Kaikoura in New Zealand’s South Island has long been known for the abundance of its wildlife.
In early times, this meant a profusion of food leading to an early Maori settlement on the peninsula (the name derives from the Maori words for “food” and “crayfish”).
Centuries of capturing animals and birds for food have taken their toll, and today there are several conservation programs in Kaikoura.
However, there is still enough wildlife to make exploring the peninsula a naturalist’s dream.
So, if you’re interested in hearing what we saw wildlife we saw (hint: whales, birds, and more), continue reading this post.
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Whale Watching In Kaikoura
Much of the wildlife of the Kaikoura Peninsula lives in the water.
This means you have to go offshore to see it, so we booked ourselves onto a whale watching tour with Whale Watch Kaikoura. The tour takes about 2 hours, but you’ll need at least 3 hours for check-in and safety briefings.
They reckon that they have a 95% success rate in spotting whales (in fact they are so confident that they offer a partial refund if no whales are sighted!).
They say that on an average trip, you will see two whales; anything more is a bonus.
We equipped ourselves with some “all natural” sea-sickness pills (surprisingly effective) and braced ourselves for a bumpy boat ride.
We were lucky on two counts.
Firstly, with the weather. It was brilliantly sunny with just a little bit of cloud hovering over the coastal mountains, meaning that the boat didn’t toss around too much.
And, secondly, because it was not very long before we saw our first whale. Our guide, Ellie, gave us a running commentary as we went. She said, “It’s a sperm whale. But it’s a bit lazy and it’s not going to dive for us.”
A sperm whale prepares to dive. Photo credit: WorldWideWriter
She went on to explain that sperm whales were resident here all through the year but other varieties, including blue whales, visited at other times.
Today we would only see sperm whales, and they would all be males as “it’s too cold for the females.”
As if on cue, another one appeared and obligingly did a great dive for us, its tail swishing in the air.
Here is the tail of a sperm whale. Photo credit: WorldWideWriter
Another whale rose to the surface, and then another.
“Look with your eyes as well as the camera,” said Ellie.
By the time the fifth whale was sighted, I heeded her words and put the camera away. I was rewarded with a magnificent view of the fluke.
Albatrosses and Seabirds
But it is not just whales. According to a local tourist publication, Kaikoura is the best place in the world to see seabirds.
Dozens of shearwaters were flying above the surface of the water, and then from the corner of my eye, I spotted a bird with an enormous wing span.
Distracted by the whales, I missed that one but another appeared, bobbing up and down on the water like a farmyard duck. It was a wandering albatross, the first I had ever seen.
A wandering albatross sits on the water. Photo credit: WorldWideWriter
Seals And Dolphins
We came back past Barney’s Rock, where whalers of old kept a lookout for whales.
Today it is home to a colony of New Zealand blue seals, and we saw a number of pups playing on the rock.
You’ll see New Zealand blue seals on Barney’s Rock. Photo credit: WorldWideWriter
The boat made a sudden diversion, then stopped.
A pod of splendid black and white dolphins was playing around the boat.
They swam and dived, and flipped, showing off to their audience. They moved too fast for good photographs, so I allowed myself just to enjoy watching them.
The dolphins move too fast to capture their antics! Photo credit: WorldWideWriter
The total tally for the trip was five whales, seals, dolphins, albatrosses, and shearwaters!
Whale Watching Kaikoura Additional Information
Address: Whaleway Station Road, Kaikōura 7340, New Zealand
Location: Click for Google Maps
Official Website: https://whalewatch.co.nz/kia-ora/
Check Tour Availability and Reserve Your Spot Here: Official Website | Get Your Guide | Klook
(Prebooking is highly recommended!)
A Colony Of Fur Seals at Point Kean
After our whale watching tour, we returned to the mainland to walk along the coastline, along the Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway. It’s free to access the walkway.
One of the main highlights is seeing the seal colony at Point Kean.
A fur seal basking on the rocks at Kaikoura Peninsula. Photo credit: WorldWideWriter
In the past, seals were heavily hunted and their numbers diminished, but this colony has become a major breeding site.
When I visited Point Kean, several fur seals were scattered about the rocks basking in the sun.
Most of them seemed to be happy lying on the rocks or sliding clumsily into the water, but one or two inquisitive males were nosing around the car park.
We heeded the warnings that they could become aggressive if disturbed and kept them at a safe distance!
Point Kean Viewpoint Additional Information
Address: 40 Fyffe Quay, Kaikōura Peninsula, Kaikōura 7300, New Zealand
Location: Click for Google Maps
More Information: Website
Bird Sightings Along Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway
The Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway curves right around the peninsula offering plenty of opportunities to spot birds.
The Peninsula Walk gives spectacular views. The strangely shaped hill on the left is evidence of early Maori settlement. Photo credit: WorldWideWriter
We had already seen wading birds – including shags and oystercatchers – near the seal colony and set off on the cliff top path in the hope of spotting some more.
Unfortunately, we didn’t see anything other than a goldfinch in a tree, but it was a pleasant walk all the same, with sea views and a walk down to Whaler’s Bay (where whalers of old would keep a look out for their quarry).
A young goldfinch sits in a bush on the cliff top. Photo credit: WorldWideWriter
We passed through the shearwater conservation area.
At one time, shearwaters were a major source of food for the people who lived on the peninsula causing a major depletion in their population, but now they are protected.
Although we didn’t see any on our evening walk, it is often possible to spot large flocks of shearwater here during the spring and summer (and in fact, we did see some off shore the following day).
If you are lucky you may also see the blue penguins that frequent these waters.
Final Thoughts
Visiting Kaikoura Peninsula is an incredible experience to see birds and fur seals, go whale watching, and walk along the coastline for beautiful views. It’s the perfect destination for nature loving travelers to stop by for the day. Enjoy your time here!
If you need a suggestion on a place to visit afterward, we recommend heading to Christchurch for a couple of days.
Visit WorldWideWriter for my travel adventures.
Featured photo credit: WorldWideWriter
