• travel_explore
    Abel Tasman & Nelson Explore New Zealand, Australia & Fiji!
    tune
  • image_search
    Search Abel Tasman & Nelson... Experiences, attractions, dining & more

Kaikoura Whale Watching Flight - 40 Minutes - Community Owned & Operated

4.7
756
Deals from $159.00 Save $116.00 Check dates nowsystem_update_alt
Embark on an aerial journey in Kaikoura, where you'll witness majestic sperm whales, playful dolphins, and breathtaking landscapes from the skies. Don't miss this opportunity to witness the wonders of marine life and scenic beauty all in one incredible journey.

Embark on an aerial journey in Kaikoura, where you'll witness majestic sperm whales, playful dolphins, and breathtaking landscapes from the skies. Don't miss this opportunity to witness the wonders of marine life and scenic beauty all in one incredible journey.

Highlights

  • 30+ years of whale watching experience with a 100% safety record
  • Top rated customer reviews
  • Breath-taking Kaikoura Scenery
  • Enjoy informative commentary through listening headsets
  • Community Owed & Operated Organisation
  • Qualmark Silver Award

Experience Kaikoura's most spectacular marine scenic flight with the region's most experienced flight operator!

From the comfort of your window seat, witness the awe-inspiring beauty of whales, dolphins, and breathtaking scenery. Only from the air can you truly grasp the sheer size of the majestic sperm whale in its natural habitat, providing unparalleled photographic opportunities. During our flight, you might also encounter dusky dolphins, humpback whales, blue whales, orca, and other fascinating marine creatures. After the exhilarating whale encounter, we'll take you on a scenic journey over Kaikoura and its stunning surroundings, with the snow-clad peaks of the Kaikoura mountains and the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean as an impressive backdrop.

At Air Kaikoura, we're a small, friendly, locally operated business with a passionate team dedicated to providing you with the experience of a lifetime. While we can't guarantee wildlife sightings as we're observing animals in their natural habitat, we boast an impressive 95% success rate and always provide honest assessments of the day's chances for whale sightings.

Our Scenic Whale Watching Flight offers you the best odds of spotting these magnificent creatures from the air, and we offer a 100% refund in case of unfavorable weather conditions.

Adult $275.00
Child $99.00 (3 - 12 years )
Infant $0.00 (2 years and under)

What's included

  • 40 minute scenic flight

Duration

  • Allow approximately 90 minutes for the whole experience

Location

  • Air Kaikoura is located 6.5km south of Kaikoura township, on State Highway 1
  • 627 Kaikoura South Road, Peketa, Kaikoura 7374

Child Friendly

  • This experience welcomes families with children.

Bad Weather Refunds

  • If your experience is cancelled by the operator (because of the weather or anything else out of your control) you will be entitled to a full refund.

Notes

  • Duration: Flight time 40 minutes. Please allow for 90 minutes total.

    Capacity: Our fixed wing aircraft takes a maximum of seven passengers, this makes it exciting and fun.

    Conditions: Flights are weather dependent and at the pilots' discretion.

    Minimum numbers may apply on occasion. Flight confirmed with two passengers, smaller bookings may be waitlisted to confirm.

    Maximum weights do apply in small aircraft; if you think you may exceed 120kgs, please contact the operator as they may need to reserve additional seats.

Available Bookings from 15 Nov to 28 Nov 2024

Change Dates

All prices are shown in NZD ($)

Fri 15 Nov
Sat 16 Nov
Sun 17 Nov
Mon 18 Nov
Tue 19 Nov
Wed 20 Nov
Thu 21 Nov
Fri 22 Nov
Sat 23 Nov
Sun 24 Nov
Mon 25 Nov
Tue 26 Nov
Wed 27 Nov
Thu 28 Nov

