Reviews of Whale Watch Kaikoura. (Museum) in Kaikōura (Canterbury).
Whale Watch Kaikoura
Whaleway Station Road, Kaikōura 7340, New Zealand
Description
Information of Whale Watch Kaikoura, Museum in Kaikōura (Canterbury)
Here you can see the location, open hours, popular times, contact, photos and real reviews done by the users.
This place has good reviews, this means that they treat their customers well and you’ll feel great with their services, recommended 100%!
Map
Open hours of Whale Watch Kaikoura
Monday
8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Tuesday
8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
Wednesday
8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
Thursday
8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
Friday
8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
Saturday
8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
Sunday
8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
Popular times
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Reviews of Whale Watch Kaikoura
A. M.Had an incredible day out on the water! Great service and great attention to detail. All the crew were very knowledgeable about the wildlife we saw (and didn't see since there's such a massive variety!) and answered any and all questions we had. The boat was a near new boat as well so all facilities on board were in excellent condition. I'd highly recommend seeing the coast of Kaikoura with these guys and gals 😎
p.Worth doing. The crew talked through the experience and we were able to see dolphins and a special whale (Zeus). We were lucky with the weather but the boat was stable and more than enough places outside to view the wildlife without getting in others way
G. M.Canceled 1st day got up early next morning on water by 8am 2 hours looking for a whale not to find any then boat took us to look at dolphins there were heaps of them then just in front of the boat a whale spout shot out of water we followed it 4 half an hour it was great
S.Wow, wow, wow A not so pleasant day initially and we were warned that the trip had the potential to cause sea sickness. We did have to purchase sea sickness tablets at a cost but decided it was worth it. They took us directly to a place that they clearly had spotted whales. Delighted we got to see two whales, as well as Maui, Dusky and Hectors Dolphins as well as NZ fur seals. The staff on board were great, excellent commentary from a delightful young man in training. Would do the trip again
s.Awesome experience. Able to watch 3 sperm whales & lot of hector's 🐬 🐬.....Crew members were very friendly & knowledgeable. Kids really njoyed it as well. There is chance for sea sickness so be prepared😀
R.Cannot recommend enough!!
The crew, from land to sea were great.
Boat crew especially need mention! Super happy and friendly, their love of what they do shows and I for one appreciate that.
Awesome work, and thanks heaps! We thoroughly enjoyed the ride.
So many photos already of what you may see, no need for my happy snaps.
Brace your stomach a little if you're not a seafarer and just do it!
K.Was a great cool morning. Gentle swell at first dropping to a gentle sway, a great presentation through the voyage, we saw dolphins,baby seal's and a variety of bird life, no whales today. But I've added a picture of what may be seen.
Was nice with not many on the boat today.
Well worth doing the trip
D.We saw many whales, dolphins, seals and enjoyed the great explanations of a friendly crew.
H.This is definitely one of a life time experience. We had a very very informative ride throughout the tour. We saw 4 whale encounters up close, about 200-300 dusky Dolphins and loads of albatross. Would do it again in a heartbeat. Wishing you guys all the best through this tough time.
N.During our tour we were fortunate to have multiple humpback whales, dusky dolphins, and other wild life come out to put on a show. The crew were friendly, knowledgeable, and had a clear passion for what they do which made the experience even better than I had hoped for.
A fantastic experience that everyone should do at least once.
M. P.We had a great outing with this tour company and saw multiple whales and dolphins.
The boat was clean and roomy, and the staff was pleasant and well organized, as well as very informative.
We would definitely recommend this experience and this tour company to our family and friends!
a.An amazing, awesome, value for money experience. The crew were friendly, helpful funny and informative. We spotted 2 Sperm Whales, pod of Dusky Dolphins and Albatross. Would highly recommend this experience to friends and family. Learnt so much about the area and the marine life during the journey. An epic day😁
S.The best exprience ever. A must do. The staffs are supper nice.
C. S.A MUST Kaikoura experience! We were lucky enough to see 4 Sperm Whales. The staff are lovely. The boat is very comfortable- especially in the Captains Cabin. I'd recommend having flexiblity though as our origjinal booking had to be cancelled due to large swells. Luckily we could change our plans & go 2 days later.
E.Well informed and really helpful, even if we didn’t spot a whale we saw an amazing pod of dolphins
P.We saw two whales and a large pod of dolphins! Was a great trip.
The staff were amazing and so kind to everyone on board- waves were quite choppy for our trip so if you get sea sick just keep this in mind!
S. R.It was a wonderful experience especially because it was windy , I enjoyed the boat ride. The whale was really enormous. The information they provide you on tour is also awesome. No one going to Kaikura should miss it
D. N.An amazing experience with the whole team. Great cultural elements to the tour as well. We were in awe of one of the local Sperm Whales 'Holey Moley' who came to the surface to see us. Then on the journey back to shore we had multiple pods of Dusky Dolphins who wanted to play. Such a great time for adults and children. Highly recommend
V. F.All stars for great professional service, an awesome ride out. Got to see one of the sperm whales and just missed the giant - the blue whale. Some dusky dolphins for race back. Well handled to the crew. All over an experience to do again. Thanks.
N.Unforgettable experience, vivid emotions, two whales seen and plenty of dolphins! It's good to have sea sick pills onboard especially if you travel with kids.
A.Such a cool experience. Really cool boat and lovely staff. We saw 3 sperm whales and a pod of over 300 dolphins and a few albatross. I really wanted to see a humpback whale but I'll deff be going back. And we had the best weather!
A.Was great fun saw 2 whales and lots of dolphins
M. P.The ocean was too rough to go whale watching, but we were offered an alternate tour closer to the land for dolphin watching. The reimbursed us the difference in price. The Dolphin watching tour was amazing! We saw a ton of dolphins and seals! They told us fun facts and stories but also just let us have a blast riding with the wind in our faces. They staff were humorous and helpful when we got splashed. The whole atmosphere was laid back while still feeling safe. Even without whales the views were worth going for.
C.I went on the trip with our two kids (my wife couldn't because she gets really seasick) and it was amazing. We went on the new boat that was only three days old and we saw a sperm whale, orcas, dolphins, albatrosses. The kids lived it. Great helpful staff as well that really do their best to make the trip as enjoyable as possible. Also, kids under 15 were half price so it was great value for money. Highly recommended this.
U.We were so happy to see the sperm whale, seals and albatros up close.
The staffs were so informative during the trip.
I think it would be great if there is a cafe inside the office.
S.Brilliant day. We did not see any whales but still very worth it. A bonus was the 80% refund due to no whales sighted. Would do this again in a heartbeat.
A.We did a 4-hour run together with our 5-year-old daughter. The crew provides educational information about whales. We saw sperm whale and other animals. Professional tour. High quality of service.
Near the Whale Watch company is a playground on the beach, a shop with educational books for kids, you can buy natural pills for seasickness.
They don't carry food or coffee. You need to but it in the center of Kaikōura.
You go by bus around 20 minutes to the port and then by ship aproximatly 3 hours and then come back again by the bus.
We liked this trip to the ocen very much. Thank you!
S. J.Really enjoyed this experience. We went on the new boat that is only a couple of months old. Its really fast so allowed us to get out quickly and see two whales that were quite far offshore that day. We also stopped to wander amongst a pod of hundreds of dusky dolphins that swam and jumped alongside us. Plenty of viewing room around the boat so not too crowded.
f.One of the most amazing experiences in my 52 years! Everything about it was incredible. The vessel and journey, the super friendly and knowledgeable crew, and the experience itself was so beautiful, tranquil and serene. You must do it!
k.I’ve been wanting to go whale watching for years! And this didn’t disappoint. The boat is comfortable, the crew were laid back and very knowledgeable, filled me in on lots of great information and of course we we luckily to see 2 sperm whales, lots of Albertos and a small pod of dolphins to top it off!
Definitely recommend
B.Fabulous. We managed to see a whale and a huge pod of dolphans. There were well over 100. It was truly amazing. They put on a great show for us, swimming around the boat and leaping out of the water. There were a few doing flips. It truly was a sight to behold 😍❤
A.Amazing crew and a delightful experience. Highly recommend!
J. A.Had the most amazing day whale watching. Treated to a display by two young juvenile Humpback Whales. Also saw Dusky Dolphins and Albatross. Absolutely professional team who looked after and entertained is well. A must do!
L. C.We were so fortunate on our trip yesterday. We shared with a boat load of guests the experience of two humpback whales. One was very shy and the other was a show off lol. He had his pec out flapping and carrying on, his tail going hard and one breach. Amazing. Remember sightings arent guaranteed but man when you get it they sure do put on a show.
R. I.Staff is very professional, welcoming and helpful. The cruise experience has been great the seats are extremely comfortable, they have multimedia screen on board and they display an animation movie about the bay & their videos are wonderfully edited and give a lot of information. Unfortunately we didn't get to see any whales, but we got to see lots of Dolphins, a pinguin, seals and a shark. The company encourages you to ask for 80% refund if u don't get to see the whales and I think that shows how great they are.
T.What a wonderful and unforgettable experience. You will be reimbursed 80% of your trip if you don't see a whale. On our day we saw two hump backs and many dolphins and a few friendly seals. Also a massive sea albatross. These were all within mere meters of the boat.
J.2nd of March check in time 7.45 ➡️ We saw 2 sperm whales and a lot of dusky dolphins! The staff was nice! Amazing experience, I definitely recommend. Remember to take a pill or two beforehand to avoid sea sickness
G.30 minute delay waiting for bus to boat - would have appreciated a cafe in main building. Mel was humorous & informative host onboard - learned alot about Sperm whales. Saw Manu resting, breathing & diving 2x during trip. Saw largest & most acrobatic pod of dolphins - Duskys - on return. Great new catamaran. Valued the environmental ethos of Whale Watch Kaikoura.
P.First class experience, really professional and helpful team, saw a whale and dolphins, the boat ride was fun and our host very entertaining. Highly recommended.
L.It was amazing experience. We saw only 2 sperm whales but still I'm happy It was January. Amazingly crew members were found whales well. Recommend it
T.Absolutly amazing. Worth the money. Tge guid were very informative and very funny. And got to see 3whales and a lot of dolphines. Fully satisfied and in love gonna do it again and highly recomend this. One must do it atleast once in life.
E.Visited October 2018
Great company that really know their stuff. Very informative about wildlife and the area! Was lucky enough to see dolphins and Orcas. Had an amazing experience.
m.Our trip was canceled due to no whales in the area. Very responsible company, quick, no quibble refund. Gonna try again on our next trip to Kaikoura.
A.Whale watch Kaikoura are absolute experts at what they do. We were so impressed by all of the staff - you are totally in safe and expert hands. Tahlia entertained us from the moment we got on the boat, she had us laughing and feeling so welcome and gave us tons of useful information about the wildlife around. Thanks to Sam and Lucy for helping us locate the whales and the captain who kept us safe during the trip. You are all brilliant at what you do.
We were so fortunate to see two sperm whales and a huge pod of dolphins.
I recommend this experience very highly - my only complaint (which isn't a complaint) is that I would love the option of a half day or full day trip because it was so hard to tear yourself away from the amazing animals in this part of the world - I would have done this trip multiple times if we had the time/funds!
