NEW ZEALAND
New Zealand's best.
New Zealand's 15 most popular whale watching, in one place. What each one is actually like, who runs it, and what you will pay.
Join a Kaikoura catamaran cruise for giant sperm whale sightings, plus dolphins, seals and seabirds, with expert onboard narration.
“Really good. It was really choppy water and the team were really friendly and helpful”
3.5-hour catamaran whale watch from Kaikoura with live commentary, sperm whale sightings, and an 80% refund if no whale appears.
“Fabulous trip, we saw a sperm whale, an orca, a few seals, a large pod of dusty dolphins and a variety of sea birds. Good commentary too.”
4.5-hour eco safari by catamaran from Auckland’s Viaduct Harbour to spot whales, dolphins, seals, penguins, seabirds, and more.
“A beautiful day on the water and so wonderful to have the marine scientists on board collecting data and sharing their knowledge with us. We saw two giant nursery pods of dolphins, the baby dolphins were so cute I could cry. The captain did an amazing job of skirting the bad weather and we had…”
Luxury catamaran eco-cruise from Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf to spot orcas, dolphins, whales, and sea birds with expert research talk.
“We didn’t see whales!! But it’s off season, and nature!”
A 40-minute Kaikōura whale-watching flight with guaranteed window seats, live headset commentary, and great odds to spot sperm whales.
“From the moment I arrived at the airfield to the moment I left it, everything was so professional. Got to sit up front with our pilot Ben. He was both friendly & knowledgeable… Stunning scenery & the icing was seeing ‘The Chief’.. one of the biggest & oldest Sperm Whales in the area. It’s a…”
Auckland Hauraki Gulf cruise for whales and dolphins, with Rotoroa or Waiheke island stop and a return voucher if none seen.
“it was so cool to see the dolphins and the whale. The snacks on board were reasonably priced and tasty. We learned a lot about the water, the land, and the animals.”
Small-group Kaikōura whale watching from Christchurch: 2-hour cruise for sperm whales, humpbacks, orcas and seals, plus fish and chips.
“Amazing experience. Our driver Clive was so helpful and easy going, made a long journey relaxing and comfortable. He helped ordering the fish and chips and took us to an amazing chippy in Kaikōura. He dropped us off in a more convenient location which he didnt have to do, was also full of interesting facts…”
Fly 40 minutes above Kaikoura’s coast in a small group for sperm whales, dolphins, and big scenery, with live pilot commentary.
“Appears to be well run with well maintained Cesnas. Pilot did a very good job with flying and narrating. Only saw 1 whale, but that is the luck of the draw (the flight before mine saw 3). Location is easy to reach with ample parking.”
Fly 30 minutes over Kaikōura to spot sperm whales and dusky dolphins from guaranteed window seats with real-time pilot commentary.
“Absolutely amazing ☺️ The flight was amazing and we saw a humpback whale with many dolphins. The pilot was great and knew great about the sea creatures. Thank you very much for this wonderful experience. The flight was amazing and we saw a humpback whale with many dolphins. The pilot was great and knew great…”
See sperm whales, dolphins, and fur seals on a long but well-run Kaikoura day trip from Christchurch, with pickup and expert guidance.
“We had an absolutely fantastic day! Pick up and drop off made our journey very relaxing despite the early start date. Our driver was lovely and gave us lots of interesting facts about New Zealand, the seals, the town of Kaikoura, and the whale tour. She also showed us multiple areas that provided beautiful views…”
Fly over Kaikoura for 30 minutes of whale and dolphin spotting, with headset commentary and ocean views you can’t get from a boat.
“Super friendly staff, amazing flight. Ben the pilot was really knowledgeable about the area and great info about the Whales that frequent the area...AND... *WOW* got to watch a Humpback whale jumping out of the water. Such a special flight. Recommend doing this, you won't regret it ever!!”
Kaikōura helicopter whale watch with headset commentary and scenic canyon flights, targeting sperm whales, humpbacks, dolphins, and fur seals.
“Brilliant amazing experience. We saw 1 sperm whale and 2 Orcas within 20 minute.Wjat an amazing sight. The staff are totally commited and experienced and very helpful. Kel our pilot was just great and so was Aaron at the office. The helicopter was so clean and comfortable, beloved every minute of it. I would definitely…”
Fly 45 minutes over Kaikoura Canyon to spot whales and dolphins, then land on remote hilltops for wide ocean views with pickup.
“Perfect pilot. Nice weather. Good photo's from South Pacific Helicopters. Blue whale below the heli as a huge beest into the water”
1-hour Kaikōura whale-watching helicopter tour with a scenic peak landing and chances to spot humpbacks, dolphins and fur seals.
“Daniel, his wife and entire crew provided a welcoming and seamless experience!! The communications were helpful , we felt entirely safe and totally feel as if we got our moneys worth!”
A full Auckland day on the Hauraki Gulf for whale and dolphin spotting plus a Waiheke Island stop, with live commentary and viewing guarantee.
“Disappointed title tour name totally misleading 1st island drop off Rotorua was good to sea but very little commentary about scenery on way out spent approximately 3 hours in search of nothing! Then on way back became a ferry service aRead more”
