Water activity

Kaikoura: 1-Hour Whale Watching Helicopter Tour

5  / 57 reviews
Activity provider:South Pacific Helicopters NZ
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Water activity
Kaikoura: 1-Hour Whale Watching Helicopter Tour
Activity provider:South Pacific Helicopters NZ
5  / 57 reviews

Spot whales from the air and make a summit landing for 360-degree views.

About this activity

Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Reserve now & pay later
Keep your travel plans flexible — book your spot and pay nothing today.
Duration 1 hour
Check availability to see starting times.
Live tour guide
English
Audio guide included
English
Wheelchair accessible
Small group
Limited to 6 participants

Experience

Highlights

  • Marvel at whales from above where you can see them in their entirety from tip to tail
  • Take in the panoramic views from 1,600 meters at the summit of the mountain
  • Experience a snow landing at certain times of the year

Full description

Spot sperm whales, dusky dolphins, and fur seals from above before making a summit landing among the towering peaks of the Seaward Kaikoura Mountain Ranges on this 1-hour helicopter tour. The adventure begins with a short safety briefing from the pilot, as well as additional information about the year-round population of sperm whales and the unique underwater Kaikoura Canyon. Next, jump in the helicopter and head out over the Whale Sanctuary and Hikurangi Marine Reserve for a chance to view the pod of sperm whales. Taking on a bird's-eye-view maximizes time viewing the wildlife while not disrupting their natural behavior. Continue along the magnificent coastline of the Kaikoura Peninsula keeping an eye out for playful dusky dolphins and New Zealand fur seals. The last stop of the day will be the towering peaks of the Seaward Kaikoura Mountain Ranges for an incredible alpine landing. Get out and walk around on rugged pristine land with breathtaking vistas of the mountains, peninsula, and ocean.

Includes

  • 1-hour whale watching helicopter flight
  • Mountain summit landing
  • Inflight commentary
  • Experienced pilot
  • Headsets
  • Life jackets
  • Real-time flight tracking
  • Food and drinks

Not suitable for

  • Children under 8 years
  • People with mobility impairments
  • People prone to seasickness

Select participants and date

Participants

Date

Meeting point

Kaikoura Airport Terminal, 617 State Highway 1, Peketa, Kaikoura.

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Important information

What to bring

  • Comfortable shoes
  • Warm clothing
  • Sunglasses
  • Sun hat
  • Camera
  • Water

Know before you go

  • Flights are subject to favorable weather conditions and the date and/or time may be different from the one requested
  • All whale watching flights are carried out in accordance with New Zealand's Department of Conservation Marine Mammal Regulations
  • Due to aircraft weight restrictions, all travelers must be weighed at check-in

Customer reviews

Overall rating

5 /5

based on 7 reviews

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A
Anne – United StatesJanuary 22, 2023  – Verified booking
Outstanding way to see the whales! Also, what we learned is the least invasive way to observe them without disturbing them. Daniel was our pilot and guide. He was very thorough in explaining all the safety features (including showing and amusing video) He was not only a very experienced pilot but had a wealth of information about the local wildlife. We loved the fact that all the other pilots and boat operators shared their spotting with each other so you were sure to see whales and dolphins at some point. We were able to watch several different sperm whales for a long period of time before they dove. A bonus was finding a number of orcas eating a 12 foot swordfish. To top it off, we observed large pods of dolphins playfully following a Swim with Dolphins boat. Daniel then landed on top of a steep hill in a farm field and offered us spectacular views. We also enjoyed his tour along both coasts and he provided us with some good recommendations. It's a splurge but well worth it!
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G
GetYourGuide traveler – New ZealandApril 18, 2022  – Verified booking
It was a fantastic tour with the pilot - sorry forgot his name. He is very good at flying and very friendly. We saw the huge whale, which is approximately the same length with the 23m boat, and heaps of dusk dolphins, and the pilot knew the whale so well and counted-down the exact time when it dived into deep water with iconic tail. The pilot also flew us to see the Kaikoura Earth-Quake fault-line, landslide and even the barrier lake. Really enjoy it. Thanks.
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D
Derrick July 11, 2021  – Verified booking
We thought that Peter did an excellent job introducing us to whale spotting, watching and took time to explain whale habits, their environment and put us in good positions to take photos. We enjoyed the explanations around earthquakes and road restoration works and it was quite spectacular to land & stop for a very cold but spectacular photo on the top of Mt Fyfe. I wonder if pilots or ground crew have any particular tips to offer relating to photographing with telephoto lenses. Maybe high shutter speeds, Tv, auto ISO. The photos we took where good and reasonably in close but not as sharp as I hoped for. Pretty tricky with moving chopper, sea and whale I guess. Overall 10 out of 10. Thank you. Very memorable!
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Product ID: 264202

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