The Best Seal, Dolphin and Whale Tours in Kaikoura
Kaikoura is the marine mammal mecca in New Zealand so if you have any interest in marine life, then you need to stop by. Choosing what wildlife tours to do in Kaikoura brings its own challenges; they are all epic! To help you narrow your options, we’ve picked five top wildlife activities in Kaikoura.
You’re bound to have a blast on any of the wildlife tours in Kaikoura listed below. The majority of the time, the wildlife plays ball and you’re very likely to get a chance to see whales, dolphins, seals and seabirds up-close in their natural environment. However, they are wild animals, so if your trip is unsuccessful then there’s usually an option to join another trip free of charge.
But watching wildlife isn’t the only experience in Kaikoura. For more things to do, check out the 15 Kaikoura Must-Dos. Now let’s get into the top Kaikoura nature tours.
1. Swimming with Seals
One of the surprising and more affordable wildlife activities in Kaikoura is swimming with seals. On land, seals are not all that fond of humans being near them. In the water, it’s a different story! Join them in their element with a seal swimming tour in Kaikoura where you will get to put on a mask, snorkel and wetsuit and jump into the water surrounding a seal colony. New Zealand fur seals are often very curious and even playful.
Book your tour with Seal Swim Kaikoura on Viator or Tripadvisor.
© NZPocketGuide.com2. Whale Watching Flights
Take the skies and get a unique perspective of sperm whales from above. This way, you get the opportunity to see the whole length of the whale swimming on the surface. The scenic views of Kaikoura from above are just a bonus. Additionally, whale watching flights are a good way to avoid seasickness.
Book your flight with Wings Over Whales on Viator, Tripadvisor or Klook.
© NZPocketGuide.com3. Swimming with Dolphins
Kaikoura’s most common dolphin are the dusky dolphins. This species is known for being playful and even acrobatic so getting in the water with them is a super fun experience. Dusky dolphins are abundant off the coast of Kaikoura meaning you could be swimming with pods of hundreds of dolphins.
Book your dolphin swimming cruise with Dolphin Encounter on Klook.
© NZPocketGuide.com4. Whale Watching Cruise
Get out on the ocean and look out for Kaikoura’s locals, the sperm whales. Your expert whale watching guides have all the right tools to find them. Nothing beats the excitement of seeing a whale fluke rising into the air as it dives. There are opportunities to see all kinds of wildlife on Kaikoura’s waters so tours will stop for photos of dolphins, albatross, etc. when the opportunity arises.
Book your cruise with Whale Watch Kaikoura on Viator, Tripadvisor, Klook or KKday.
© ChristchurchNZ5. Albatross Cruise
Marine mammals take all the glory in Kaikoura, but Kaikoura is also home to some fascinating seabirds, such as albatross! Albatross boat tours give you the opportunity to get up close to these giant seabirds and see how big these creatures really are. You’ll see many birds out on the waters, as well as having the opportunity to stop for dolphins if there’s the opportunity to.
Book your albatross watching cruise with Albatross Encounter on Klook.
© NZPocketGuide.comMore About Wildlife and Kaikoura
That’s it for the best wildlife tours in Kaikoura. Now plan the rest of your trip to Kaikoura with the following guides:
