Wicked Flight! - Amazing experience, lucky with perfect weather and conditions and a great pilot who was entertaining and professional with great knowledge and yarns. Saw whale, dolphins and a shark

Awesome Experience! - We saw lots of dolphins and two sperm whales! We had a lot of time to enjoy the view of the whales as the pilot was circling above them until they sank. We had been worried before the flight if we see anything, of course, but even though they cannot guarantee a whale sighting, they know what they are doing. They know the behaviour of the whales and communicate with other vessels to maximize the chance of seeing them. Also seeing Kaikoura and surroundings from above was beautiful, even on a cloudy day.

They really do everything they can so you have a great experience - We saw 2 whales and they delayed the trip so we would see one on the surface. They really cared and it was safe and professional

Great flight, scenic views and dolphins. - I've done a lot of whale watching from a boat. I lived almost 2 decades in San Clemente CA, which is another place migrating whales pass every year. There are a couple of things anyone who goes whale watching should know. 1. You usually don't see whales. I mean you have better luck when you're in the right season, when the weather is good and there's been recent sightings. But you might have to settle for dolphin watching. 2. The people selling whale watching tours let's say, don't always emphasize the first point. I know for other such activities, such as tiger spotting in India, they will post a daily log of sightings and where on a chalkboard. This might be a good idea, perhaps online. I'm sure some places do that. All that being said, I recommend this tour. If you read my review, you will know that sighting whales (or any animal in the wild) isn't like a zoo or a circus. They aren't just lined up and waiting for you (dolphins might be the exception, they do seem to like people, and they are smart). I've never done whale watching from the air, and the flight was a good experience. The problem with flying is often weather, so getting up in the air might be a challenge too. This is a fairly remote place and perhaps some of you are staying in the area for a while but I suspect many are making a daytrip, or like me, passing through. So keep all that in mind. Don't yell at the guy at the front desk if your plane can't go up or you don't see a whale. Just know in advance how things work. It's like a lottery ticket, with better odds. It's not terribly expensive (at least compared to a helicopter) and kinda fun just going up for the ride. Great views. Maybe the best way to think of it is a scenic airplane flight with the possibility of seeing a whale. You will probable see dolphins, which is why, when I lived in California, and was taking my kids out for a trip, I told them we were going dolphin watching. Full disclosure: I did not see a whale on this flight.

Amazing pics, great service. - Great experience, these guys are top notch. They have these whales timed just right when they come up and plan their trip accordingly.

Lots of whale sitings! - fabulous time! Our boat tour cancelled and we were bummed, but saw the sign in town and wow! We could not have had a better time! We saw whales, dolphins, and even penguins. Jo was a fabulous pilot and made sure we saw everything.

Incredible whale watching experience - don't miss it! - The Kaikoura Whale watching flight is incredible! My partner and I really wanted to see a Sperm Whale from the air, and we weren't disappointed. From the onset this was a great experience. The Air Kaikoura team organised a very well-priced shuttle pickup from Kaikoura for us, and when we arrived at the aerodrome provided a comprehensive safely briefing and equipment before getting us into the plane. Our amazing pilot and team knew when a whale had last surfaced, and we quickly got up into the air to begin the search (before the whale dived again). Within a very short time our extremely friendly and knowledgeable pilot spotted the whale and then circled both left and right so that everyone on each side of the plane had a really good view and was able to take photos. We had ample time to view the whale and take pics before the whale lifted its massive tail and dived. On the way back to the aerodrome we circled over pods of Dusky Dolphins and a massive 'bait ball' or school of small fish being descended upon by a multitude of sea birds. Magical! This is the only way to see and comprehend how large the magnificent Sperm Whale is. We felt very privileged for this opportunity and highly recommend the Air Kaikoura Whale Watching Flight experience.

Wow, amazing experience 100% recommend - This experience was very special, once in a lifetime. We had such an amazing time, we got off the plane and immediately both said shall we do it again tomorrow. So pleased we did, we saw a blue whale and pilot whales on our first flight, really amazing moments. You get a good view of them from above and our pilot Murray was exceptional, really knew his stuff and good eyes! The flight was very smooth, be aware when you spot a whale you may go round in circles to stay in the same spot but we loved it. The second time we saw sperm whales and really pleased as they are the resident whale in Kaikoura. Also saw a massive pod of dolphins. This team obviously really care about what they do and I would 100% recommend it to anyone. It’s a memory me and my husband will never forget.

This is a great way to try and see sperm whales if you are limited in time - Wonderful experience. We were lucky to see two sperm whales and the dolphins. Easy to find being a short drive South on Highway 1

Fun tour - It was a fun tour. They were upfront and honest about not knowing if they could find a whale the day or our tour. They spotted one and decided to go ahead with the tour. If we were unable to find a whale we would have received a voucher for a free flight. We did find a whale. It was really cool. Had we not found a whale the flight was awesome by itself.