 3yrs+, although Whale Watch Kaikōura maintains the right to raise the age limit depending on sea and weather conditions at the time of check-in.
All our tour are subject to favourable weather & sea conditions. If cancelled due to poor weather, you will be given the option of an alternative date or full refund.
Whale Watch staff constantly monitor the weather and respond professionally to any changes. This may mean a tour is cancelled or safety restrictions placed on children or passengers with medical problems. Passenger comfort and safety is always our priority. Passengers travelling to join us on the day of their tour are strongly advised to telephone the FREEPHONE number 0800 655 121 for a sea conditions update.
Dress warmly and wear flat shoes. If you wish to spend time on the outside decks of our vessels you may need light waterproof clothing depending on the sea conditions.
Don't let sea sickness ruin your whale watch tour experience. Purchase motion sickness pills to help prevent sea sickness, car sickness, or any type of travel sickness from our Retail Store before you travel.
The actual time on the water is up to 2.5 hours. Including check-in time, safety briefing and bus transfers you should allow 3.5 hours in total.
If travelling in a wheelchair please contact us prior to arrival so we can provide additional details and advise how we can assist you
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Few places on Earth possess the magic of Kaikōura. Many who visit leave transformed. It is a special part of New Zealand, imbued with powerful natural energy. A place where tectonic plates collide, towering peaks fall to the sea and ocean currents converge. Such rare combinations lure an abundance of marine wildlife, the most famous being the Giant Sperm Whale. It was a whale that led the Māori ancestor Paikea to New Zealand many centuries ago. His descendants live in Kaikōura today. Fittingly, the whale continues to guide the people of Kaikōura and the visitors they host. Kaikōura is one of New Zealand's leading eco-tourism destinations offering a variety of exciting activities and experiences. Despite the recent rise in tourist numbers, the town retains much of its historical charm. Many new motels, cafes and restaurants can be found in beautifully restored old buildings. Fresh local seafood is always on the menu. The retention of the town's distinctive character has made Kaikōura extremely attractive to artists. Their work, inspired by the remarkable landscape and wildlife, can be seen all over town.
What‘s Included
Experienced knowledgeable staff providing a running commentary throughout your tour
Bus ride to and from our marina
95% success rate backed up by an 80% refund if your tour does not see a whale
Award winning onboard animations
Tours operates all year round
Modern fleet of purpose built catamarans
Food and drinks
Options
1.15pm Departure
Please arrive 30 minutes prior to departure time - Please allow 3.5 hours with us.
7.45am Departure
Please arrive 30 minutes prior to departure time - Please allow 3.5 hours with us.
10.30am Departure
Please arrive 30 minutes prior to departure time - Please allow 3.5 hours with us.
Reviews
2,888 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Fantastic experience
RAJIMOH S,,Jan 5, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00Crew were very welcoming, friendly and attentive. Captain Fred provided good commentary and demonstrates good local knowledge.
Excellent trip
Brenda H,,Jan 4, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Fabulous trip, we saw a sperm whale, an orca, a few seals, a large pod of dusty dolphins and a variety of sea birds. Good commentary too.
A great way to see whales and more
N7718OPpaulb,,Jan 2, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00A great experience and very well arranged. Everything worked like clockwork. Saw whales, dolphins, seals and seabirds including albatross. Thoroughly enjoyed.
Saw whale and naughty dolphins 🩷
iram r,,Dec 31, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Beautiful and very well organized tour. Reached the whale area at the right time and they gave us enough time to take photos. Then we went through the playful dolphins and that was crazy cool 😎 loved it 😍
Amazing
travellor0,,Dec 30, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Very organized. Staff was very informative and funny. Saw one sperm whale and lots of dolphins. Beautiful calm afternoon
Amazing afternoon on the...
Angela M,,Dec 30, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Amazing afternoon on the water lot of dolphins and 1 whale lovely staff and great boat would recommend
An Amazing Experience
Haselaufamily,,Dec 26, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00What an amazing experience. Cannot recommend enough. Staff are really helpful and approachable. Very well organised and run. Saw the most amazing animals and learnt a lot. Thanks so much to Michaela for her invaluable insights and vast knowledge. Captain Jack (no, not Sparrow) made the trip smooth sailing.
Awesome
Scenic27018885589,,Dec 26, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Good continuous commentary. Helpful crew. Made sure we got the most of it the experience. Magical to see the whale so close.
Very nice early morning observation tour with modern boat
345retob,,Dec 26, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We were driven to the port in a short bus ride at 8am in the morning. The boat was very comfortable and had seating like in an airplane. Valuable comments were made and the boat then drove in rapid speed to the polls. I found the information about location and depth very interesting. We saw several whales and were able to follow their diving with the caudal fin. Finally, we could observe many dolphins swimming with the boat and performing their feats. The dolphins were a great addition to me. We had normal tickets and on the boat there was a bit of a crowd at times. I would recommend VIP tickets.
Recommended
Anika F,,Dec 26, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Really good organization and a great team leading the trip. During the driving times you get all kinds of useful information about the whales. There is enough space on the boat so that everyone has a chance to get a good picture. On our tour we saw 2 whales, dolphins and albatrosses.
From NZ$179.49
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Operated by Whale Watch Kaikoura Ltd