THE WHALE WATCHING GUIDE
The trips worth booking.
The 15 whale watching in new zealand travellers rate most highly, gathered in one place. What you are likely to see, when the season runs, who skippers the boat, and what a place on deck costs.
Kaikōura sperm whale watching by catamaran with live commentary, a strong sighting success rate, and an 80% refund guarantee.
Most Popular“A very nice and very well organised tour. The atmosphere was great. The running commentary was fantastic and very informative. Highly recommended”
4.5-hour catamaran eco-cruise from Auckland for orcas, bottlenose dolphins, whales, and seabirds, with science-led commentary.
“10/10, got to see a few whales, several pods of dolphins, and lots of blue penguins and shearwaters. Would absolutely recommend!”
A 40-minute small-group whale-watching scenic flight over Kaikōura’s coast, with window seats and live pilot commentary.
“Fabulous! Loved this trip. We saw two sperm whales and a humpback whale as well as lots of dolphins. Our original flight time was 11am, but the weather was bad so it was cancelled, but luckily the weather opened up and we managed to re-aRead more”
See Kaikoura whales from a high-wing plane with small-group comfort, pilot-led wildlife talk, and easy town-center transfers for about 30 minutes.
“Very professional outfit. You'll be well taken care of. Show up early at their office in town. Transportation can provided to airfield.”
Ride from Christchurch to Kaikōura for a long, wildlife-heavy day: guided whale watching, fur seals on land, scenic stops, and optional wine.
“I recommend it. A known risk of buying tickets for whale watching is that you might not see any whales. In our case, due to rough seas, we actually couldn’t go out far enough to see whales, so it became a dolphin watching experience. They Read more”
Whakaari–White Island flight from Whakatane with a Māori welcome, mauri stories, and up-close volcano views. One hour from $388.
“Amazing, its that simple, and our pilot Jo was so knowledgeable and made the trip special”
30-minute Kaikoura whale watching flight with headset commentary, plus a bird’s-eye view of sperm whales, dolphins, and the coast.
“Super friendly staff, amazing flight. Ben the pilot was really knowledgeable about the area and great info about the Whales that frequent the area...AND... *WOW* got to watch a Humpback whale jumping out of the water. Such a special flight. Recommend doing this, you won't regret it ever!!”
30-minute Kaikoura helicopter whale watch from the beachfront helipad. Spot sperm whales and humpbacks with headset commentary.
“What a very professional safe operation this is. We were so well prepared pre flight. saw 2 sperm whales and a very large pod of dolphins, plus a lovely view of the coast. Helicopter carries 3 passengers plus pilot. Really can’t recommend this trip enough.”
Kaikōura helicopter whale watching with 45 minutes in the air, plus a remote landing for big wildlife views from above.
“A fantastic experience Dan was brilliant. We saw lots especially the orcas a great way to to see whales. A definite must if you are in the area.”
Kaikōura helicopter whale watching with a mountain-peak landing, small-group scenic flight over the canyon, and marine wildlife spotting.
“Daniel, his wife and entire crew provided a welcoming and seamless experience!! The communications were helpful , we felt entirely safe and totally feel as if we got our moneys worth!”
Kaikōura Helicopters Extended Whale Watch is a 40-minute scenic flight for sperm whales, dolphins, and possible baleen views.
“Amazing experience! It was my first helicopter experience and it was absolutely magical! Staff and pilot were very professional and friendly! We were lucky enough to see whales after 5min being in the air. Pilots gave us the option to fly Read more”
Private Kaikoura day trip from Christchurch for sperm whales, seals and dolphins, with pickup and a short Kahutara River Walk.
“Totally worth taking this tour—it was a great idea. Kaikōura is truly a hidden gem of New Zealand, rich in marine life. We were lucky enough to spot three whales, seals, and a huge number of dolphins. This tour is a must for anyone who loves wildlife, nature, or wants to try fresh seafood”
2-day Kaikōura wildlife tour from Christchurch with guided whale cruise, fur seal viewing, and a dusky dolphin swim plus overnight stay.
“Pete is an Absolutely fantastic guide from Leisure Tours. Super informative. Had so much great information during the drive to and from whale boat (2 hours each way). He really took excellent care of us and and made sure we had a blast. TRead more”
Small-group whale watching from Christchurch to Kaikōura, with hydrophones, a naturalist crew, fur seals, and optional Waipara wine tastings.
“We had a wonderful, experienced guide named Clive who went out of his way to make the trip wonderful for all of us. It was very windy, but our whale watching boat still went out. We were able to see Holey Moley the sperm whale and severRead more”
Kaikōura helicopter whale watching with a 1h20 flight, chances at sperm whales, dolphins and seals, plus a mountain landing with 360° views.
“A totally fantastic flight with Alexis at Wings over Whales today. Got to see a whale and hundreds of dolphins - stunning scenery. Highly recommended tourist activity in Kaikoura. Loved it.”
Every coast with a season worth booking, port by port.