  • Adult$164.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$99.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$224.00
  • Child$98.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$159.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$98.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$159.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$98.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$164.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$98.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$224.00
  • Child$98.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$224.00
  • Child$98.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$164.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$98.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$164.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$98.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$224.00
  • Child$98.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$224.00
  • Child$98.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$224.00
  • Child$99.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$175.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$99.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$225.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$99.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$175.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$99.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$175.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$99.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$164.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$99.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$159.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$99.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$175.00
  • Child$99.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$175.00
  • Child$99.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$175.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$99.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$159.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$99.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$175.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$98.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$175.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$99.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$164.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$99.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$164.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$99.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$164.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$99.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$164.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$99.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$164.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$99.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$164.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$99.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$164.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$99.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$164.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$99.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$159.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$99.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$275.00
  • Child$99.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$275.00
  • Child$99.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$275.00
  • Child$99.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$275.00
  • Child$99.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$175.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$98.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$275.00
  • Child$99.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$275.00
  • Child$99.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$275.00
  • Child$99.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$275.00
  • Child$99.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$275.00
  • Child$99.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$275.00
  • Child$99.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$224.00
  • Child$99.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$224.00
  • Child$99.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$224.00
  • Child$99.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$224.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$99.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$175.00
  • Child$99.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$175.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$99.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$164.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$99.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$175.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$99.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$175.00
  • Child$99.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$175.00
  • Child$99.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$175.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$99.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$175.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$98.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$164.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$98.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$175.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$98.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$175.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$98.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$164.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$98.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$175.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$98.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$175.00
  • Child$98.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$175.00
  • Child$98.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$175.00
  • Child$98.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$175.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$98.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$175.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$98.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$175.00
  • Child$98.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$164.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$98.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$175.00
  • Child$98.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$175.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$98.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$164.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$98.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$224.00
  • Child$98.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$224.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$98.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$224.00
  • Child$98.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$275.00
  • Child$99.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$275.00
  • Child$99.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$175.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$98.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$164.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$98.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$175.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$98.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$175.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$98.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$275.00
  • Child$99.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$199.00
  • Child$98.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$224.00
  • Child$99.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$175.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$99.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$159.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$99.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$164.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$99.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$164.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$98.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$164.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$99.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$275.00
  • Child$99.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$275.00
  • Child$99.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$159.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$99.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$175.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$99.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$275.00
  • Child$99.00
  • Infant Free

  • Adult$164.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$98.00
  • Infant Free

Authenticated Reviews & PhotosAll of our reviews are from people who have booked and paid for this activity thru Bookme

Authenticated Reviews & PhotosAll of our reviews are from people who have booked and paid for this activity thru Bookme

4.7

756 reviews

Showing all 756 authenticated Bookme reviews

nilsruetten from Germany wrote on 29 October 2023

Geringe Chance auf Wale

In den Bereichen, in denen Wale leben hält man sich bei einem 40 Minuten Flug nur 20 Minuten auf. Sie haben eine Tauchzeit von bis zu zwei Stunden. Die Chance Wale zu sehen ist somit gering und der Titel irreführend. Die Boote haben weitaus höhere Erflogsquoten.

verifiedVerified purchase Share Link

From Kaikoura Whale Watching Flight - 40 Minutes - Community Owned & Operated

Hi, thank you for joining us and taking the time to leave a review. Depending on the location of the whales, yes we may need to spend longer flying out to the area. Sometimes we are lucky they are close to shore, however it is wildlife so we are at the whim of mother nature here. On average, the sperm whales in Kaikoura dive for 40-50mins, sometimes over 1hr. It would be extremely unusual for a sperm whale in Kaikoura to do over a 2hr dive, the longest recorded dive in the world is 2.17hrs- which is an extremely long dive for a sperm whale! Unfortunately we can never 100% guarantee a whale sighting as it is wildlife, but I hope you enjoyed the flying and Kaikoura views.