N. N.The tour was amazing. Right after the chicken and the short introduction about safety procedures everybody was packed into a bus and transported to the harbour where we boarded the boat. The boat was modern and clean and there was enough space for everybody to see the whales (three on our trip). There was also plenty of time to take pictures and during the whole trip intressting information about whales (and seals, birds, dolphins) were given. The trip was worth every cent!
D.Excellent trip. Saw two whales but was blown away by the close encounter with s pod of more than 100 dolphins.
O. P.Had great day! Saw lots of dolphins, about 1000 Dusky Dolphins. Jumping out of the water like crazy. And of course we had the luck to see a Sperm Whale! Breathing and after some minutes, diving back into the ocean..... We only wondert. Booked the tour at 3 pm, and then it took another half hour, until they started their safety video....?!
A.Not to be missed. Excellent staff, we saw 2 whales and a heap of dolphins; it was much better than I had anticipated.
P.This was a great experience , really great staff onboard, lots of information provided.
Spotted dolphins and seals. A great morning
L. W.Absolutely brilliant afternoon out on the water- couldn't fault the company from start to finish. We had brilliant crew who really took the time to find all the best spots and explain everything we were seeing, so approachable you could ask them anything and learn so much about the marine life. We saw 2 whales and lots of dolphins playing around the boat- unforgettable experience, would very highly recommend Whale Watch Kaikoura
D.We'll organized trip on a lovely boat. Saw three Sperm Whales and all three showed their tails on diving. Excellent commentary all the way out and back. Great trip!
A.Amazing.. Whale watch
We've seen mati mati
R.Fantastic! Pretty organised setup from checkin to briefing. You get there half an hour before your tour starts and then go by bus to the boats. The boat is nice and smooth and comfortable seating - and the guides have a wealth of information. We went on an afternoon tour and saw a sperm whale, mako shark, and seal (and couple massive albatross) but no dolphins. I guess it is a fair time investment for a whale just ‘doing its thing’ out in open ocean - but i guess how often do you get to see whales!
P. R.I wasn't sure whether to book this as I had been on other trips and only seen a distant tail in the sea. This was far better there were plenty of people on the trip but enough space round the side of the boat the animals were on for everyone to see. We saw Orca and watched them for 15-20 minutes, plus Seal, Albatross, then a troupe of Dolphin came under the boat and swam alongside - I wondered if they had a contract to appear - fish for a performance! I went at 3pm and it took 30 mins for the safety talk, and coach to the boat, then we were back by about 6pm.
G.Amazing experience. We saw three different whales, 2 of them we saw twice, we saw seals and dolphins too, even some albatross. It was ridiculously lucky to see this many sea critters.
s.Didn't fail us. Saw Sperm Whales and Humpback whale. The Tour itself was great. Great commentary. One advice if you suffer seasickness you will definitely need to take the sea sick pills prior the trip.
D.A brilliant trip out whale watching, we were lucky to see about 5 different whales on our trip. Kids were thrilled! Staff onboard did a great job finding them for us. Friendly staff and awesome sense of humour 😁
Z.Yup... Saw the Sperm and Baleen, and also dolphins.
With no sea legs at all, i spend most of my time thinking of when I'm going to hurl. Fortunately, my son had a great time sampling the mist from the sprinkler made by them whales. Wonder it got some ocean germs... Sweating and burping now...
Anyway, for those who want to see whales, this is one of the place that give you 80% money back guarantee.
Thanks to the deck hand that kept me from spewing like an exorcist gone wild.
R. N.We loved the whale watch experience in kaikoura. We have seen the humpback migration often from Sydney, but the spermwhales are completely different. We were also impressed by the professionalism of the organisation and the respect for the wildlife.
C. N.What a beautiful experience. The majesty of these creatures. I do wonder what they think of it all but the tourism aspect is kept very low key and rules are strict not to impact the whales too much which is great. Very highly recommended experience
T.Excellent trip in spite of the weather. Impressive that they managed to find a whale among the waves. Very good guide! Recommended!
B.Our guide on the boat was brilliant and informative. We found a sperm whale and watched it peacefully until it retreated down into the depths. Very bumpy boat ride on a windy day but that made it all the more fun! A few people utilised the sick bags but we were ok having hired sickness bands for $3 + refundable deposit from the gift shop.
L.We went out in the 10:30 tour in the morning, there was a bit of swell (the staff warned us but it was no big deal really we dit not felt sick at all). We saw 2 sperm whale diving quite close and a bunch of dusky dolphins in the distance (could not approach them to avoid disturbance during breeding season). Our narrator Tiaki was fantastic and gave us plenty of info on the local marine wildlife (including the personality of each sperm whale!).
The only negative point for me is the price for only seeing 2 sperm whales (of which just just see part of the back and tail - which is normal of course). For 150 $ pp I would recommend going in season when you can see other whales in addition of the sperm whales. (Knowing that if you don't see any whale you are refunded 80% of the price, I believe this is bit less than their actual margin? So quite expensive)
H. M.One of the most awesome experiences in my life. I cannot say enough about this experience, if you ever get the chance to, do it. The boats are specially designed for this purpose the crew were excellent, including your on board guide. They guarantee that you will see a whale (or you get back 80% of your money), but due to thier experience and onboard technology, they almost never have to refund anyone. They certainly delivered for us, not only did we see a male sperm whale, but also NZ fur seals and lots of seabirds (including a Royal Albatross). Given the type of experience, this was a lot cheaper than I expected (only $139 per adult). There are also lots of sailings per day, so lots of opportunities to get to see a whale in the wild. Awesome!!!
V.We saw a multitude of dolphins and a humpback whale!
S.A very good team of people ensured we were entertained the whole time and of course still saw whales. With a guarantee that you will see whales, they must be certain they can deliver. And they certainly did. We saw three separate Sperm whales and a Humpback. Very happy customers.
C.This is the best place to go for a whale 🐳 watching experience. Everyone was very helpful and the whole operation was smooth and seamless. Top marks for our crew who were able to give lots of information on all the wildlife and also injected some light hearted humour. Totally recommended.
A.Perfectly organised tour. Very friendly and informative staff. Saw heaps of dolphins and 1 sperm whale. Sea can get rough even though you think you can handle it make sure you're prepared for sickness. $3 for 1 capsule avaiable in the gift shop. Highly recommend the boat tour!
B.Great experience, excellent boat, friendly and knowledgeable crew. We saw two sperm whales and a group of two hundred dolphins! Not to be missed.
L.Not really worth it, but I suppose whale watching is one of the top things to do in Kaikoura, so make sure you do some research on when is the best time to see the whales - I was told by the lady at the place I stayed the sperm whales lived there so we could always see them, but once I got to the whale watch place they told me we would only be seeing humpback whales. Which we did, but it was only one and we didn't get a good look at it. Obviously they cannot control wildlife, but maybe it is worth going when there are more whales in the area. The dolphins were an extra show though, we managed to see many many dolphins and they were really friendly and active, coming close to the boat and jumping around.
D.After the first attempt a few months ago, we had to try again. Yes this time we saw a beautiful sperm whale! Lucky us, 2 humback whales decided to show up also! It's was a beautiful afternoon! Thanks to the amazing crew!
J.The staffs were excellent but the entire ride was so rough for both of us. We couldn't eat anything for a while after the tour. We also didn't get to see the whales. They did the partial refund.
A.Absolutely amazing! Would highly recommend to anyone visiting NZ! The crew were entertaining and brilliant and you can see how passionate they are about the animals and wildlife in Kaikoura. We saw a sperm whale, dolphins, albatross and fur seals, loved every second of it!
Would also like to highlight the amazing guide we had in our tour (I can't remember his name but I remember he said he was from north Island and grew up in volcanic area with no sea). He was incredibly funny, passionate and inspiring. Thanks for making us have such a great day!
P. P.They are very well
Organized as everything herein New Zealand. Unfortunately we haven’t seen whales but they refunded 80% or there was an option for exchange for a flight as well.
D.An amazing experience. Worth every cent. Crew were amazing, welcoming and knowledgeable! We managed to spot a few whales and many many dusky dolphins.
J. B.Had a fantastic time and saw 3 sperm whales!! They offer an 80% refund if you don't see one which I think is great. The staff were all so freindly from the lovely lady behind the till with the whale earrings to the captain and the narrator on the boat was perhaps the the best of any tour we have been on, so funny and great information. Overall fantastic experience and worth every penny!
S.We had a fantastic time with a great set of guides (Bonnie, Sam, Arahina and I forgot the captains name, I do apologize) on the boat.
The boats are in great shape, the crew really tries hard to find the wildlife and really seem to appreciate a good find as much as the customers. We managed to see 4 sperm whales, 2 were together as well and to top it off a humpback whale with his dolphin friends.
An unforgetable trip and could not be happier about the experience.
M.We got to see the whale surface and go back down. Also saw some Dusty Dolphins on the way back in. It was a great informative trip and the Crew are fantastic. Would so do it again.
V.We went on a day with 3m swells. I had taken a pill the night before and wore pressure bands on my wrists. I'm pleased to say I wasn't sick! We saw three whales. One was up very close as it relaxed on the surface. We also saw a very large pod of dolphins, a couple of albatross and quite a few seals.
The crew were experienced, professional and friendly. We enjoyed a lively commentary throughout.
The boat was comfortable and clean.
Families with children were boarded first and recommended to sit toward the back of the boat where it is more stable.
We were able to get out on deck each time the boat stopped, for a better view and some fresh air.
I highly recommend this to others, whether local or tourists.
C.Just amazing to go out and see a whale! Very humbling to see them in their natural habitat. Boat out can be a bit choppy, not good for the sea sickness. You stay out a while but hey! worth it, to see the whale. 🐳
J.An unforgettable experience from start to finish. The boat ride out was extremely enjoyable and nature decided to gifted us with four magnificent sperm whales over the 2.5 hour period whilst being surrounded by a large pod of acrobatic dolphins who were accompanied by birds and fur seals!
Ive travelled all for the past year and this was the highlight if my trip!
J. K.Amazing experience if you have at least half a sea leg, was quite rough the day we went but managed to get back with my breakfast. Saw a Sperm Whale enough said 😍
R.Supposedly a rough sea but the big new boat was brilliant. Amazing to see these creatures in the wild.
g. w.Absolutely sensational trip , saw whales, dolphins, seals , albatross, such a brilliant company, so well run ,so professional ,but extremely friendly and courteous. Will recommend it to everyone we meet . thank you for making our New Zealand trip complete 🐳🐬💓👄
M. F.Saw 2 Sperm Whales as well as a pack of Hector's dolphins. Very cool experience. Boats were nice and the staff had good information.
R.Brilliant. When we arrived we were given some money back as there was a special on that hadn't appeared when I booked. I didn't know about the special and would have been none the wiser! Awesome to see a company so honest!
The tour was fantastic! It was a 'moderate chance of seasickness' and a number of people were. Take their advice and move to the very back of the boat if you feel sick! People were too proud to and kept vomiting and missed seeing things.
No whales, but we saw plenty of swals and beautiful albatross up close, flying around us!
The staff were lovely. It was our tour guides very first trip as a guide on the mic and she did brilliantly. What really impressed me was how supportive the rest of the crew were!
By the time we got back to shore an 80% refund had been put in my account as we didn't see any whales. (If you pay in person you need to go back in to the office).
Great day out and it turned out incredibly cheap with all the refunds.
