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

4.7
793
Deals from $164.00 Save $111.00 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.

Adult $275.00
Child $115.00 (2 - 12 years)

What's included

  • 40 minute scenic flight
  • Guaranteed Window Seat
  • Headsets for Live Commentary

Duration

  • Allow approximately 90 minutes for the whole experience

Location

  • Air Kaikoura is located 6.5km south of Kaikoura township, on State Highway 1
  • We’re located at Kaikoura Airport, about a 10-minute drive south of Kaikoura. When you arrive at the airport, turn right, and you’ll find us in the southernmost building.
  • Free parking is available.

Child Friendly

  • This experience welcomes families with children.

Bad Weather Refunds

  • If your experience is cancelled by the operator (because of the bad weather, safety concerns, unscheduled maintenance etc) 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 apply.

    Maximum weights do apply in small aircraft; if you think you may exceed 120kgs, please contact the operator to discuss.

    Check in is 30 minutes prior to your flight time. Flight times may be adjusted to align with whale diving patterns, which can result in earlier departures. If you are not present at the check-in time, the flight may depart without you.

    The activity requires minimum numbers in order to operate

    Flights are weather dependent. A full refund will be given if the flight cannot operate due to poor weather conditions

    While we do everything possible to locate whales, they are wild animals, and sightings cannot be guaranteed. Refunds or rescheduling are not available if whales are not sighted, but were confident youll love the stunning scenery and the unique opportunity to experience Kaikuras incredible landscapes and marine environment from above.

  • Infants-11kg & Under (Sitting on an adults lap). Above this weight will be charged a child price.

Available Bookings from 10 Jan to 23 Jan 2026

Change Dates

All prices are shown in NZD ($)

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  • Child$115.00

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Bookings close in 7 hours...

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  • Adult$164.00 Less than 6 at this price!
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  • Adult$185.00 Less than 6 at this price!
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  • Adult$172.00 Less than 6 at this price!
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Bookings close in 11 hours...

  • Adult$185.00 Less than 6 at this price!
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  • Child$115.00

  • Adult$164.00 Less than 6 at this price!
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  • Adult$172.00 Less than 6 at this price!
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  • Adult$172.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$99.00

  • Adult$172.00 Less than 6 at this price!
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  • Adult$164.00 Less than 6 at this price!
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  • Adult$275.00
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  • Adult$164.00 Less than 6 at this price!
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  • Adult$185.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$99.00

  • Adult$185.00
  • Child$99.00

  • Adult$275.00
  • Child$115.00

  • Adult$275.00
  • Child$115.00

  • Adult$172.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$99.00

  • Adult$172.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$99.00

  • Adult$172.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$99.00

  • Adult$185.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$99.00

  • Adult$185.00
  • Child$99.00

  • Adult$275.00
  • Child$115.00

  • Adult$275.00
  • Child$115.00

  • Adult$172.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$99.00

  • Adult$172.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$99.00

  • Adult$172.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$99.00

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

793 reviews

Showing all 793 authenticated Bookme reviews

tijn from Netherlands wrote on 10 October 2025

Recommended experience!

Overall amazing experience. Professional crew, felt really safe. Great communication. Wonderful views. Well prepared whale spotting, with a few boats scouting ahead.

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

Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re thrilled you had an amazing experience and felt safe and well looked after by our team. It’s great to hear you enjoyed the views and the coordinated whale spotting, it’s always a special sight from above. We really appreciate you flying with us and hope to see you again soon!

ericr4 from New Zealand wrote on 05 January 2026

wonderful flight

nice and smooth, even if we saw no whale this day. The staff, especially the pilot, is very helpful and sympathic. I'll get another chance later.

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Johanna from Germany wrote on 03 January 2026

Great experience

Enjoyed the whale watching flight with my husband. It was a great experience seeing a whole whale from top while the plane is cycling above. Switch right and left turns for all passengers to see it. Felt a little like being on a cassussel so keep that in mind when you get easily motion sick. But totally worth it. Such great views.

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yulingziz from Australia wrote on 01 January 2026

Great activity

It is highly recommended activities and the staff are kind and the pilot is professional and we do see one sperm whale.

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tg11 from New Zealand wrote on 28 December 2025

Fantastic experience

Fantastic experience. Excellent welcoming Team, very clear instructions, straightforward process. Clean and comfortable facilities. The plane is small but clean and easy to get in and out from. To see the largest whale was surreal, such a magnificent creature.

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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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