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Whale Watch Kaikoura

4.6
783
An exciting up-close encounter with the Giant Sperm Whale at all times of the year!

An exciting up-close encounter with the Giant Sperm Whale at all times of the year!

Highlights

  • 95% whale viewing success rate with an 80% refund if your tour does not see a whale
  • Discover Kaikoura on the water in our purpose built wildlife viewing catamaran.
  • Encounter New Zealand Fur Seals, pods of Dusky Dolphins and the endangered Wandering Albatross
  • Crewed by a friendly team of Skippers and Guides very experienced in interacting with the local Sperm Whales

We venture offshore over a deep undersea canyon that attracts an extraordinary abundance of marine life, the most famous being the Sperm Whale.

You will be viewing from our purpose built whale watching catamarans equipped with noise minimising engines, large outside viewing decks, spacious air-conditioned interiors and comfortable seating for those colder days on the water.

Whale Watch® is New Zealand's only marine-based whale watching company offering visitors an exciting up-close encounter with the Giant Sperm Whale at all times of the year. 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 advise to book early!

Giant Sperm Whales are the stars of the show and year-round residents. Depending on the season you may see migrating Humpback Whales, Pilot Whales, Blue Whales and Southern Right Whales. Kaikoura also attracts the largest concentration and variety of seabirds on mainland New Zealand!

Whale Watch vessels are crewed by a friendly team of Skippers and Guides very experienced in interacting with the local Sperm Whales. They have expert knowledge of Kaikoura's sea conditions and are fully trained in all aspects of safety.

Adult $175.00
Child $60.00 (3-15 years old)

Duration

  • Allow approx. 3.5 hours for the whole experience.

Location

  • Whale Watch is located in the town of Kaikoura. Please check in at Whale Watch Office located on Whaleway Station Road.

Restrictions

  • Minimum age 3 years old.

Child Friendly

  • This experience welcomes families with children.

Notes

  • IMPORTANT FOR BOOKINGS MADE WITHIN 48 HOURS OF DEPARTURE:

    For bookings made through Bookme within 48hours of departure, you will need to call the number provided in your booking email to fully confirm your booking and departure time in order to avoid disappointment or inconvenience.

    Duration: Time on the water is up to 2.5 hours however please allow up to 3.5 hours in total.

    Child price applies to ages 3 - 15 years.

    If your Whale Watch Kaikoura tour does not see a whale we will refund 80% of your fare.

    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.

    Whale Watch operate tours every day (weather permitting) excluding Christmas Day.

    If you are susceptible to motion-sickness Whale Watch offer Aqua Straps for hire or purchase. Whale Watch also sells natural active motion-sickness tablets but we are not permitted to sell medicatedoptions which can be purchased at the local pharmacy located in the town centre. Allour Whale Watch tours are graded with a seasickness warning announced over our PA system prior to tour departure.

    Please note every Whale Watch tour is a unique experience and the sightings will vary.