C.We saw 2 whales. Our captain worked hard to find them. What a fun morning. My photos don't do it justice but I took some awesome photos with my other camera
H.After watching the adorable dolphins, the wheal-watch boat has to take us back, as the fog was becoming too strong to go forwards for seeking the wheals. That is the nature we can’t control. People got 80% refund for that. The stuff were all cheerful and professional.
J. B.The spermwhale and the hundreds of dolphins were amazing!
Three stars is the for lack of training / unprofessional staff on the boat - particularly the Chinese women on the speaker.
She was hard to understand and mixed up security information with a bad joke, delivered with a horrible punchline.
She kept repeating herself and sounded like an uncomfortable teenager.
When we saw the whale she screamed so loud in the microphone, that I got tinatus for half an hour.
V.Didn't get to see the whale, and got a very bad seasick instead - they refunded 80% of the fee right after the captain decide that we couldn't find any whale. Service is very good, the vessel also great.
F.Excellent organization, informative crew, comfortable boats. We got lucky with the weather, the whales, albatrosses and hundreds of dolphins. Loved it.
K.Sadly there were no whales in the area when we were due to go out. The staff were very friendly and helpful and offered us a full refund on the spot. We'll come back another time. I'm amazed some people give this a low rating as, "the sea was rough," or didn't see whale." They are wild animals and we are going into their natural habitat-the sea!
E.Worth the 2.5 hour drive from Christchurch and every single penny!!! The staff was extremely knowledgeable about the whales and the environment and did their due diligence to ensure everyone on board had a safe and enjoyable experience. We saw 4 sperm whales, an albatross and a pod approximately 200 dusky dolphins!!!
H.Went on a 330pm tour but didn't get a sperm whale sighting. Though we did get a glimpse of the fin whale and some dolphins. They refunded 80% of our money back.
Tried our luck again two days later and were rewarded with a transient sperm whale! Crew was really helpful and knowledgeable.
Don't worry about getting sea sick, the crew takes good care of everyone. The viewing area was sufficient for everyone.
A.Well organised trip. Saw 2 whales very close up. When we got to 3rd whale it saw us coming so dived under. Also saw dusky and hector dolphins as well as a colony of fur seals.
G.Staff were so good, we really enjoyed our trip. Definitely take sea sick pills and not the herbal ones, get the medicated ones, trust me! There were people throwing up everywhere as it can get pretty rough. We saw Tiaki which was incredible and the girl who was talking had so much knowledge on all the different whales. It was an incredible experience
C.Great boat ride, fabulous whales dolphins and seabirds. The crew was super friendly and knowledgeable. A must do while in town.
F.Unforgetable experience. The guide gave interesting facts on the area and whale and the captain was very experience. We managed to see 3 whales. But beware of sea sickness. Take moderate breakfast and sickness medicine 1 hour before.
M.What an experience!
When we arrived in New Zealand one year ago our plan was to see a whale in real life for the first time.
Our dream came true in Kaikōura.
After 45 minutes on the sea we found the first sperm whale (we saw three of them). The tour guide wich talked over speakers had tons of interesting background informations for us.
After the first whale I got sea sick and wasn’t able to open my eyes again until we reached the harbour again.
But my husband saw two more whales, a bunch of big dolphins who followed the boat and seals in the water.
E.Awesome! Great! I'm marvelous... 🤩
One great idea to evolve, put some lookouts on the land and you'll garantee more species to be seen, just how they do in Azores Islands, for many years!
And I asure that you have one of the best points... The peninsula, you can see almost at 360 degrees of the sea!
Z.Booked the tickets for whale watch...
We could see many dolphins....but unfortunately saw only one whale....
But it was fun.
L.Magnificent creatures to see. Saw a Sperm Whale and a family of dolphins with babies.
A must see when in Kaikoura.
J.It's a must. They keep their promises. We've seen 3 Spermwhales, Seals and the most endangered dwarf dolfins. Awesome that is all I can say.
S.Magical experience. Dusky dolphins swam tight ip to me and past me whilst I was on the water 3 separate dops, followed by time to view from the boat too. Can't praise this trip enough
S. G.Great experience. Crew worked hard to find the whales for us and told us a lot about them as well. We managed to get 5 whale sightings and after that they found a very large pod of dusky doplhins (80-100!) What and experience!
J.Had a fun boat trip with kaikoura's whale watch and saw a sperm whale to boot! 😊 Not sure if the little bit of whale you (probably) get to see is worth the money, but the boat trip and the backdrop of mountains definitely is!
J.Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant! Great staff, amazing boats and we saw seals and whales! 10/10, highly recommend!
J.Fantastic time. Most wonderful staff on shore and on the boat. A must for everyone that visits Kaikoura.
K. S.A great experience. Two whales and a pod of around 300-400 dolphins on our way back in. The staff are very good. Our host Mel did a superb job in greeting everyone in Te Reo and Kiwi (english). She was very knowledgeable and kept everyone informed. 80% money refund if no whales spotted. Great job Whale Watch Kaikoura team!
H.Such a great cruise and saw 3 whales plus multiple dolphins... awesome experience
S.Magical. Seeing the Sperm Whales with my own eyes is such an amazing experience. If you are in the South Island, this whale watch should be on your radar.
M.One of the most incredible experience! Well organised, great tour guides, incredibly safe, and knowledgeable! One of the all-time highlights from my time in New Zealand.
T.They offer a very professional tour with a guide who explains you all the sea life of Kaikoura. The boat is comfortable and the experience was great.
S.I'm definitely no the kind of guy for paying tours, but I gotta admit it! What a greeeeat experience! A special THANK YOU to the whole crew for never give up and extending out time gifting us an unforgettable experience with a lot of devotion and professionalism! To Sarah for have been the main icons of our guidance and entertainment for the whole time giving us so many cool info about.. everything really! For who was driving and listen to the whales dip in the ocean with a lot of effort and tenacity finding us a good spot and for the super fun jumping through the waves.
For who had the longest years of experience on board for the outstanding assistance, taking good care of passengers with a lot of effort and empathy, an always smile in her face and fun, playful and positive attitude (sorry that I couldn't remember everyone's name) THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOUUUU!
C.You will definitely see whales. Had a great time with the knowledgeable staff. Staff did a great job at narrating the journey and educating us about the whales in the area. Have to say, the playful dolphins certainly topped the whales.
R.Beautiful day, helpful and informative staff. The price was worth every dollar - we saw two whales and a huge pod of Dusky dolphins on the way out. Totally awesome experience!
J.Even though we didn't see any whales, it was still a great trip. We saw some killer whales hunting a shark, a few dolphins and a albatros! They should've let us know that they changed the whale watch trip into a killer whale trip beforehand and not during the briefing at the start of the trip.
J.It was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had seeing and hearing about the Whales. I'd definitely do it again.
C.Tour got canceled due to bad weather. They proposed to reschedule of refund, good service!
Unfortunate for me to have missed the whales since I could not stay a day longer in Kaikoura.
k.Incredible experience. Crew and guide were absolutely amazing and so many great facts about the marine wildlife. Saw 5 whales, seals and dusky dolphin. Highly recommend this company and their tours.
J.We went whale watching with them during our honeymoon trip back in Dec 2015. I heard that many trips got to be cancelled off due to the strong wind and current, And was glad that our trip was not being cancel off. The trip was amazing, and I have learn many interesting facts and informations for whales. Thank you for the fun memories.
B.Was a wonderful experience; staff on board were knowledgeable, enthusiastic and helpful.
P.If you’re in Kaikoura you have a really unique opportunity to get up close to the largest toothed animal in the world! We got to see Holy Moses (one of the semi-resident sperm whales to Kaikoura) for about 5 minutes before he dove (they spend around 10 mins at the surface at a time before diving for 45-60 mins) and it was amazing. On way back we stopped by the Dusky dolphin pod and saw ~200 dusky dolphins who were doing all sorts of jumps and flips. Really special. We saw two dolphin encounter boats with ppl swimming with the dolphins and it looked like they got really close which must have been special. If you’re considering the dolphin watch portion (rather than dolphin swim) then consider Whale Watch since you basically get a twofer.
We had a strong sea sickness warning for our cruise (7:15am check-in time), on water around 8am. Of the 40 or so ppl on our boat, I’d say maybe 7 or 8 were getting sick (all of whom appeared to be Chinese incidentally) which was a shame but the Whale Watch ppl gave ample warning and preventive meds for this so they did about as much as could be done I think. The rest of us (including myself) were unaffected.
L.Great experience! We went out on a nice clear day and were lucky enough to see two sperm whales vibing on the surface, plus a very energetic humpback who kept leaping out of the water. Even without the whale sightings, the boat trip was really fun, if a bit chilly (bring gloves!) Will be visiting Kaikoura again for this!
I.My photos don't do this justice. We had a great time with sightings of humpback and sperm whales as well as dolphins. Well worth it
J.If you vote any less that 5 stars it’s your own fault. This was an amazing adventure, even with people vomiting it really is once in a life time. If you make the decision to enjoy the adventure you will not be let down. The staff were amazing, the whales were out of this world. We saw 4 in total as well as dolphins. Without a doubt it’s thrilling, surreal and reminds you how individual these whales are. Definitely puts whale conservation to the forefront of your mind... and I say this as someone who is not a greeny
S.Wow. Absolutely amazing experience!!! Bring more batteries and cameras than you think you'll need as so many gold moments!!!
P.They average 1-2 whales a trip, but we were lucky enough to see 5 on ours! Such an informative team, talking about the local area and the whales that frequent it often. Couldn't recommend it enough, though just don't make the same mistake I did and do it hungover! If you do, they have brilliant toilets you can use if the motion sickness gets to you, haha! Brilliant day!
D.A great experience ! A great and friendly team who explains well. A good way to approach whales with respct.
A.Saw a sperm whale, dolphins and orcas (from a distance). The staff were friendly and informative. Highly recommend!
R.It was simply fantastic. No doubt about it. We had (I hope) Wilbo as our guide and he smashed it. Saw two whales, dolphins, albatross and learnt so much. I'd go again no doubt about it. Cant recommended enough.
M.Amazing water adventure. Highly recommended a must do if you love sea creatures. Crew are splendid gave lots of information. Awesomeness!!!
D.Amazing experience! Saw 2 humpback whales, dusky dolphins and seals.
Trip was well organised and informative.
The sunny weather helped too.
D.We had gift vouchers given to us by family, and we greatly enjoyed the experience. Wonderful vessel, friendly captain and crew. Great experience seeing the whales so close, plus we saw dolphins, Fur seals and albatross.
The seals and dolphins really enjoy the attention, showboating around. Recommended to anyone with an interest in oceanic wildlife.
S.Awesome place, beautiful creatures, friendly staff, just be carefull the speed of your car, i just got one ticket you know.🤣
J.Very good although a bit health and safety but that's the modern world for you! Saw Sperm Whale and 2 types of dolphin. Overall well worth it.
d.Brilliant tour we saw three whales and about thirty dolphins
V.This was a wonderful experience from the very start. The staff were wonderful, the boat was impressively new and fit for purpose, the information provided throughout the trip was excellent and of course, seeing the whales was breathtaking, I was not sure this was something I was that keen to do but I could not recommend it more and will be visiting again next time I’m near Kaikoura.
