Who is Whale Watch®?
Whale Watch is New Zealand's only vessel-based whale watching company offering visitors an exciting up-close encounter with the world’s largest toothed predator the Giant Sperm Whale in their natural environment at all times of the year. Whale Watch scheduled tours operate daily. 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 recommend booking early.

Where is Whale Watch®?
Whale Watch is located in the small coastal town of Kaikōura on the East Coast of New Zealand’s South Island a scenic two and a half-hour drive north from Christchurch and two hour drive south from Picton. Kaikōura is a special place of lush pastures and towering, snow covered peaks that fall to the sea. This rare magic continues just offshore where a deep undersea canyon combines with unusual sea currents to attract an extraordinary abundance of marine life, the most famous being the Giant Sperm Whale.

The Whale Watch® Tour Experience
Kaikōura is the whale watching capital of New Zealand, every Whale Watch tour is a unique experience and the sightings vary. Giant Sperm Whales are the stars of the show and year-round residents. A typical Whale Watch tour may encounter New Zealand Fur Seals, pods of Dusky Dolphins and the endangered Wandering Albatross. Depending on the season you may also see migrating Humpback Whales, Pilot Whales, Blue Whales and Southern Right Whales. Kaikōura often hosts the world's largest dolphin - the Orca - and is home to the world's smallest and rarest - the Hector's. Kaikōura also attracts the largest concentration and variety of seabirds on mainland New Zealand including 13 species of Albatross, 14 varieties of Petrels and 7 types of Shearwater. If your Whale Watch tour does not see a whale we will refund 80% of your fare.

The Whale Watch® Philosophy
Whale Watch is committed to providing a quality whale watching experience while carefully managing the use of a rare natural resource. We are visitors to the world of the whales and respect it as such at all times. As a Māori-owned company, Whale Watch cherishes the twin values of hospitality to visitors and reverence for the natural world. It is a philosophy that embraces people, the land, the sea and all living things as one.

Local

Eat and Drink

• Emporium Brewing - Kaikoura (0.3 miles) - Emporium Brewing is a craft beer brewery specialising in making small batches of hand made beers ran...

See and Do

• Whale Watch Kaikoura Kaikoura (0.0 miles) - Who is Whale Watch®? Whale Watch is New Zealand's only vessel-based whale watching company offer...
• Emporium Brewing Kaikoura (0.3 miles) - Emporium Brewing is a craft beer brewery specialising in making small batches of hand made beers ran...
• Kaikoura Kayaks Kaikoura (0.9 miles) - We invite you to join Kaikoura's Original Kayak Operator Est.1998. Award winning Half Day Guided ...
• Kaikoura Fishing Tours kaikoura (1.9 miles) - Kaikoura fishing tours offers 2 hour trips to a full day fishing and Crayfishing all gear supplied ta...