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

Matimati
Matimati
Phil from Germany
20240122 12.45
20240122 12.45
linnal from NZ
Unforgettable experience in New Year’s Day
Unforgettable experience in New Year’s Day
Santosh Sahu from NZ
Unforgettable experience in New Year’s Day
Unforgettable experience in New Year’s Day
Santosh Sahu from NZ
A must in Kaikōura
A must in Kaikōura
David Brown from United Kingdom
A must in Kaikōura
A must in Kaikōura
David Brown from United Kingdom
A must in Kaikōura
A must in Kaikōura
David Brown from United Kingdom
Amazing
Amazing
Mikaela Cunningham from NZ
Whale of a time!🐋🐋
Whale of a time!🐋🐋
Hubre duToit from NZ
We saw the whale!
We saw the whale!
ophirh from United Kingdom
Great trip
Great trip
Alison Redman from NZ
Great trip
Great trip
Alison Redman from NZ
Great trip
Great trip
Alison Redman from NZ
Breathtaking
Breathtaking
CHRISBAN FURTADO from NZ
Breathtaking
Breathtaking
CHRISBAN FURTADO from NZ
Great experience
Great experience
Aakash Gupta from NZ
You name it, we saw it
You name it, we saw it
Joanna Eke from United Kingdom
You name it, we saw it
You name it, we saw it
Joanna Eke from United Kingdom
You name it, we saw it
You name it, we saw it
Joanna Eke from United Kingdom
Amazing!!
Amazing!!
Jacqui from NZ
Amazing!!
Amazing!!
Jacqui from NZ
Great day out
Great day out
Kylie Morrow from Australia
Enjoyed every minute
Enjoyed every minute
Diana Mayes from NZ
Enjoyed every minute
Enjoyed every minute
Diana Mayes from NZ
Enjoyed every minute
Enjoyed every minute
Diana Mayes from NZ
Super nice experience
Super nice experience
meixing from Malaysia
Super nice experience
Super nice experience
meixing from Malaysia
Experience incroyable!!
Experience incroyable!!
Angélina GUILLAUME from France
Amazing experience
Amazing experience
nickj2 from NZ
Amazing experience
Amazing experience
nickj2 from NZ
Whale watching
Whale watching
Ulrike Kaltenboeck from Austria
An awesome experience with the Whales!
An awesome experience with the Whales!
stephenw12 from United Kingdom
An awesome experience with the Whales!
An awesome experience with the Whales!
stephenw12 from United Kingdom
어메이징..
어메이징..
jaehoj from South Korea
어메이징..
어메이징..
jaehoj from South Korea
Highly recommend!
Highly recommend!
Rebecca Prestidge from NZ
Highly recommend!
Highly recommend!
Rebecca Prestidge from NZ
A totally bucket list adventure
A totally bucket list adventure
Melanie Schnadt from Germany
A totally bucket list adventure
A totally bucket list adventure
Melanie Schnadt from Germany
Whale, bird and dolphin watching
Whale, bird and dolphin watching
Preetha from NZ
Whale, bird and dolphin watching
Whale, bird and dolphin watching
Preetha from NZ
Close Up Sightings
Close Up Sightings
scottw12 from United Kingdom
Close Up Sightings
Close Up Sightings
scottw12 from United Kingdom
Whale watch Kaikōura
Whale watch Kaikōura
ianw8 from NZ
Whale watch Kaikōura
Whale watch Kaikōura
ianw8 from NZ
Do it!
Do it!
Rebecca West from United Kingdom
Do it!
Do it!
Rebecca West from United Kingdom
Amazing
Amazing
Rhonda McIntyre from NZ
Over the top....
Over the top....
sebastienl from France
Over the top....
Over the top....
sebastienl from France
Ein wunderschönes Erlebnis
Ein wunderschönes Erlebnis
amandee from Germany
Ein wunderschönes Erlebnis
Ein wunderschönes Erlebnis
amandee from Germany
Ein wunderschönes Erlebnis
Ein wunderschönes Erlebnis
amandee from Germany
Best experience ever
Best experience ever
sandyw5 from NZ
Super
Super
Jo from Germany
Super
Super
Jo from Germany
Fantastic Experience
Fantastic Experience
Lucy Hunter from United Kingdom
Mind blowing experience
Mind blowing experience
Rebekah Scott from NZ
Whale watching
Whale watching
philg3 from NZ
Magical experience
Magical experience
guillermog2 from Argentina
Magical experience
Magical experience
guillermog2 from Argentina
Just great!
Just great!
Janet tenHoeve from Netherlands
Great experience
Great experience
lisbeth from Denmark
Atemberaubend
Atemberaubend
Michaela Bott from Germany
Atemberaubend
Atemberaubend
Michaela Bott from Germany
Émotion pure
Émotion pure
Patrick Descamps from France
Amazing Whalewatching trip
Amazing Whalewatching trip
creaw1 from NZ
Amazing Whalewatching trip
Amazing Whalewatching trip
creaw1 from NZ
Holey Moley whale watch!
Holey Moley whale watch!
Patricia Rees from United Kingdom
One of the best!!!!
One of the best!!!!
carmenl11 from Australia
One of the best!!!!
One of the best!!!!
carmenl11 from Australia
Awesome!
Awesome!
Ami Adams from NZ
Awesome!
Awesome!
Ami Adams from NZ
Awesome experience
Awesome experience
christinep9 from NZ
Excellent Trip
Excellent Trip
Tina Morrow from NZ
Excellent Trip
Excellent Trip
Tina Morrow from NZ
A whale of a time.
A whale of a time.
Gary Wilson from Australia
Whale Watch
Whale Watch
kellyc29 from NZ
Epic trip
Epic trip
Zak Bogdan from NZ
Epic trip
Epic trip
Zak Bogdan from NZ
Epic trip
Epic trip
Zak Bogdan from NZ
Amazing
Amazing
Gary Vaughan from United Kingdom
Amazing family experience!
Amazing family experience!
Coll family from NZ
Amazing family experience!
Amazing family experience!
Coll family from NZ
Amazing family experience!
Amazing family experience!
Coll family from NZ
Mrs
Mrs
Wendy B from NZ
Bucket list item!
Bucket list item!
Emma McKay from NZ
Bucket list item!
Bucket list item!
Emma McKay from NZ
Fantastic
Fantastic
