(English-speaking group) Whale Watching Cruise in Kaikoura, Christchurch, New Zealand – Whale Watch Kaikoura

[Highlights of the Itinerary]

Sperm whales are the stars of our whale-watching tours. They can grow up to 18 meters in length and weigh over 50 metric tons. They spend the year swimming and hunting in the waters off Kaikoura, spouting water columns several meters high, and often giving guests a glimpse of their massive tails as they dive! During the trip, you’ll also have the chance to see pods of dusky dolphins and the endangered wandering albatross. During whale migration season, you might be lucky enough to spot various whale species, including humpback whales, pilot whales, blue whales, and southern right whales. Kaikoura is frequently visited by the world’s largest dolphin species—the orca—and is also home to the world’s smallest dolphin, the Humpback dolphin, as well as a variety of seabirds, including 13 species of albatrosses and 14 species of shearwaters.

[Itinerary Details]

Ticket Pickup Location: Whale Watch Kaikoura
Address: The Whaleway Station, Whaleway Road, Kaikoura
Check-in Time:
7:15 a.m., 7:45 a.m., 8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 10:45 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 12:45 p.m., 1:15 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 4:15 p.m.
 The times listed above are for reference only; the actual schedule is subject to the final confirmation and conditions on the day.

[Itinerary Overview]
Check-in at the shop—Bus ride to the port (8–10 minutes)—Board the boat—Safety briefing—Whale-watching cruise—Return to the shop (Time spent on the water is approximately 2 hours. Including check-in, the safety briefing, and bus transfers, we recommend setting aside a total of 3 hours and 15 minutes.)

[What's Included]

Transportation from the Store to the Pier
Whale-Watching Cruise

【Fees do not include】

Snacks and beverages are not provided on board; these are at your own expense.
Travel Insurance
All costs not mentioned above

[Booking Information]

The whale-watching tour boat is enclosed. If you wish to go outside the cabin to view marine life, please bring your own warm clothing.
The children's rate applies to children ages 3–15.
Children under 3 years of age are not permitted to participate in this tour.
We cannot guarantee that you will see whales. If you do not see any whales (which is extremely rare), the local operator will refund a portion of the fee at its discretion.
It is recommended that you take motion sickness medication before boarding the ship.
All times are in New Zealand time.
The meeting time and location are subject to the final confirmation notice.
Please arrive at the meeting place 15 minutes before the scheduled time. We will not wait for latecomers.
Q: Is there a risk of capsizing?
A: No.
Q: Is there a risk of seasickness?
A: It varies from person to person. You may want to bring your own motion sickness medication. The Kaikoura Whale Watching retail store can provide you with non-medicinal remedies for motion sickness, such as Acustraps—these wristbands can

Apply light pressure to the acupoint on your wrist; you can rent or purchase it. @Ease All-Natural Motion Sickness Medicine – The @Ease we sell is a motion sickness remedy made from all-natural ingredients that provides relief for up to 12 hours. If you need a stronger motion sickness remedy, you can purchase it at Kaikoura Pharmacy, located a 10-minute walk from the whale-watching company.
Q: What kinds of marine life can you see?
A: The main attraction is seeing sperm whales. Since sperm whales may be submerged during the trip, we typically spot 1 to 2 whales per cruise on average. In Kaikoura, sperm whales surface at intervals of 40 to 60 minutes. Most of the sperm whales seen along our coastline are males. Sperm whales form loose pods, typically maintaining a distance of several miles from one another, so seeing one or two sperm whales on a single trip is already very fortunate. Nearly 80% of the world’s whale and dolphin species migrate past our coastline, so there are opportunities year-round to see other marine animals, such as blue whales, fin whales, sei whales, humpback whales, minke whales, sperm whales, orcas, southern right whales, common dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, southern right dolphins, elephant seals, and leopard seals.
Q: Is there a parking lot?
A: Yes, and it's free.
Please note:
1: The reserved time is the check-in time at the whale-watching office to exchange your ticket; it is not the departure time. Simply arrive on time as per your reservation—there’s no need to arrive early. The departure time is 30 minutes after you check in and exchange your ticket.
2: The Kaikoura Whale Watching Office has whale-watching brochures available in multiple languages, including Simplified and Traditional Chinese, which you can pick up for free.
3: There is ample free parking available for guests in front of the Kaikoura Whale Watching Information Office.

[Return and Exchange Policy]

Once the product is booked, there is no refund or change
This product is recommended to be booked more than 2 weeks in advance
Please note the departure date + passport name of the traveler + meal restrictions when placing an order