Kaikōura Wildlife and Diving: Whales, Dolphins, Seals and Snorkelling for Campers

Whales

Sperm whales feed in the Kaikōura Canyon most of the year, which is why whale watching here is so reliable. The boat trips run from town and last a few hours, and they are the main way to see them, with whale-spotting flights as a calmer alternative if you get seasick. Humpback whales pass along the coast in winter, roughly June and July, and orca turn up now and then.

Trips are cancelled when the sea is rough, which happens often, so book for early in your stay and leave a spare morning in case it is called off. The morning trips usually have the calmest water. Take seasickness tablets before you board, not once you are out there.

Dolphins and albatrosses

Dusky dolphins move along the coast in large, acrobatic pods, and the boat trips that go looking for them are among the most memorable things to do in Kaikōura. Swimming with them is offered in summer by licensed operators, with wetsuits supplied. Hector's dolphins, small and rare, are sometimes seen close to shore.

The same upwelling brings seabirds. Albatross tours go a short way offshore, and on a good day you will see several kinds of albatross and petrel close to the boat. The Seaward Kaikōura Range behind the town is the only breeding place in the world for Hutton's shearwater, which you may see in rafts on the sea in spring and summer.

Seals you can see from the land

New Zealand fur seals haul out on the rocks around the Kaikōura Peninsula, and the car park at Point Kean, at the end of the peninsula road, is the easy place to see them. The Kaikōura Peninsula Walkway runs from there along the clifftops and the shore, with seals below and views of the mountains behind, and it takes a few hours for the full loop.

North of town, the lookout at Ohau Point on State Highway 1 sits above a seal colony, and in winter the pups play in the rock pools below. It is a roadside stop, so pull fully off the highway and watch for traffic.

Keeping your distance

Seals look sleepy but they bite, and they move fast on land. DOC asks you to stay at least 20 metres away, never get between a seal and the sea, keep dogs on a lead and well back, and never feed them. Seals often rest in the car parks and on the road at Point Kean, so drive slowly and look before you open the door.

Boats and swimmers follow the marine mammal rules, which is part of why the licensed tours exist. If you are kayaking or on a paddleboard, keep your distance from whales and dolphins and let them come to you.

Snorkelling and diving

Under the water, Kaikōura has kelp forests, reef fish, crayfish and, on a lucky day, curious seals. Snorkelling with seals is offered in summer by local operators, with wetsuits and a guide, and it is the easiest way to see the underwater side. Scuba divers can join guided dives from town. The water is cold all year, so a thick wetsuit is the norm.

The Hikurangi Marine Reserve lies off the coast south of the peninsula, and nothing may be taken there. Elsewhere, take only what the rules allow: check Fisheries New Zealand's current limits for crayfish and pāua before you gather anything, as the local rules have changed since the 2016 earthquake lifted the seabed along this coast.

When to go and where to stay

Summer has the warmest weather and the dolphin swims, and it is busy, so book the boat trips and holiday parks ahead. Winter brings the humpbacks and the seal pups, clear days with snow on the range and far fewer people. Spring and autumn are a good balance, with sea conditions the main thing to watch.

Kaikōura has holiday parks in town and along the beachfront, and the camping in Kaikōura guide covers them. Freedom camping is tightly limited, and the freedom camping guide has the current picture. It is roughly two and a half hours from Christchurch and two from Picton, so most people stay at least two nights to leave room for a cancelled trip.

Planning your trip in KiwiCamping

Around Kaikōura, KiwiCamping maps the holiday parks and DOC sites along the coast, and the facilities filter shows which have hot showers, which matter after a cold morning on the water. Add your nights to a dated trip and keep an eye on the forecast for each stop, since the wind decides whether the boats go out.

Book wildlife tours with the operators. Free to download, with in-app purchases.

Places along the way