nikik from NZ
Fantastic
Fantastic
nikik from NZ
Whale of a time
Whale of a time
leeb9 from NZ
Whale of a time
Whale of a time
leeb9 from NZ
Whale of a time
Whale of a time
leeb9 from NZ
An amazing experience
An amazing experience
susiea from NZ
An amazing experience
An amazing experience
susiea from NZ
Fabulous time whale watching
Fabulous time whale watching
Lisa DeVries from NZ
Amazing
Amazing
kathyt7 from NZ
Amazing
Amazing
kathyt7 from NZ
Amazing trip
Amazing trip
Kevin Massey-Borman from NZ
Amazing trip
Amazing trip
Kevin Massey-Borman from NZ
No whales but dolphins
No whales but dolphins
Marie Howell from NZ
Wildlife highlight
Wildlife highlight
Daisy from NZ
Wildlife highlight
Wildlife highlight
Daisy from NZ
Whale of a time
Whale of a time
adamw11 from NZ
Whale watch kaikoura
Whale watch kaikoura
Angela Hocking from NZ
Make sure you tick this off your bucket list
Make sure you tick this off your bucket list
deeu from NZ
Make sure you tick this off your bucket list
Make sure you tick this off your bucket list
deeu from NZ
Put this on the list!
Put this on the list!
kylieh14 from NZ
Put this on the list!
Put this on the list!
kylieh14 from NZ
Put this on the list!
Put this on the list!
kylieh14 from NZ
great day
great day
merylj from NZ
Whale watching
Whale watching
Nicole Blyth from NZ
I want to go again
I want to go again
Michelle McIntyre from NZ
Fabulous calm day and we saw the lot
Fabulous calm day and we saw the lot
Linda Bragg from NZ
Fabulous calm day and we saw the lot
Fabulous calm day and we saw the lot
Linda Bragg from NZ
HR 30
HR 30
Sandra Moonen from NZ
Good time
Good time
Linda Jury from NZ
Whale watch
Whale watch
stephenb2 from NZ
Whale watch
Whale watch
stephenb2 from NZ
Whales in their natural environment
Whales in their natural environment
Debra from NZ
Whales in their natural environment
Whales in their natural environment
Debra from NZ
Fantastic experience!
Fantastic experience!
BRUNO GARCIA from NZ
Awesome trip
Awesome trip
Julie from NZ
A fantastic experience
A fantastic experience
Diana from NZ
Great day out
Great day out
skiwi from NZ
Absolutely incredible
Absolutely incredible
Lisa Cooke from NZ
Absolutely incredible
Absolutely incredible
Lisa Cooke from NZ
Just great!
Just great!
Lynne Ford from NZ
Great Experience!!
Great Experience!!
kwamem from NZ
Great Experience!!
Great Experience!!
kwamem from NZ
Great Experience!!
Great Experience!!
kwamem from NZ
Amazing!!!!
Amazing!!!!
hannahg8 from United Kingdom
Amazing!!!!
Amazing!!!!
hannahg8 from United Kingdom
Fab day
Fab day
Philippa Novell from NZ
Fab day
Fab day
Philippa Novell from NZ
Best day ever
Best day ever
Cushla from NZ
Best day ever
Best day ever
Cushla from NZ
Best day ever
Best day ever
Cushla from NZ
Bucket list ✅
Bucket list ✅
Renee from NZ
Whalewatch Kaikoura
Bucket list ✅
Renee from NZ
Whalewatch Kaikoura
Bucket list ✅
Renee from NZ
Great thanks
Great thanks
Liz Brown from NZ
Great thanks
Great thanks
Liz Brown from NZ
Great thanks
Great thanks
Liz Brown from NZ
We had a whale of a time!
We had a whale of a time!
Eleise Martin from Australia
We had a whale of a time!
We had a whale of a time!
Eleise Martin from Australia
We had a whale of a time!
We had a whale of a time!
Eleise Martin from Australia
돈도 시간도 좀 아깝습니다
돈도 시간도 좀 아깝습니다
seunghakb from South Korea
Incredible!
Incredible!
Danielle Simons from United Kingdom
Incredible!
Incredible!
Danielle Simons from United Kingdom
Incredible!
Incredible!
Danielle Simons from United Kingdom
Big Boy doing the fabulous flip before dive in
Big Boy doing the fabulous flip before dive in
Shin Yi from NZ
Lucky Day
Lucky Day
eva.dur from France
Insta: eva.voirailleurs
Lucky Day
eva.dur from France
Lucky Day
Lucky Day
eva.dur from France
Great staff
Great staff
William Eskildsen from Denmark
Great staff
Great staff
William Eskildsen from Denmark
Awsome!!!
Awsome!!!
Annette from Netherlands
Great experience
Great experience
brettk from Canada
범고래
범고래
YERIM from South Korea
Mind blowing!
Mind blowing!
Stephen Brady from United Kingdom
5 star experience
5 star experience
Helen Sayers from United Kingdom
5 star experience
5 star experience
Helen Sayers from United Kingdom
Woww~
Woww~
Ethan from Malaysia
A brilliant 3 hours!!
A brilliant 3 hours!!
Lisa O’Neill from United Kingdom
Amazing trip
Amazing trip
Tracey from NZ
Amazing trip
Amazing trip
Tracey from NZ
Amazing trip
Amazing trip
Tracey from NZ
Amazing trip
Amazing trip
Tracey from NZ
Amazing trip
Amazing trip
Tracey from NZ
Amazing trip
Amazing trip
Tracey from NZ
Amazing, we saw 6 spermwhales!!!
Amazing, we saw 6 spermwhales!!!
Natalie Cirillo from Germany
Amazing, we saw 6 spermwhales!!!
Amazing, we saw 6 spermwhales!!!
Natalie Cirillo from Germany
Whalewatching Kaikoura
Whalewatching Kaikoura
Andrea Boehm from Germany
Excellent trip
Excellent trip
Amy Weeden from NZ
outerstanding
outerstanding
zhongqi ni from China
Just love the whale
Just love the whale
Annabelle from NZ
First tail!
First tail!
Sharron from NZ
看见鲸的起跃，只拍到了鲸尾
看见鲸的起跃，只拍到了鲸尾
Guo Li from China
Brilliant experience
Brilliant experience
Max from United Kingdom
Brilliant experience
Brilliant experience
Max from United Kingdom
Experience of a lifetime
Experience of a lifetime
Karl Stewart from NZ
Good whale watching
Good whale watching
Desiree from Netherlands
Good whale watching
Good whale watching
Desiree from Netherlands