G.Far exceeded our expectations. We saw 4 whales spouting & beautiful whale tails as they dove. Albatross, petrels & other seabirds skimming across the water and to top it off a pod if about 200 dolphins showing off their acrobatic skills
F.We manage to locate two sperm whales and other wildlife in our trip, absolutely worth it.
P.Professional and friendly staff. Although my whale watch sail has been cancelled just before departure due to whales being too far from coast i have been immediately offered other options and went for different sail eventually and also got partial refund.
s.Awsm guided tour, experienced captain made my day to watch whale and dolphins very closely.... truely never seen before in my life only seen in books and photos of whales and dolphins.
Y.The staffs are amazing, cheerful and ready to help when I’m seasick badly. We managed to see whale twice and heaps of dolphins too!
M.Highly professional outfit. Meet all expectations.
K.Completely amazing experience! Whales and dolphins. U can see them just next to the boat.
B.First tour was cancelled due to conditions but easily booked us on the next day.
We were booked on 12:45 and arrived 15 mins early but turns out the bus doesn’t leave till 1:15 so be on time, not early. Although walking on the beach added to the day.
7 whale encounters, professional and informative crew, experts at spotting whales and getting to them quickly.
Calm conditions but if you have a sensitive stomach take some anti nauseas And hold on.
S.Great adventure with friendly/knowledge staff. Seeing a sperm whale & a pod of dolphins up close was amazing.
E.Enjoyed the boat trip... Shame we saw no whales... If fact no nothing, no seals, no nothing.
Not thier fault, just luck of the draw, but the crew did a great job, very friendly, have lots of information, and it was a lovely day.
They have us an 80% refund as no whales were sighted, well done.
Will give them another try.
S.From the moment you are to go on the bus you are greeted with a very friendly team. Welcomed on the boat and very explanatory video on whales, birds etc. After a wee wait in finding whale, there he blew. Splendid sight to behold. Recommend the trip. Stunning scenery along the Coast from the boat.
A awesome few hours spent.
D.Disappointing as we didnt see any whales. Sea conditions rough. But the commentary was informative and the skippers and staff attentive. Would go back in hope of spotting whales. Kaikoura is a special.place to visit.
M.we saw the whales and the dolphins and it was wonderful. caution to those of you prone to motion sickness...the plane goes around and around and around and around to ensure you see whales many times...scenic route would be better to do at the start before whale watching to ensure those who do get motion sick can enjoy that bit too instead of focusing on not spewing up 😆
K.Thanks whale watch we had a great trip today
Saw a whale and a pod of dolphins
L.Saw 2 whales (of which 1 twice) and when not on deck all sorts of information was provided. great and friendly crew.
T.Great experience with a safety conscious team. Had the chance to see 5 whales during the trip. Also, team is willing to refund if no whales are seen.
C.Amazing experience. Made awesome by friendly and well informed staff. Impressive
S.Went on the new boat, very impressive, saw dolphines, 3 whales, swordfish, and seals. Great success and only 30 mins from shore!
J.Very professional and fun experience. We got to see 2 Sperm Whales up fairly close and 4 in total, some dolphins and a couple of albatross!
Provided you are not prone to sea sickness, I highly recommend the experience.
R.Slight delay getting out there but we were kept well informed. Staff were all friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. The new Catamaran is awesome, very nice cruising on the water in that. Even though we didn't see any whales, it was a great experience and we received an 80% refund.
J.The organization and trip was exciting and the hosts on board were helpful and informative. Shame that we only saw 1 whale for maybe 10secs
K.Exceeded expectations and luck was on our side. Great staff, skilled and knowledgeable crew and cooperative marine life. 2 sperm whales, Sei Whales, Sharks, Seals... so much birdlife. Magical memories for 3 generations including a 79 year old ex Perano Whaler
T.It was a fantastic trip. The tour was well organized. They are very experienced in spotting whales. We had the luck to spot four sperm whales on our tour. The captain and spotter have done a great job we have been at the surfacing spots in no time. The boat was really awesome it is especially designed for whale spotting. We also hat a great tour guide, so it was even fun to go through safety instructions. They also look especially after children so they get the best experience. Thank you for this experience.
S.Excellent trip. Alert levels changed day before and they handled it very well. Saw whales and dolphins.
L.We went out this morning at 8am and had the best time! We saw Tiaki, hundreds of dusky dolphins, seals, a Royal Albatross and many other beautiful birds. I want to go straight back out there and do it all again. A must do for every kiwi.
A.What a fantastic experience! The weather was great and we got to see no less than three whales in our tour! Each of them for about 5-10 min. And when they disappeared we had the tail view. The crew was great! Despite previous reviews, our guide stayed quiet when the whales dove so that you could make a nice video without the commentary.
Only tip for the company is to make clearer during online booking that you have to report to the ticket office to collect tickets. Most companies nowadays will accept digital tickets on mobile phones.
L.Amazing, worth it. Learned a lot and thoroughly recommend doing this
N.A bucket list experience I've wanted to do for a very long time. Took my daughter for her birthday and thoroughly enjoyed the whole trip. Sperm Whales and 100s of Dusky and Hector dolphins playing in the water...just beautiful!
H.Absolutely loved this tour. Spotted 4 different whales (5 viewings) and the crew were firendly, knowledgeable and seemed like they were having fun. Mel was particularly excellent and the Kaikoura sky, and snow capped maunga were amazing!
Highly recommend.
C.This is a hard one to rate. We only saw a whale's tale for 1 second, after 3 hours of looking. I understand that's nature so that's why I will rate everything else based on the experience with the company itself. Our tour was cancelled so they rescheduled it for the next day. The weather was good but the sea was wild. Even after taking a pill of sea legs I got sick and didn't enjoy the experience so wouldn't recommend it to anyone who suffers from motion sickness. My partner didn't get sick but he didn't find the tour guide to be very informative. We didn't find the staff to be very helpful when I got sick, only the lady from "see level" was nice. Furthermore, the tour guide spoke too fast so it was hard for me to understand everything he said. When you are in a room full of foreign people, you should have the empathy to speak loud and clear for everyone to understand.
We got 80% refund because we didn't get the encounter they offer so that was good.
In summary, they shouldn't advertise as a tour with 95% chances of seeing a whale as based on the previous comments I've seen, it is not true. Will probably try the flight tour next time but only because my partner is really into marine life.
R.Was amazing and got a bonus for the 200 dolphins that were being playful
B.Top class experience. Saw a humpback really close, showed us his tail four times! Saw dusky dolphins as well. Comfortable boat, with excellent viewing areas.
R.Their beautiful brand new catamaran cut through the big swells like butter. I loved how they don't pack the people onto their boats - there was no push and shove to get a good view because everyone could see. Spotted Holey Moley 10 minutes in, plus multiple albatrosses, seabirds, fur seals, and Hector's Dolphins!! Lovely staff, absolutely streamlined experience. I was a happy Camper 🤩👌
V.Great experience. Good value and the crew were prepared to stay out those few extra minutes to see if the whale would resurface. At$150 much better value than the$130 paid to Breaks and Feathers on Start island for kiwi spotting
p.I think it was a great experience. We might not be just as lucky as the other trips because we only saw three sperm whales. But overall, it’s a must-try when you are in Kaikoura!
R.Really nice trip. This is my first time to watch whale. Amazing!
D.Honestly I cant say enough about this experience.
Knowledgeable crew who were never too busy to take every moment to make this experience memorable. Friendly greeting, informative content and delivery of commentary, 150% effort to locate whales for us to marvel at - what an experience.
We were travelling with an elderly relative who was able to view it all through wide windows which the crew diligently kept clear for her viewing enjoyment and the skipper made sure to maneuver the vessel so that the whales were always on her side.
I must confess that the sightings actually brought a tear to my eye!
Well done Whale Watch Kaikoura, an experience not to be forgotten.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
A.Lost 1 star as unfortunately whale watch was cancelled due to lack of whales. We did however go on a coastal journey. We saw lots of bird life, seals and plenty of dolphins. Even a cheeky flipping one trying to steal all the attention! This was a great experience, loved it.
M.Definately worth doing. It was a lovely trip and very informative. We saw 2 Humpback whales, Albatross and hundreds of dolphins. Would recommend to anyone visiting Kaikoura.
D.An excellent way to see whales. When I was there the catamaran was only three weeks old and very modern, fast and powerful. I (perhaps foolishly) thought that the whales I would see would be passing through or migrating off the coast. The whales are actually two sperm whales who virtually live there all year round (we saw one of them) and seldom stray from the area. The young woman in charge was superb, with great knowledge and non stop information interlaced with super humour. She was very professional and kept us up to date with the dolphin and whale sightings. In many ways her non stop informational chatting and detail made the outing a big success.
K.On the new larger boat, on its second day, such a comfortable ride. Awesome, helpful and knowledgeable crew. We saw Holy Moly a male Sperm Whale. A large pod of Dusky Dolphins and some endangered Hectors Dolphins. Would recommend Whale Watch 100%
W.Amazing experience. The crew were fantastic. It was a rough day out in ocean but loved every minute of it. We saw other marine life, dolphins, fur seals and albatross. Awesome day.
D.Awesome staff. The crew were very knowledgeble and experienced. Sea legs a must on a choppy day. Especially if you are not a boatie.
A.The facilities are great. Friendly staff and they were helpful in many conditions. Have to warn you all, if your stomach is sensitive, probably it is best to not go. The captain drove the boat very fast. The sea was rough when I went there and A LOT of people (including me was throwing up). One of the passengers was throwing up like almost the entire trip. We did not see any whale there. $100 for the ticket but 80% is refundable if we do not see any whale. Did I regret taking the trip? No. Worth the experience. Will I repeat? Definitely not.
e.This was a fantastic day out with lots of whale action, friendly knowledgeable crew sharing lots of information and insights about the different species and individual whales we saw as well. Luckily for us perfect weather too..
N.What an awesome once in a life time experience. Such a lovely company too. They try and help their community and people that work for them in any way they can and you can feel that on the tour.
We went on the 12.45 tour 8th of December 2020 and where worried about the rough sea. First thing they do is tell you how to relieve the sickness. They also welcome you in Te Reo Maori and ask the sea for a blessing and safe travel for everyone. So from the moment you set on the tour you feel welcome and cared for and like you are apart of the family. They also make sure they take care of the ocean and if they see anything that doesn't belong there they remove it. They also point out any marine life not just the whales even though that is the point of the tour.
We had absolutely lovely time and had such a wonderful crew on board. Also got to laugh and just enjoy ourselves. So thank you so much Whale Watch! We highly recommend them to anyone passing through Kaikoura.
F.Awesome tour! We saw Hector's dolphins from the shore beforehand, then a sperm whale, orca, dusky dolphins and sea birds like albatross and petrel. Very slick operation and friendly guides who seemed as excited as us to see the whales etc as we were. Highly recommended ❤️
L.We had to change the time we had booked and the staff we awesome and accommodated us. The lovely guys on the boat were amazing - knowledgeable and kept us laughing and entertained despite the sea being a bit rough. We also saw Hectors dolphins on our way in - awesome experience.
J.Sooo worth experiencing this! We got to see 2 humpbacks and a plethora of dolphins, seals and albatross. The company does a great job getting us up close to the animals and the narrator gave very educational talks about the animals. The company is very ecologically aware and minimises disturbance to animals and prioritises animal safety which is respectful and respectable
J.Great trip, lucky to see a whale, friendly crew, great boat,
C.Amazing experience on this boat. Crew was extremely welcoming and reassuring while on the boat. Very happy with how everything turned out as we saw two sperm whales. Will definitely be doing this again!! Well worth the money.
