Kaikoura Travel Guide: Travel and tourist information, things to do and see in Kaikoura

At first glance Kaikoura seems to be an ordinary town with an extraordinary setting against a majestic backdrop of snow capped mountains. This small, east coast town is known above all for its whale watching opportunities. It is without doubt the best place in the New Zealand to see the magnificent sperm whale and combined with good opportunities to swim with dusky dolphins as well as see seals and pelagic birds, has become a 'must visit' destination for wildlife enthusiasts.

Situated about 2 hours north of Christchurch, Kaikoura possesses a dramatic coastline as the mountains meet the sea and some stunning surrounding scenery suitable for walking. With some excellent crayfish on offer and a good proximity to New Zealand's top wineries, Kaikoura is becoming far more than the whale watching mecca that made it famous.

Albatross Cruises: Ocean Wings run cruises for bird watchers who want to see ocean-going birds such as mollymawks, petrels and the mighty albatross. You can often see dolphins, seals and whales on these cruises.

Dolphins: One of Kaikoura's big attractions is the opportunity to swim with dolphins. Dolphin Encounter runs three-hour trips out to swim with the dusky dolphins. You also have the chance to see hectors dolphins, fur seals, orca and pilot whales. It costs $115 to swim with the dolphins or you can come along and watch for $55. There are restrictions on the number of people allowed to swim with the dolphins and it is often necessary to book well in advance if you are visiting in summer.

Hiking: The Kaikoura Coast Track (website www.kaikouratrack.co.nz ) bills itself as one of New Zealand's finest private walks. The three-day walk climbs from sea level to 600 metres, but it is a relatively easy walk. Like the Queen Charlotte Track, hikers have the luxury of having their bags transported between overnight stops so you can walk with just a daypack. The track is limited to just 10 walkers and eight mountain bikers each day. The track is open between October and April and it costs $130 to walk ($70 for cyclists), which includes accommodation and pack transport.

Sea Kayak Kaikoura: Sea Kayak Kaikoura offers both guided kayak tours and kayak rental.

Swimming with Seals: Between mid-November and mid-April Dive Kaikoura and Seal Swim Kaikoura run trips that allow you to swim with New Zealand Fur Seals. The Seal Swim Kaikoura trip is a shore-based activity where you snorkel out to the seals from Jimmy Armers Beach, while Dive Kaikoura's trip involves taking a boat out to the seals.

Kaikoura District Museum: This small regional museum has a wide selection of exhibits including dinosaur bones, Maori artefacts and thousands of photos.

Whale Watching: Whale watching is big business in Kaikoura and you have the option of either taking a whale watching cruise or spotting them from a plane or helicopter.Sperm and humpback whales can be seen in June & July, but Orcas are more prevalent during summer.

Whale Watching Cruises: The whale watching cruises give you around 2½ hours on the water and you also have the opportunity of seeing dolphins, seals and albatross. Cruises cost around $110 and they offer an 80% refund if you don't spot a whale.

Whale Watching Flights: Scenic flights allow you to see whales and other marine life from the air. Wings over Whales operate flights in fixed-wing aircraft departing from Kaikoura Airport, 8km south of the town centre.

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Population: 4.035.500
Languages: English, Maori (both official)
Currency: New Zealand dollar
Currency code: NZD
Local Times:
New Zealand - Auckland

New Zealand - Chatham Island

New Zealand - Wellington

Country Dialling Code: +64
Voltage: 240V 50Hz
Electrical plugs:
Flat prongs, inverted 'V' positioned with earth connector

Flat prongs, inverted 'V' positioned with earth connector

It's been Middle Earth and Narnia in the movies but New Zealand's beautiful landscapes are no fantasy.

With a varied and dramatic landscape, a long and significant cultural heritage, and some of the world's rarest and most fascinating plant and animal species, New Zealand is an ideal adventure travel destination. Take a trip here and discover why New Zealand has it all - from flightless birds to breaching whales and breathtaking fjords to erupting geysers.

New Zealand comes with a reputation as a unique land packed with magnificent, raw scenery : craggy coastlines, sweeping beaches, primeval forests, snow-capped alpine mountains, bubbling volcanic pools, fast-flowing rivers and glacier-fed lakes, all beneath a brilliant blue sky. The far north is a subtropical haven of unspoilt beaches, citrus fruits and hibiscus flowers, while volcanic mud pools and geysers feature in the central part of North Island. The South Island boasts whale watching, ice glaciers and rugged snow-covered Alps. And yes, there are many wide-open spaces.

What's more, everything is easily accessible, packed into a land area little larger than Britain and with a population of just 3.8 million, over half of it tucked away in the three largest cities : Auckland, the capital Wellington, and the South Island's Christchurch. Elsewhere, you can travel miles through steep-hilled farmland and rarely see a soul, and there are even remote spots which, it's reliably contended, no human has ever visited.

Geologically, New Zealand split off from the super-continent of Gondwanaland early, developing a unique ecosystem in which birds adapted to fill the role normally held by mammals, many becoming flightless through lack of predators.

Only in the last couple of decades has New Zealand come of age and developed a true national self-confidence, something partly forced on it by Britain severing the colonial apron strings in the early 1970s, and partly by the resurgence of Maori identity. Maori demands have been nurtured by a willingness on the part of most pakeha to redress the wrongs perpetrated over the last century and a half, as long as it doesn't impinge on their high standard of living or overall feeling of control. More recently, integration has been replaced with a policy of promoting two cultures alongside each other, but with maximum interaction. In this way New Zealand is set to forge through the new century with considerable dignity and a good deal of uncertainty.

The British represent the second largest group of visitors to New Zealand - after neighbouring Australia. But at 12,000 miles away from the UK it's a once-in-a-lifetime destination for many and takes a bit of planning.

Most British travellers either tack New Zealand on to the end of an Australian holiday and regret not having enough time, or take two or three weeks and race around like mad to see the whole country. While New Zealand is small enough to 'do' in that time, a more enjoyable option is to spend longer at just a few places - and then you have an excuse to go back!

Kaikoura Travel Guide

Kaikoura Suitability Profile