Kaikōura Helicopter Tour: Whale Watching Adventure

Experience the thrill of aerial whale watching on a helicopter tour in Kaikōura. Marvel at stunning seascapes, mountain vistas, and the magnificent wildlife of the Pacific Ocean.

Duration: 1 hour, 15 minutes
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Kaikoura - Experience the awe-inspiring beauty of Kaikoura, New Zealand, with this remarkable 45-minute whale watching helicopter tour. Fly high above the Pacific Ocean to observe the magnificent Sperm whales in their entirety — a view only achievable from the sky. The tour also features a breathtaking landing on secluded coastal hilltops,…
What's Included
  • Life jackets
  • Headsets
What's Not Included
  • Bottled water
Additional Information

Embark on the ultimate Kaikōura helicopter tour and marvel at New Zealand’s stunning marine life from above.
Soar over the famous Kaikōura Canyon to observe Sperm, Humpback, Southern Right, Orca, or even Blue whales, depending on the season.
This extended scenic flight allows for more time to enjoy whale sightings and coastal vistas. Spot Dusky dolphins…

Location
627 State Highway 1
State Highway 1
We are located in the Log Cabin terminal at the northern end of the airport car park. There is free parking available and plenty of space camper vans.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(45 Ratings)
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Ianfunnell
Feb 9, 2026
South Pacific Helicopters are First Class - First class experience. The welcome is slick and efficient and Daniel was brilliant. Thank you to all the team for a wonderful, friendly and unforgettable experience.
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Discover737132
Feb 7, 2026
Whales from the sky - Great helicopter whale watching experience, highly recommend seeing whales from the sky! We were fortunate to see two sperm whales and watched one descend. Daniel and his staff are kind, welcoming and very knowledgeable. A great learning experience!
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4gavinn
Feb 6, 2026
Awesome, exciting and an experience to have. - Absolute awesome trip. Was the girls 1st time in a helicopter 🚁. The whole experience was amazing start to finish and will definitely organise another on our next visit. Outstanding 👌👌.
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Petrapp1
Feb 5, 2026
Wonderful helicopter experience - It was an unforgettable trip by helicopter out of the rain to the open sea. We were able to see a pottwas and a large group of dolphins. Despite the bad weather, I felt safe. Unfortunately, I felt a bit nauseous when I circled the whale several times. I highly recommend this trip. Super nice staff, very good organization, pilot with a lot of experience professional and nice!
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330eileeno
Feb 5, 2026
A flight most memorable - Most privileged to have Mr Daniel Stevenson to fly us for this helicopter ride with a mountain landing. The journey was not only scenic, tranguil but the landing view was beyond words can describe - partial glaciated grounds with majestic mountain ranges interlocking behind us. Blue skies and white clouds ☁️ adds to the picturesque breath taking view 😊✌️
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Stuart_in_kifissia
Feb 5, 2026
Kaikoura Helicopter Highlight! - It was an amazing experience - Dan the pilot was both informative and approachable as well as reassuring regarding all health & safety aspects of the flight. We saw a Sperm Whale and a school of Pilot Whales being tracked by a pair of Orcas - wow! With only two others on the trip the intimacy with the pilot added to the experience!
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Jet46996622729
Jan 29, 2026
Fantastic - A fantastic experience Dan was brilliant. We saw lots especially the orcas a great way to to see whales. A definite must if you are in the area.
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Nina
Jan 29, 2026
Must do activity for a family - it’s amazing to see the whales from above. - We absolutely loved our helicopter flight! We were incredibly lucky to spot a sperm whale, and learning about the different types of whales made the experience even more special. Flying in a helicopter alone was already unforgettable, but you truly turned it into something extraordinary for us and the kids. We felt very well taken care of, valued, and completely safe throughout the whole experience. After the flight, it was wonderful to relax, watch other airplanes take off, enjoy a complimentary hot beverage, and see the kids happily treated to some candy. All in all, it was an amazing experience that we will always remember. Thank you so much!
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Getaway24532910610
Jan 6, 2026
Unforgettable experience - An absolutely amazing trip with South Pacific Helicopters. Dan was a fantastic pilot and made the whole experience feel exciting and very safe. We were lucky enough to see a whale up close, along with dozens of seals and dolphins. Highly recommended. This was an unforgettable experience.
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Y6483vldannyb
Jan 29, 2026
Wings over the blue whale jan 2026 - Perfect pilot. Nice weather. Good photo's from South Pacific Helicopters. Blue whale below the heli as a huge beest into the water
Review provided by Tripadvisor