Whale Watching: Kaikōura's Marine Wildlife
5.0
27 Ratings
Peketā

Embark on a thrilling 1-hour guided whale watching premier tour in Kaikōura. Discover the incredible marine wildlife, including Humpback, Southern Right, Blue, and Sperm Whales, and enjoy a scenic landing in the Seaward Kaikōura Ranges.

Duration: 1 hour
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Kaikoura - A flight that showcases the very best of the beautiful coastal town, Kaikōra. Spot the wonderful marine creatures such as whales and dolphins to the towering peaks of the Seaward Kaikōra Ranges.
What's Included
  • Lifejackets
  • Headsets
Additional Information

Discover Kaikōura’s most extensive and engaging helicopter whale watching tour. This one-hour excursion starts with a remarkable aerial view over the Kaikōura Whale Sanctuary and the underwater Kaikōura Canyon, a vibrant marine area teeming with wildlife due to nutrient-rich upwellings.
Observe a range of whales, such as Humpback whales, Blue whales,…

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Location
617 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. The airport is a short 8 minute drive from Kaikōura township.
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
5.0
(27 Ratings)
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Nigel
Feb 6, 2026
Wings over Whales flight - Fantastic trip today saw sperm whale, dolphins and even an Orca. Team were really helpful and informative great experience
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Susan
Feb 6, 2026
Amazing experience! - For starters- our pilot Dan was great. Highly experienced, knowledgeable and charming. I don’t know much about helicopters but I can tell you this one was stunning with floor to ceiling windows for optimum viewing. So exciting to see a sperm whale and a humpback! The flight and scenery alone is incredible!! Truly a thrilling experience of a lifetime.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
65francesj
Feb 5, 2026
Sperm Whales. - My husband and I had a wonderful time taking helicopter ride to view a sperm whale. The captain was very knowledgeable inexperienced. I felt very comfortable, even though I had never been on a helicopter before.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nurolamin
Dec 23, 2025
Aerial views of whales - Excellent organisation and service by the entire team. We had the pleasure of flying with Daniel. He seems well attuned to the mannerisms of the whales and we were rewarded with two males in close proximity. Scenic landing is visually stunning. Highly recommended.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Escape777314
Nov 27, 2025
Great experience if you like helicopter flying, which we do - Really well run organizations with large helicopters that give you an excellent view. We saw a sperm whales, pilot, whales, and lots of dusky dolphins. Keep in mind that you are high up and looking down on them, but still a pretty fun experience
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kaylynnl2022
Nov 11, 2025
South Pacific Helicopters - Best and Safest Experience - My husband (an amateur photographer) and I thoroughly enjoyed our experience with South Pacific's Helicopters. It's very obvious that their chief concern is for your safety and understanding of how everything works. The staff was helpful in not only ensuring your safety, but also in meeting your expectations. It was a beautiful day where you could see forever. Soon into our flight over 200 dolphins were spotted. The water was so clear you could even see the dolphins beneath the surface. Dan, our pilot, easily spotted different kind of whales, and also took us to a place where we could see a panaromic view of the mountains and the ocean. Also, impressive was the contact that was continuously made with other helicopters sharing location of things they had seen. It was a wonderful experience and another view of the beauty of New Zealand. We would highly recommend booking a flight with this company.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Curiosity32849167845
Nov 8, 2025
World class!! - World class experience with a friendly & professional team. Dan is an exceptional pilot who makes you feel 100% comfortable and is so personable, making the whole experience completely awesome. Loved it!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sherpa19946714850
Sep 6, 2025
Beautiful ride! - We had a great trip with Dan! It was a beautiful day and we got to see a few whales, the beautiful scenery and land on top of the mountain briefly. Dan was very knowledgeable and friendly. I would 10/10 do this again!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Seaside34554104290
Sep 4, 2025
Whale watching tour - From take off to landing , was a perfect day in the air , got to see a whale plenty of dolphins , seals and a wealth of local information from the pilot Dan , highly recommended would go up again in a heartbeat, couldn't be in safer hands
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Goplaces13093139876
Jun 14, 2025
Up close, from way above — whale watching like never before. - The pilot, Daniel, was engaging, informative and fun, which made the whale watching by helicopter flight that much more special.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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