All year: 7:15am, 10am, 12:45pm & 3.::0pm (Nov-Mar)—Please note that these are check-in times only - please do not come earlier than the times specified.

Tour scheduling is subject to customer demand, please note that check-in times do not indicate when the actual tour departs but when check-in procedures begin.

Whale Watch operate tours every day (weather permitting) excluding Christmas Day. Tour check-in occurs at the Whaleway Station (Whale Watch Office).

All children between 3 and 15 years old (inclusive) apply to the child rate

Yes. If the sea conditions are suitable, The Operator is able to take wheel chair passengers with us, however there are times when captains may place a mobility restriction on tours if they deem sea conditions unsuitable. See here for further details on Wheel Chair Accessibility. 

Whale Watch Kaikōura has a Gold Trax Seal of Approval. The Trax Seal of Approval is New Zealand’s benchmark of Adaptive Adventure Travel & Inclusive Tourism. Find other inclusive tourism operators in New Zealand here. 

Every Whale Watch tour is a unique experience and the sightings vary. Typically you'll see 1-2 whales per tour.  Giant Sperm Whales are the stars of the show and year-round residents. A typical Whale Watch tour may encounter New Zealand Fur Seals, pods of Dusky Dolphins and the endangered Wandering Albatross. Depending on the season you may also see migrating Humpback Whales, Pilot Whales, Blue Whales and Southern Right Whales. Kaikōura often hosts Orca especially during summer months. Kaikōura is also home to the world's smallest and rarest - the Hectors. Kaikōura also attracts the largest concentration and variety of seabirds on mainland New Zealand including 13 species of Albatross, 14 varieties of Petrels and 7 types of Shearwater. If your Whale Watch tour does not see a whale, The Operator will refund 80% of your fare.

Please note that during the months of Nov - Mar there is a rest period in place for viewing of the Dusky Dolphins between the hours of 11:30am to 1:30pm. This is mandatory for all vessels and has been put in place by the Department of Conservation, this restricts viewing of dolphins on tours during these times.