N.We cannot recommend this company enough. They are truly passionate about the whales (and in fact all the local wildlife) and are completely aborigine run. In fact descendants of the founders continue to work for the company. We got given so much information, there was plenty of time to ask questions. I even got to listen to a nearby sperm whale 'talking' when one of the staff tried to determine the direction they should head! As the tour lasts approx. 2 hrs we had 3 encounters with sperm whales. The boats cut their engines a certain distance from the whales so as not to disturb them but one came so close you could hear the blowhole opening and closing! I honestly cannot recommend this company enough. Lots of information, plenty of sightings and very friendly and knowledgeable staff.
Tip: the gift shop at the booking centre (before you leave for the boat) offers two types of sea sickness tablets. I opted for the cheaper herbal one (recommended to take 30 mins before embarking) and compared to my husband (who took nothing) I didn't feel sick at all. I saw some people looking slightly queasy and as such can only conclude the herbal tablet was excellent.
As if you need any more encouragement, the company offers a refund of 80% of your booking fee/ to rebook for another day if you do not see anything on your trip.
N.Exciting trip, and knowledgeable staff. We were lucky enough to see 6 whales during our excursion. Amazing animals.
K.Visited yesterday (22.08.2020) and had a great time!
Saw three whales and hundreds of dolphins!
Staff were great, really friendly and informative and you could tell they were passionate about their jobs and really wanted you to have a great experience, would definitely go again and would recommend to everyone!
W.Awesome staff, boats, crew and guarantee on product such as no whale siteing on your trip large proportion of ticket refunded. We had three attempts before we were successful. And were over the moon. Would highly recommend without question !!!!
W.Had an absolutely amazing experience! Went on the 1:15pm tour in early March. Saw one sperm whale first, and then another pair! Then saw some dancing dolphins too by chance, and also a flying albatross too. It was a fine day and the ride wasn't too rough. We could all go out to the deck for viewing and it felt safe, as they have 5 staff on the boat. They have sonic tracking devices and know the whales too to know exactly where the whales are. We booked a few months ahead online, for the scheduled times because the spaces do fill up quickly. But apparently if weather and viewing is good, they would add more tours and allow standbys, so even if online schedules are full, do call them and try your luck. Allow 2 days’ stay in Kaikoura to increase your chance though as the weather is variable and boats only go out when it's absolutely safe because it is high sea out there. How the company was founded 30 years ago was intriguing and inspiring too; it's staff are understanding and accommodating. Definitely worth coming all the way here for it as this is probably the only place on earth you can come so close to seeing happy wild whales in a motor boat, with 90%+ sighting chances.
D.We did a whale watch on the 18th March and were lucky to encounter three sperm whales. What a fantastic experience ! The crew were fantastic , the weather was good and the whales performed their duties perfectly. We're keen to do a mid- winter watch with the humpbacks. A whale watch is a must do if you visit Kaikoura.
W.Loved the tour and tour guides. Due to weather my booking was cancelled, but they tried to get us on the next boat( which they did due to people not showing up). We got to see dolphins playing, orca playing with them and a small whale that was playing hide and seek( he was feeding which meant he was underwater for 10 minutes or more while moving underwater. Not easy to follow). We also got to see a seal feeding on an octopus. Then we they showed us some penguins. We were very blessed to see so much, because the only thing you might see is the penguins.
j.saw dolphins... due to rough sea had to quit... did not see any whale... generous company offered a 100% refund
S.loved every minute - the staff were very keen to stay on the whales’ trails and we managed to see three! plus some albatross, seals, and other seabirds. our guide amelia was so knowledgeable, not just about the marine life but about the company, the town, and māori culture and we leaned a lot from her. she was also very entertaining and it was clear how passionate she is about kaikoura and its wildlife.
P.We went on a whale tour twice with Whale watch Kaikōura. Both times were amazing. The first time (June 2019) we saw the semi-resident sperm whales as well as a lot of dusky dolphins and albatrosses. The second time we even saw a humpback whale!
The comments on board were really interesting (but remember to watch through the window sometimes to avoid sea-sickness). The crew was very friendly and happy to answer to all our questions.
Definitely recommend.
R.This might have been our most memorable experience in New Zealand. Our crew found us two sperm whales, two different types of dolphins (including a group of 50-100!), and some adorable seals. I'm not sure what more you could ask for during a two-hour tour... The other material presented during the trip was interesting and informative. Well done!
L.Great experience! We were able to capture two sperm whale encounters which was breathtaking, we also saw an amazing pod of dusky dolphins swimming and playing around. The team were great, very knowledgeable and made the trip very enjoyable! Must do trip!
C.We made the tour and were very lucky to have seen a whale. Despite the strong swell the captain did his best to take us out to sea. We especially appreciated the fact that the guide could only detect the whale by ear and not by technical means.
J.Fantastic experience: 2 whale sightings, lots of seals and albatrosses, then finished with a pod of dolphins swimming alongside our boat racing it! Really informative guide as well Highly recommend
Z.Had a great trip. We saw 3 whales and a lot of dolphins. Crew is really friendly and they tell a lot of interesting things. I do recommend to take the third trip in the morning. Less wind and the previous two boats probably already spotted some whales so your boat doesn’t have to search for that long.
J.This was such a great experience! They don't only show you whales, we saw a bunch of different marine birds (Albatross are so much bigger than I thought!) seals, and so many dolphins! We also saw a sperm whale. The staff do their best to show you all of this while still showing respect for these majestic creatures. The only reason this isn't 5 stars is the price - it feels a bit steep. But overall I would recommend this experience.
G.Awsome, beautiful day, saw whales and dolphins
K.Staff is very professional, welcoming and helpful. The cruise experience has been great the seats are extremely comfortable, they have multimedia screen on board and they display an animation movie about the bay & their videos are wonderfully edited and give a lot of information. Unfortunately we didn't get to see any whales, but we got to see lots of Dolphins, a pinguin, seals and a shark. The company encourages you to ask for 80% refund if u don't get to see the whales and I think that shows how great they are.
L.Amazing staff. Friendly and go out of their way to do anything they can for you. This would hsve to be one of best companies I have dealt with. Booked for a team building day and was way beyond our expectations. Can't beat NZ and thank you Whalewatch for bringing it to all. Highly recommend.
P.Good experience really nice staff and nice gift shop lots of green stone if you're interested in that
J.Captain's cabin experience was amazing! Saw a variety of whales, seabirds, seal's and thoroughly enjoyed the trip.
L.Place was well organised, beautiful location, comfortable bus to the marina and a beautiful boat. Information and comments on the boat were very good and we saw 2 sperm whales and 2 blue whales. What a treat.
Nothing that the company can do about it, but keep in mind that sea sickness is a very real thing on these cruises.
Also very good that they offer a 80% refund when you don’t see whales!
s.Great team great couple hours out seen 1 whale dolphins seabirds well equipped vessel
Would recommend sea sick pills there was a couple of very ill people on trip an wasnt ruff out there lol
T.Everything was on time and the Boat Tour was perfectly done, with respect for their wild life in mind and our safety. Staff were super friendly and have extensive knowledge, don't be afraid to ask questions.
P.Outstanding value for money. Magnificent experience to witness the beauty of our marine life in their natural habitat. Multitude of playful dolphins, flipping, diving and racing alongside our vessel. The magnificence of the sperm whale surfacing for several minutes before diving with a flick of his tail will stay with me for the rest of my life. Ngã mihi nui Kaikoura Whale Watch. PS: I'll be back 👍😊
F.Maybe seeing whale is great. Unfortunately due to two bookings it was cancelled twice. Even the offer of a coastal tour was cancelled because to less people are interested.
Appreciate their honesty
100% Refund
Very lovely stuff
T.What a treat, saw a blue whale and a sperm whale as well as the albatross swooping around us although my photos are lacking as I was feeding the fish lol
C.We are from unlikely few we didn't manage to see the whales, but the crew act professional and bussines keep promisese for a partial refund. Nice presentations during trip and interesting facts presented.
S.Great tour and very informative guides who obviously care a great deal about the local environment. We had our first attempt cancelled due to bad weather but got a full refund and re-booked in a couple of days time. We got up close with sperm whales along with common, dusky and the elusive Hector's dolphins. A truly unforgettable experience.
We went on a day with large swells and although we saw a great deal of wildlife it was hard on the stomach so worth taking the advice of the guides on how to best deal with sea-sickness. It did not detract from our experience though.
WORTH KNOWING: when the weather is bad there are restrictions on children under 8, pregnant women and people with disabilities.
J.Unfortunately my trip was canceled due to the bad weather conditions to much wind for the trip at 1245pm.
But the staff was Amazing and the refunded our ticket's.
My tip is just check the wind conditions for your trip date of course it's possible to change all the times.👍❤🇳🇿
T.Loved this trip, the guides were lovely, funny and knowledgeable. We saw two whales and three species of dolphins. Even one small glimpse of a seal.
P.NZ friends recommended Kaikoura as a place to visit to see whales and other marine life. We decided to take a boat trip. We've been on safari in Africa so we were prepared for the waiting game, even the possibility that you may not spot what you've come to see. The weather was sunny, the ocean calm. We saw 3 sperm whales! Just watching them float at the surface spouting water before they make their graceful dive back into the depths. Magnificent. Then there were the Dusky Dolphins - these animals are terrific! There is no doubt they are the most "acrobatic" of the dolphin species. We watched them jump from the water and I watched one that performed not just 1 double-back flip, but 7!!! There were also seals and an albatross that we passed on the water. An amazing time and the boat crew were helpful and informative.
J.An amazing opportunity to see whales in their natural habitat. Very friendly and knowledgeable staff. A great experience
L.Absolutely incredible experience and worth every penny in my experience. You’re pretty Munich guaranteed to see whales and if you don’t you’ll get 80% of your money back!
I was fortunate enough to see humpback whales, dusky dolphins, fur seals and albatross. All incredible! Well worth it!
O.We were very lucky and the weather was very nice and we saw the first sperm whale after just 5 minutes. We saw another sperm whale as well and what felt like hundreds of dusky dolphins leaping out of the sea. Amazing!
Then we got to see a colony of fur seals with many cute pups.
Very professional staff with fun and interesting narrative. Would definitely recommend!
A.I have to say I am impressed. They guarantee a whale sighting, out give you 80% back...
The crew were all lovely, helpful, and informative.
They don't cheat you with time, we saw one whale, then cruised to a second whale, got a tip on a large pots of dolphins so the cruised over there (amazing).
Think figured the first whale should be surfacing and shot back there.
Really impressed with the professionalism of the whole staff, was an incredible experience.
Thank you.
M.The mist was down today so no whale watching. Instead we went out and watched seals and Dolphins and Seabirds you never see on land. Great commentaries with videos. Thank you a great 3 hours...