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

5 Stars
618
4 Stars
96
3 Stars
25
2 Stars
22
1 Stars
22

4.6

783 reviews

Read all 783 authenticated reviews for Whale Watch Kaikoura

Showing all 783 authenticated Bookme reviews

laureens from France wrote on 13 March 2023

Super expérience !

J'ai adoré cette expérience. J'ai choisi le départ a 7h15 qui est en fait départ a 7h45 en bus pour être sur l'eau environ entre 8h15 et 10h pour un retour vers 10h30. C'était génial! Je regrette pas cet horaire car on a en plus la chance de voir le magnifique levé de soleil. On a vu deux baleines et des centaines de dauphins c'était super

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thomaslux from France wrote on 31 August 2025

Bonne expérience

Un tour suffisamment long et agréable, un personnel très sympathique et de belles vues avec de nombreux animaux marins aperçus !

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Helene Lesage from France wrote on 23 February 2025

Incroyable !

Une super équipe, un guide extra (et avec beaucoup d'humour !) Et un tour incroyable qui nous aura permis d'observer une faune maritime exceptionnelle !!

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Angélina GUILLAUME from France wrote on 18 July 2023

Experience incroyable!!

On a pu observer 3 baleines dont la fameuse Lazarus, la première qui a été observé à Kaikoura en 1993 😍 On a également pu apercevoir un lion de mer qui venait jouer près du bateau ainsi que plusieurs bancs de dauphins qui sont venus s'amuser dans les vagues ! Je recommande 1000 fois, avec un temps ensoleillé, une équipe à bord incroyable ainsi qu'une mer calme. Merci

Experience incroyable!!

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Oceane Salaun from France wrote on 03 June 2023

experience exceptionnelle

Juste magique, nous avons eu la chance de voir deux baleines et un banc de dauphins. L'équipage est extrêmement professionnelle, sympathique ! Nous avons appris énormément de chose grâce à Sarah. Merci pour cette expérience !

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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.

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