crazy-s from Germany wrote on 16 February 2020

Etwas enttäuschend

Wir hatten nach den ganzen guten Bewertungen wahrscheinlich etwas zu hohe Erwartungen an das Erlebnis. Wir hatten extra den längeren Flug gebucht, weil uns 30 Minuten etwas zu kurz waren. Wir waren leider nur 35 Minuten in der Luft. Auf Nachfrage wurde uns gesagt, dass es vom Start am Boden bis zur Landung knapp 39 Minuten gewesen wären und dass wir gerne die Video Überwachung anschauen könnten. Vor der Ladung sind wir jedoch auch noch ca. 5 Minuten über eine trockene Landschaft geflogen. So dass wir über dem Meer nicht einmal 30 Minuten verbracht haben. Gesehen haben wir leider nur einen Wahl, der nur für Sekunden auftauchte und eine Menge Delfine. Aber das ist eben die Natur. Vorher wurden einige interessante Infos gegeben. Für den Preis würde ich es nicht noch einmal machen. Und auf keinen Fall den verlängerten Flug buchen.

verifiedVerified purchase Share Link

From Kaikoura Whale Watching Flight - 40 Minutes - Community Owned & Operated

Hi Christine - thank you for taking the time to review us. It is incorrect to say that you were only in the air for 35 minutes; from take off to touch down was 39 minutes per the camera footage, which we offered to show you. We can understand wanting more time out there! The longer the flight time, the more time we can spend looking for marine mammals - we're happy you were able to see a whale and dolphins on your flight. Warm regards, Team Air Kaikoura

Roland from Germany wrote on 27 February 2017

Kaikoura von oben

Ein schöner Rundflug mit einem sympatischen Piloten. Wir haben zwei Pottwale gesehen (je ca. 17 Meter lang). Dazu die Aussicht auf das wunderschöne Kaikoura genossen - bei herrlichstem Wetter. Über bookme kann man den Flug schon buchen, den Originalpreis finde ich allerdings zu teuer. Die Pottwale sahen aus der Luft eher wie Babywale aus. Dennoch nice welche gesehen zu haben und der Flug hat Spaß gemacht. Cheers

verifiedVerified purchase Share Link

Susanne Marx from Germany wrote on 03 February 2024

Unbeschreiblich!

Es war ein unbeschreibliches Gefühl die Wale zu sehen. Aufgrund schlechten Wetters mussten wir unseren Termin verschieben, was aber kein Problem war. Dieser Tag dafür war perfekt. Der Pilot hat sich Zeit genommen die Wale zu finden und uns einiges über sie zu erzählen. Ein wirklich tolles Erlebnis, was ich jedem empfehlen kann.

verifiedVerified purchase Share Link

Dietmar from Germany wrote on 17 April 2023

Schöner Flug - keine Wale

Man hat uns gleich zu Anfang gesagt, dass wir wohl keine Wale sehen werden. Wer wollte, konnte vom Flug zurücktreten. Gesehen haben wir veile Delfine, einen abtauchenden Orca und eine tolle Landschaft.

verifiedVerified purchase Share Link

close

Qualmark Certification

This award identifies a business with a high level of professionalism, a keen awareness of the impact it has on the environment and a commitment to a customer centric approach.

This award is evidence of a sophisticated tourism business that consistently exceeds visitor expectations. Their proactive leadership and management ensure the business's focus on continuously improving their economic, social and environmental performance to create genuine, constantly evolving and sustainable tourism experiences.

This award recognises the best sustainable tourism businesses in New Zealand. It denotes exceptional customer experiences at the heart of everything the company does. This business is leading the way in making the New Zealand tourism industry a world class sustainable visitor destination.

When you see the Qualmark logo, your activity of choice is endorsed by New Zealand Tourism's official quality assurance organisation and backed by leaders in the industry. It's your trusted guide to iconic activities and experiences that are awarded for their exceptionally high level of quality, safety and sustainability.

Sample menu

close
delete

Delete your content?

This item will be deleted immediately. You can't undo this action.