B.Top marks l say go see all top line
People top boats
J.Very enjoyable. Good conditions on the water and managed to see some humpback. Helpful staff on the boat and at the sign in
P.If you are interested in such a trip, these folks do it extremely well. We especially appreciated their being up front about the fact that you may or may not see all the species shown in the advertising, because the whales and such are not always cooperative! There is a very good safety briefing before you leave for the boat. The day we went the seas were quite high and they strongly urged everyone to avail themselves of seasickness remedies, sold in the gift shop. They also acknowledged that anyone who might be in danger because they could not walk freely and safely should not go in this sea and offered refunds to them.The staff member in the cabin went over all the best places to sit for those with sickness problems, as well as other means of avoiding sickness, but then she was very calm in explaining what to do if the seas got the best of you....as they did for several. She handled the situations calmly and professionally. Regarding the main purpose of our trip, we were successful in seeing one sperm whale, dolphins and NZ seals. Overall, if you want to do this type adventure, this company does it very well!
P.Highly recommend this experience. We saw fur seals, albatross, dolphins, blue shark and an amazing sperm whale. The crew were friendly and helpful and worked hard to get us within viewing distance of this majestic giant of the ocean.
F.I'm sure this is a brilliant experience but we went twice and didn't see any whales. The first time the tour was cancelled and we didn't find out until arrival so we wasted time and fuel. Our tour was then rescheduled for another time which did run although no Wales to be spotted. We received an 80% refund.
I understand that our circumstance was very unlikely. The only reason I've given 3 stars is because we could have been notified sooner that there were no whales in the area and that the tour was cancelled, saving us time and fuel.
S.Wonderful trip with knowledgeable guides and hard working to try and find the whales. We were in the 5% of tours which failed to see a whale - its nature's way of telling us we need to come back and visit again, which we are planning to do very soon.
D.Beautiful scenery, the backdrop really is amazing. We saw 2 speed whales, which appears to be the standard, given how often sightings are in the area. Other types of marine life are possible but we were happy with the shakes and occasional seals
n.As I understand it, there are not many places where you can see sperm whales so this is a great opportunity. The crew were lovely and provided lots of information about the surrounding wildlife. It can take a while to find the whales but it is well worth it. We saw two whales on our trip, don’t expect a really close encounter since the whales are too big to get very close to.
The boat travels very fast so it can be rocky even on a good weather day, if you get seasick I would recommend preparing for that. They sell seasickness remedies at the gift shop.
E.Amazing day out. Saw 3 sperm whales, a pod of dusky dolphins and albatrosses. Excellent information and audiovisuals during the trip.
M.I brought a group of travelers to Whale Watch in May 2019. For many of them, this was their first trip to NZ as well as their first encounter with a whale. The staff at WW was very easy to work with in the planning and booking of the sail and the staff on board the boat was equally excellent. My group had an incredible experience, sighting a whale, spending a few precious moments while it lingered on the surface and then seeing the impressive tail as it transitioned back to deep water. The on board narrative by Hadley was out-of-this-world good. He was enthusiastic, interesting, engaging, and made the experience for all my crew memorable and lively. They talked about it for days afterward. This is a must-do experience in Kaikoura. Don't miss it!
M.Bucket list experience checked off! Awesome time from beginning to end. Lucy, our whale guide extraordinaire, was amazing! As was the Captain and rest of the staff. Lucy kept us entertained, and equally educated. The perfect balance. Also great message about taking care of our environment. The whales—stunning. One sperm whale and two humpback whales. We will remember this experience forever. Thank you!!!
A.I've done this tour twice now and I can only say that it's great. The staff is really friendly and knows a lot about all the animals that you'll get to see. They're very good at whale spotting, so there is a big chance you will actually get to see the whales! The boats are nice, not too big, and comfy.
S.A pretty spectacular experience. Been out for a whale watch twice and both times saw a magnificent sperm whale. All staff are so friendly and professional. Definitely go when you're in Kaikoura!
A.While a little pricy, the trip is worth every penny. Our crew took us out to the under water canyon and we saw a sperm whale. We still had time on our excursion, so the captain took us to see some dolphins.
Definitely go if you have the opportunity!
D.Excellent trip. Everyone so helpful and tried very hard to make sure you saw a whale. Stayed out in the boat until one was found. So be prepared for a 2 hour trip to turn into 3. Which was fantastic because the views from the boat where amazing. Well worth the money
C.good.
B.Amazing experience, we saw 3 Sperm Whales, 1 humpback and lots of Albatross. Very informative. Would do again.
T.Interactive, lots of dolphins, and whales! The dolphins were doing flips and flops, and it was awesome! However you can get sea sick really fast, but besides that it was cool!
M.Good organization, staff who know what they are talking about. We saw a sperm whale which was a bit hard to find but I find the way the chief boat was driving very respectful for the animal. On the other hand, it's overpriced and there is too much business around that which make the tour less charming. Recommend it anyway thanks
R.Absolutely fantastic. They say you usually see 1-2 whales on each boat ride. We saw 3 sperm whales and a range of birds including albatrosses. No day is the same. The boat crew were brilliant too!!
G.Enjoyable afternoon trip - enthusiastic and knowledgeable crew and impressive boat. Bit of a Gray day but we found two whales and a pod of dolphins. Recommended.
R.Unmissable experience. Watching these majestic creatures in the wild is such an unreal experience. Makes you happy to the core. The crew is knowledgeable, friendly and just a group of amazing people. Great commentary and superb insight when you talk to any of them. Also great to see the cooperation between different groups of people to ensure that everyone gets to see these amazing creatures
H.Loved it! Saw 3 whales, a lot of dolfins and some fur seals. Staff was very friendly!
R.Terrific few hours, whale watching. Boat very stable, fast to get you there. They work in tandem with plane tours so information is shared on sightings etc. We saw two sperm whales at the surface and able to take some great pictures from the upper deck. Commentary from crew was informative, and we'll presented. Would recommend.
R.Got to see 1 fully grown sperm whale and about 12 dusky dolphins. Great money. Totally worth it
S.Very well organized.
Excellent staff
Seriously , the plane circling the whale was intrusive to us and , more importantly , the whale .
Dusky dolphins and albatrosses so close special
S.Great trip. Got to see 2 whales and a lot of dolphins. Enjoyed it. Staff on boat very friendly and helpful. Great commentary from Sam.
C.Absolutely incredible!! The crew are extremely knowledgeable and super friendly. You are 99% guaranteed to see a whale and perhaps some dolphins and seals. Plus you get to go on a really cool, super quick, fancy boat. 🛳️
C.Although we saw an orca, sperm whale and various albatross including one magnificent bird which effortlessly skimmed past the boat, and the commentary was informative, I can only give this three stars given my friend with six other people on the trip was literally sick and I along with large numbers of the passengers felt seasick. You are cooped up most of the time inside (only allowed to go outside when they spot a whale) without any moving air, rushing around at speed on the swells trying to get to the whales. So I was actually pleased when the trip ended and can't recommend this.
L.A wonderful time was had. Two Sperm Whales seen, both breaching. The crew were helpful, informative & friendly. My expectations were not necessarily to see any whales so to see two was so good. A well run operation that seemed to have the wellbeing of the animals at the heart of their activities. Thoroughly recommend this trip.
B.This is a well organised and professional operator. We saw sperm and humpback whales and had plenty of time to admire these beautiful creatures of the deep. On the way back to shore we enjoying seeing dolphins. Highly recommended.
G.Albatrosses, Sperm whales, and dolphins on a premier experience...better than any others worldwide!
J. G.Great experience. Knowledgeable, friendly staff, modern equipment and one of the very best places in the world to see sperm whales! We saw 4 enormous bulls hanging out at the surface before returning to the depths to hunt giant squid. Absolutely epic!
g.Brilliant...more than I expected. Blue whale .. orca. Ect picture are poor as I only had my phone camera
A.The staff at Whale Watch Kaikoura were mostly friendly, welcoming, knowledgeable, fun and helpful.
The experience out on the boat was great. We were warned in advance about a high likelihood of sea sickness, and it definitely was quite choppy but I feel the staff did well to manage it.
We saw two whales and unfortunately just missed a pod of dolphins but there was a bunch of information we learnt on board that was really interesting.
There was one negative thing about our experience; we went into the office the day before we wanted to go on the tour to make sure there was availability. On this occasion, although I addressed the man behind the counter he directed all his questions and information-giving to my husband. It was quite shocking and upsetting and I hope that the staff are trained in future to treat all customers with equal deference regardless of gender.
Other than that one experience with that one staff member I have nothing bad to say and would definitely recommend booking this trip!
S.Great tour, from a professional and we'll run organization. We sadly did not get to see the great Sperm Whale, but we did see the back of a Humpback. The skipper felt we had not seen enough whales so organised us all a 60% refund, which was great, and was I felt fare based on what we had seen. We we're lucky also to see an Albatross close at hand as it flew past.
A.Great team. They really try hard to ensure you have a good experience. And to see a whale is just great - that day we saw two! That said, the seas can be choppy, so take every precaution to prevent seasickness; the crew recommends you sit at the back or at most middle of the boat if you are prone to it. There was one family on the trip where the mother got terribly seasick and least to say, she did not enjoy the experience, nor did her family.
g.Whale watching was an amazing experience. To guys worked really hard to make sure we saw at least one Whale. The waters were really choppy, thankfully we had experience and had take anti motion/sea sickness tablets in advance. Alot of the others struggled. The staff were amazing though. Really helpful. The Whale itself was abit underwhelming as it never actually came out of the water so we couldn't see its whole body ever. But as it went down the Tail was glorius. However the highlight for us was on the return trip. A group of 100s of Dolphins swarmed our boat doing tricks and flips all over the place. It was one of the most Majestic things I have ever seen. In hindsight wish we would have gone swimming witht he dolphins.
A. P.Saw 2 sperm whales and almost another one. It saw us coming so dived under. Saw fur seals very close too and also stopped to see hector dolphins. An albrotoss flew and landed just feet from the boat. Didn't expect to see so many species. A thoroughly enjoyable day.
L.Best experience in my life. The staff is really friendly and swiming with the dolphins is so much fun. It's expensive but it's worth it. The dolphins are wild, not trained, not feed and they play with you in the water. We also saw a whale. Would highly recommend this experience.
H.Only do this if you really want to see whales specifically and note this might just mean a fin. We got some great views of dolphins but to be honest you're better off spending your money on the dolphin encounter for 25 dollars more - it's more intimate, you get kitted out and the unforgettable experience of swimming with them. This was cool but in hindsight I would've only done the dolphin encounter.
D.What a fantastic experience! The are really well organized, with many boats departing every day. I suggest to take a mid morning boat, so could benefit about whales informations of the previous boats... did it with a hard weather... suggest sea sickness pills to people not used to bad weather, otherwise your experience could be really bad
D.Be careful, most on our boat were violently sick. Staff are wonderful. Information given is fantastic. We saw 2 whales...
T.Great thing to do. It's not cheap but you can be sure to see at least one whale!
L.Professional team who gave a great service and a great 3 hour trip.
G.Really informative trip. Great ride out to the watching spot. Friendly staff and the captain was a superb operator. Aneke was super professional. Nice work team!!
L.I really wanted to have this experience while visiting New Zealand.
It did not disappoint. Very professional set up, great informative commentary. Hard to get photos so just gave up and enjoyed being in the moment!
We saw Blue Whales, lots of dusky sound dolphins, seals and albatross
C.Must admit I was a bit disappointed even though we saw two sperm whales. From a 3.30pm book in we got on the boat and set off on the water at 4.20pm. Took 50 minutes to ride out to a likely spot based on earlier sightings in the day. Then chugged around for about 20minutes with no luck. Finally spotted a Whale so hoofed it to get closer and watched it for a few minutes before it dived down. Then saw another one 5 minutes later so chugged over the water to that one then it too dived away after a couple of minutes. Then we were told to go back below for a 50 minute return to Base. All told we were on the water for 2 hours 25 minutes and only 45 minutes was spent tracking whales with two sightings lasting about 5 minutes each. I know sightings aren't guaranteed because they are wild animals but the experience was advertised as around 3 and a quarter hours based on 3.30 checkin and return around 6.45 but the reality was much shorter and with the ride out and back the Whale watching was a maximum 45 minutes looking and finding them. The trip in my opinion is rather over played given the price charged.
D.I had a great experience here. The team on the ship was super and did all they could to find us some whales. Which worked out in the end!
Would have been five stars if not for the fact that they do nothing to reach out to you if your tour gets cancelled because of the weather. I mean, how much trouble can it be to send people and automated mail to say the tour was cancelled? We were told to check their website, but being a traveller that sounds easier than it is to do in reality.
s.Great tour. Very informative crew. Sighted 3 sperm whales and big pod of dolphins. If booking on a afternoon tour, I would recommend staying overnight just incase tour is cancelled because of poor weather.
K.They did a great job with the service (video induction, seasickness warning, you only pay, when you are okay with the current conditions, directly before your trip, solid and interesting info during the trip, bus transfer to the ship), but the one sighting we had was very short, lasting only a couple of seconds. They do return 80% of the ticket price, when there is no sighting. But we had a sighting, so I paid quite a lot of money for about ten seconds of whale watching...
A.Such an amazing experience. Our narrator was so informative, and had such a good personality. Really made the experience great. I loved seeing that the crew get just as excited as you when you find the Whales or the Orcas. I was hoping we'd see some Orcas and we were incredibly lucky (according to the crew) to find 4 of them hanging around. We got up close to them and got some amazing photos. I would definitely put this on one of the best experiences of my life. An amazing day.
T.I was harrassed into going by my family (I thought it sounded long and boring). Soooo glad I went! In addition to seeing the promised whale up close, we saw Hectors and Dusky dolphins (dozens and dozens of them, and they put on a great show very close to the boat), seals, an albatross taking off from the water. The guides were great, the boat was great, there wasn't a wasted minute. Thoroughly recommend.
s.Worth the money.nice new boat, good hospitality and informative
H.Great attraction and wonderful people.
A.We are still overwhelmed and stunned from our tour with Whale Watch Kaikōura! First we were disappointed because our Whale Watch cruise got cancelled due to rough sea. We got offered the Inshore tour as an alternative and decided to do that, better than nothing. On that tour we saw three kinds of dolphins in a big school, socialising and playing around our boat, accompanying us. Then there was a big surprise for both the crew and us: We were so lucky to witness four orcas in their natural habitat, swimming beneath and under our boat. That was one of the most touching moments of our lives! The crew was so nice and we would highly recommend supporting them!
a.Great tour!! The crew was fantastic, had a great narrator (Jordan) and we were lucky to spot a sperm whale showing it’s tale!! Also spotted hector dolphins and dusky dolphins! Highly recommended!
C.Amazing experience, all the crew is very experienced and friendly, they are happy to share their knowledge with us. We saw 5 different whales and 2 types of dolphins, incredible time out at the sea!! Highly recommended.
C.Two sperm whales ( one seen twice), one humpback, heaps of birdlife and a few fur seals. A great experience, staff are fantastic! Boats comfortable, dress warmly and enjoy!
G.Everything was simply perfect! Very nice experience!
J.We saw whales 6 times! With time in between to find a massive pod of dolphins too :)
We were fortunate to have calm conditions and a clear day. Winter seems the best time to do this.
B.Love this tour as my 3 times doing it, I could still see whales,dolphins and sometimes seals. The price in NZ$ 150 is on the high side. People are friendly and well organised
V.A dream came true when we saw whales and lots of other maritime animals in their natural environment during the tour in Kaikoura. The Whale Watch Kaikoura team provided a very professional service, boat wasn't too full and we really saw a lot during the tour. Best whale watching tour ever!
L.Viewing a whale for the first time was interesting. The whale watching was the intended attraction but the enormous pod of ~50 dolphins was the highlight for me and my friends. The dolphins were all doing their own thing: following the direction of the boat, doing backflips out of the water, and jumping out of the water, too.
The crew were very enthusiastic and great to listen to.
Few people were sea sick and they did not have an issue with this at all.
L.Must do, so much fun if you aren't sea sick. Make sure to take your sea sick medicine in advance, just as a precaution. You can see whales, dolphins, birds and lots of other animals. Just the boat ride is intense. Staff is great!
B.A lot information on the wildlife, respectful treatment of whales, definitely worth it.
M.A must for any visitor to Kaikoura. We had two sightings of sperm whale and we also were privileged to be in the midst of a large pod of Dusky dolphin as they swam and somersaulted in front of us. The expertise and knowledge of the crew was outstanding. They were also very helpful. I loved the live commentary and the video presentations alongside. I learned heaps about these magnificent mammals. Thankyou! This trip was a highlight for me. Outstanding!
M.The most beautiful experience in a 3 week journey through NZ. Not only having the oportunity to see the whales, but specially the way our guides not only informed us but transmit their love for this mammals and their commitment in the respect for them. Really exciting also!
s.Staff are really friendly and helpful and passionate about conserving the marine area in Kaikoura. Very comfortable modern catamaran. While it's not guaranteed to see whales we were lucky to see a sperm whale. Fabulous creature. Also seen lots of dusky dolphins. Really was the highlight of our trip to Kaikoura.
J.Saw 2 sperm whales straight off the bat but the real highlight was seeing loaaads of dolphins, swimming under and around the boat, jumping and flipping and seeing fur seals out in the open hunting and catching fish right in front of us with dolphins circling and albatrosses waiting for the scraps and gliding over the sea. For the Last stop the boat went around a big rock which is the baby seal nursing area where you can see pups practicing their swimming skills in pools created on the side of the rock. Good informative narrator on boat aswell. Brill trip well worth the money just got better and better as it went on
M.One of the must do activities in the South Island. Fantastic crew who make the experience informative and enjoyable.
B.Five whales. One massive pod of dolphins. Two happy children. Pleased parents. It was a perfect, calm, winters day, the Kaikorua mountains snow slathered and glorious, with the whales appearing as soon as we got out to the feeding grounds. Worth doing. Great photos. And it didn't feel too disrespectful... the boat stayed a reasonable distance away and drifted with the whales until they dived. Our boat wasn't crowded.
G.Well worth doing. It was a few years ago when I did it - I would still recommend it.
H.It was the most amazing experience. The team didn't stop watching for whales until they found 3 for us! Then we were treated to watching a pod of Orcas, awesome! All at a safe distance for the wildlife.
F.An amazing experience!
Remember to take some anti sea sick pills before going on this trip! Even though I took a dose, I still got sea sick.
It is all worth it though because of the amazing wildlife you will see, and of course the whales (garuanteed or 80% money back).
On the trip back to shore, a pack of dolfins started playing and following the boat for 10 minutes!
G.Couldn't fault service on the boat. Got to see two different Whales, heaps of dolphins, and sea birds. Would recommend taking sea legs before travelling.
C.A very informative tour explaining how they locate the whales, information on various species of sea creatures that could be seen and brilliant views of sperm whales preparing to dive! Friendly crew too. Definitely recommended!
W.Amazing experience, very friendly staff. We can highly recommend this trip! (on boat) We had luck and saw 2 whales (incl. Tail-Photo) plus many dolphins 👍👍👍👍👍
c.What a wonderful experience, I'd been 13 years previously and it still surpasses all my expectations. Brilliant informative crew. The whales made me cry and the dolphins made me laugh out loud, you cant ask for anymore than that. Thank you Kaikoura ❤
J.Throughly enjoyed seeing Dolphins Albatross Seals. Dotteral Up close. Briefly sighted a Sperm Whale. I would not recommend going if you suffer from motion sickness. Expect to be violently ill if sea conditions are rough😯. Glad to hear some money goes to whale conservation.😊 Had awesome time. Thank you Kaikoura Whale watch
T.Had a fantastic time on the whale watch cruise. Saw 2 BLUE WHALES and a Sperm whale which were amazing. Obviously there's always a chance you won't see anything but this seems pretty small considering they actively monitor gps locations whales dove and how long they've been underwater.
The staff were and friendly and entertaining... We think we will come back in winter for a chance to see humpbacks! :)
M.We had the 10am sailing this morning. Conditions were great. We saw one big sperm whale. Yay! On the way back we sailed amongst a large pod of dusky dolphins yay again then coming into South Bay we saw huge patches of red krill. Yay! And then, after the amazing sailing driving back to the south we saw two Whales from the shore feeding on the krill 500m from shore with thousands of birds. They had white under their tails so my guess would be humpback Whales. That's was a first! Thanks to the team for a memorable day out!
!
T.Great guide and staff. So beautiful and watched whales, dolphins and albatross up close. Enjoyed every minute. Well worth the price.
M.Whales Watch is not only a company which allow you to watch whales, this is a company that will also notify you when whales will dive and they will make sure that the boat is well positioned with a good background for your pictures.
We appreciated during the cruise having detailed explanations on whales.
And if you are not lucky, you'll be refund of 80% of your ticket.
The car park is very large.
You have to arrive at least 30min before your trip. Then you'll wait 30min watching a video which explain the security procedures.
10 min after, you'll be on the boat for a 2h hours trip.
So count 4h between the time you arrive and time you'll leave.
F.What's great about Whale Watch Kaikoura is that they respect animals and won't invade them by going super close. The only downside is that their your depends very much on weather and sea conditions meaning that it is often cancelled and substituted for a coastal tour where you most likely will only see seals, dolphins and some albatrosses. They do however give you plenty of options to either move you to another tour, go on an aerial tour or refund you which is nice.
They have a pretty nice gift shop too!
R.Had to cancel minutes before starting the tour because of an emergency, the staff were very helpful and accommodating. Hope to come back next time.
G.Excellent putting with Wale Watch. Fast boat ride out to where whale was seen earlier in the day. Using only eyes and listening they monitor the whale activity.
When he came to the surface he obviously wasn't bothered by the boat and gave us all a great view. Even so phones can't really give the pictures it deserves but watch the whale and not the shiny screen 😁
A.This was such a fab evening out. To see whales in there natural environment. Had the bonus of seeing huge pods of dolphins. Such beautiful animals. The information giving and services of the crew is excellent. Well done to all
M.Great really enjoyed seeing the whales and dolphins The commentary was very informative The staff were so good I was seasick and they looked after me so well would highly recommend
H.Loved our trip on a perfect day !
J.We highly recommend Whale Watch Kaikoura. Not only did we see THREE Sperm Whales, Albatross and Dolphins but we learned so much about KaiKoura, Maori culture, and the science, geology and biology of whales. The crew, especailly our guide Tas and Captain Paki were wonderful, friendly, smart and so skilled. The seas were a bit a rough but you didn't really feel it and the fresh air outside was invigorating. Their love for these majestic mammals and the spirit of cooperation they and the other ships and planes displayed out looking for whales was incredibly strong. This is an absolute MUST DO for anyone visiting Kaikoura.
R.Fantastic trip, well worth going on. We saw a sperm whale on the surface and then the famous dive. We saw fun whales, dolphins, seals and even a swordfish. Fantastic crew on board too.
J.Fantastic trip, awesome staff so helpful at all times. Loved the new Waka or vessel.
Highly recommend this trip.
C...Amazing adventure! Highly recommend for tourists and locals. Big safe boat, friendly knowledgeable crew and wonderful to see whales, dolphins, seals and albatross all with beautiful Kaikoura Peninsula as the backdrop.
J.Never thought I'd get do excited by a boat trip. Saw three whales fluke, on a rough trip out to sea. Take your seasick pills of you are at all queezy! Well worth the money, which is a pretty substantial amount for most people., but the boat must be drinking fuel as it zips around looking for whales. Well organised and we'll run.
B.This was amazing! Staff were very knowledgeable and friendly. And we were to see whales and over 200 dolphins.
D.Fantastic trip after two false starts. Very professional. Thanks guys!
M.This was a hugely enjoyable trip. We saw hundreds of dolphins and were well looked after by the entertaining and informative crew. Sadly there were no whales but they were prompt on delivering the promised refund.
T.First tour for three days due to bad weather and everyone was skeptical about seeing a whale. Just before we headed back a sperm whale was spotted! Well worth the trip out for the stunning marine life and scenery. Service was very professional although the presentation is a bit lacklustre.
B.Great experience. It was too windy to go all the way out to where the Sperm Whales were, so instead we went and saw two Humpback Whales multiple times, as well as many Dusky Dolphins and a few Albatross.
D.Absolutely fantastic experience!!! We saw 2 big spermwhales and about 100-200 dolphins who came in a big group and made a big performance behind the boat. Worth the money times 2!
A.Went to see the whales today and that was nice but I must admit I still feel a little disappointed.
The crew has done this so many times it felt like we were just another bunch of tourists.
We saw three whales just laying still breathing before they dove back into the water. We got a couple of good photos but never got closer than a hundraed meters from the whale. Wish we could have come a little closer. Albatrosses came in our path and that was nice!
3/6 of my family got seasick so look for days when its not blowing so much.
Can recommend the tour in Akaroa which is cheaper and more relaxing. No whales there but still lots of other animals.
C.Very professional very well practiced operation. The crew certainly knew their stiff and made sure that we saw a whale, Holey Moley was our particular beast, a male sperm whale. So very happy with our encounter
M.We had a fantastic day with the crew! Quality equipment and the staff has knowledge. The location is obviously a big plus and we were lucky enough to see 3 different Sperm Whale on a sunny winter day
N.This was one of the most exciting experiences in New Zealand. Our guide Lucy gave us a lot of information about whales while the boat bounced off of the waves while we were rushing to reach the whale called Holy Moley before it dove back down. It was just really cool to view these giants in the wild. There were a lot of albatross and Dusky dolphins swimming along side the boat. Kaikoura is a great place to visit- the beaches have black sand and turquoise waters and a big fur seal colony. Try a grilled koura if you get a chance.
A.They're not lying when they say they have a 90% success rate. We seen two sperm whales a few albatrosses and pod of about 200 hundred dolphins. I would have loved to get just that little bit closer to the whales. It's was great fun but i don't know if it was worth 150 NZD each. It was very choppy so you're almost certainly going feel ill in similar conditions I think the wind was 15 knots.
D.It was a really nice trip, the tour guide Jack was hillarious and we managed to spot 3 whales during our tour and there was plenty of opportunity for some nice albatross photos. Bringing DSLR & long lens on the trip is a must (both whales and birds are too far out to make decent photos with mobile phones)
J.We didn't get to see whales, but we saw lots of dolphins and some seals and they gave us a 80% refund and it was a lot of fun. They really push anti seasickness medications. We bought them but I don't think it was necessary.
S.Nicely organized, friendly staff and good quality boats. The crew was very helpful, explained all the small details of the journey and what we were expected to see and we were lucky enough to meet a beautiful whale 🙂
S.Absolutely loved our experience. Magnificent boat. Awesome crew. Thank you.
D.Awesome stuff, good boats. Saw a few whales.
But too expensive.
T.Absolutely amazing, beautiful day and got to see 3 whales
L.Did not spot whales on this trip but received 80% discount which was very satisfactory. Very much enjoyed the commentary on board from Harriata
P.Well in this health and safety world they tick all the boxes. They run 16 trips a day, safety briefing 30 mins after the check in and the fairly hard sell that sea sickness remedies will be required. Then ferried by bus to South bay to pick up the very powerful vessel holding around 45 all inside to start. And off we go out in the Pacific. For us blue sky , no wind but quite a swell running. In the end no one was ill but I felt a little queezy. We zoom to a spot where a whale might be and very shortly afterwards Holey Miley is spotted, slight hole in his tail, one sperm whale ticked off and does the tail dive trick, and then off to see lots of dolphins, back to see another sperm whale and more dolphins, stopped on way back to see some seals and spot a few birds. All in all excellent, but if you do suffer from motion sickness then you maybe affected. Crew all very professional. When wildlife is spotted everyone comes out on deck or upper level to take pictures etc., But when moving it's back inside. All in about 2.5 hrs on board.
G.Amazing experience! We saw four Sperm Whales and hundreds of playful dolphins. The crew was so knowledgable about the marine life. Five out of five stars from me!!!🤩
P.Very well run operation. Great tours, very informative. Funny friendly guides. We saw whales and dolphins and seals! Really appreciated the extra effort Whale Watch went to for us by giving a talk to our students prior to the trip about how the company started and by telling us about the company's kaitiakitanga/ sustainability practices.
S.This is an absolute must if you are visiting Kaikoura. The facilities are very good, the staff are super and the boats well fitted out. We saw whales, dolphins, seals, sharks and a variety of sea birds. An excellent experience.
P.Near guarantee to see a whale. It's 50 metres away though so you only see a tiny bit of the whale floating and the tail from a distance when it dives down after about 10 minutes. It was way cooler to see some dolphins chasing the boat, and to watch the albatrosses take of, than the actual whale which was underwhelming. Good crew and service, however.
c.Well worth a trip .We were lucky to see two whales if only briefly , we hung around for 60 minutes between the two sightings . We were then followed by a pod of rare Hector's dolphins for about 20 mins so got lots of video. The staff were very professional and explained everything to us .
T.One of the best experience during the visit of South Island. Saw some whales and dolphins
L.We had problems with our car. The staff allowed us to use their storage for luggages. They went above their duty to help customers. We saw more whales than we had hope, and our Skipper and crew were knowledgeable!
C.We did see two whales, but didn't get as long as we though out on the boat. It can be bumpy, so try and prepare yourself if you are susceptible to seasickness. Of the two whales we saw, one was asleep at the surface, and one dived and showed us the lovely tail fluke. Worth going if you haven't seen a whale before, but it could be cheaper or slightly longer to make it better value.
A.3 whales we were so lucky
P.We saw a whale, sea lions and albatross on the way. It was a nice visit and the staff was really nice and informative.evwn if you go by boat, they are in contact with the flying helicopters and other boats to make sure you end up seeing a whale. They also use underwater devices to hear the sounds the whales make to keep track of them.
S.Nice trip we saw both sperm and humpback whales and an orca
The minus was that the trip is only in English with a very strict accent so difficult to understand. Please put in the boat the audio and multilingual guide or at least the English subtitles on the video.
C.What an amazing experience with Whale Watch Kaikoura. We apparently went on a March day with uncommonly good weather - calm seas, sunny and light wind, and nature delivered with Tutu the sperm whale surfacing not once but twice during our journey. The crew was excellent and clearly passionate about what they were doing and conservation, all delivered with precision execution. Loved it.
D.Absolutely marvelous. Would do it over and over again if I could. The staff all around are great staff on boat go out there way to help you had slight fall on boat got impact to my knees as read wave wrong.they were there straightaway to help.
K.A really special experience, staff are really freindly and very knowledgeable. We saw a sperm whale, dusky dolphins and on our way back even got a wave from a humpback whale! An amazing day!
W.Excellent experience. Huge numbers of dolphins, some seals, a whale with the snow capped mountains in the background. Saw the whale dive twice. Recommend the tour.
B.Really tight operation from these guys, they are on the ball, super enthusiastic and very eco focused.
A.Unfortunately didn't get to go due to bad weather. The allocation system is bad as if you miss your booking cruise due to bad weather which is not customer's fault, still they won't put you on the next cruise. They asked to come back next day which was stupid. But the place was amazing with stunning views. Maybe next time...
P.A once in a lifetime trip. Saw two sperm whales, as well as countless albatrosses. The guys on the boats really know their stuff and we learned lots we didn't know before.
M.Incredibly knowledgable staff. Super cool to get to see a sperm whale! They weren't kidding when there was a sea sickness warning. I don't usually ever get motion sickness but it was rough out there. I followed the crew instructions and felt better
E.Hello my name joe and I nearly got hit by one of your boats while swimming. But besides that I enjoyed the experience of watch dolphins and whales. And this is why i'm giving you a 5 star review. Thank you whale watch I will never forget this. Because I have a scar from falling down the stairs on the boat.
W.Amazing whale watching trip, very helpful staff with lots of knowledge. Would highly recommend them
S.Was a great experience watching giant whales play in the ocean and hundreds of dolphins swimming around !But we were very disappointed when we got to whale watch station and were told that children below 10 years cant go on the ship that day, since the captain had raised the age bar few minutes ago due to rough weather conditions. Nonetheless, we were offered whale watching on a plane instead without having to pay anything extra. We opted for it and enjoyed the experience air- borne.. So if ever you pre-book, get to whale watch station and discover your little one cannot go on the ship, please remember you have an option to fly instead-:)
R.Got a fantastic day for it. Saw 6 whales, lots of dolfins and albatrosses. We had very knowledgeable guides who were friendly and laid back. I would definitely recommend this tour.
j.Great staff, well organized and honest about seeing whales. If you don’t you get your money back! One recommendation-take a SEA SICKNESS REMEDY unless you are know you don’t get seasick. The majority don’t and there are a lot of unhappy whale watchers who can’t appreciate the experience because of it. They SELL the pills there.
P.Great staff, good customer service both on land and in the open waters. Their commentary while out at sea is hilarious, so please listen carefully. They ensured that we saw not one but two whales in the one trip. Experience of a lifetime. If you get an opportunity to do this, do it with this crew.
B.Super amazing adventures. Totally recommend this.
S.Saw 1 humpback & 2 supermarket whales, sharks, dolphins & plenty if sea birds including albatross, petrol & shearing...crew & commentator were gr8 & informative..
D.Amazing trip, we saw the full compliment of whales, dolphins, and seals, along with albatross, lovely crew on the boat, highly recommended when visiting Kaikoura!
M.Due to bad weather which resulted in emergency road closures, we were actually unable to make our tour. Regardless, Whale Watch Kaikoura still deserve a 5 star rating. They kept us updated throughout the day and advised of road closures, offered to rebook us on another tour and eventually refunded our trip with absolutely no hassle. Highly recommend, great customer service. I will definitely be rebooking when we return to NZ. Thanks!
C.Good activity to watch whales. I unfortunately saw only one but they are animal so we can't ask them to be there or stand still while we're talking pictures... The boat ride to the whale watch site was excellent.
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