Sightseeing Cruises

Whale Watching Cruise in Kaikoura

Whale breaching near boat on Kaikoura whale watching cruise, New Zealand.

Embark on an unforgettable sea adventure as you spot marine creatures aboard a modern catamaran in Kaikoura, New Zealand's leading eco-tourism destination.

Highlights

Hop on board a modern catamaran and encounter the world's largest-toothed predator, the 'Giant Sperm Whale,' in Kaikoura.
Get comfortable in the spacious air-conditioned passenger cabins with outside decks that offer great viewing and photo opportunities.
Upgrade your ticket to VIP Captain’s Cabin to relish food boxes and cold drinks as you enjoy the view alongside the captain and watchkeeper
Spot marine mammals such as whales, dolphins, seals, and different species of sea birds on this marine safari.
Enjoy the onboard visual experience, “World of the Whales” – that takes passengers virtually to the bottom of the Kaikoura undersea canyon.

Inclusions

3-hour whale-watching cruise
Spacious air-conditioned interiors
Access to outside decks
Marine wildlife animation on plasma TVs
Free Wi-Fi aboard the cruise
Priority boarding and transport (optional)
Business-class seating (optional)
Full-tour English narration (optional)
Access to all other passenger areas (optional)
Locally-made food boxes and cold drinks (optional)
Exclusive viewing area on the top deck (optional)

Cancellation policy

You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

Reviews

4.4

31 ratings

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Sean

5/5

Dec, 2024

The captain cabin exclusive area Lucky with the weather Knowledgeable staff

Rebecca

4/5

Oct, 2024

We got to see twice whales flipped their tails & lots of dolphins swimming along the cruise ship

Gavin

5/5

Apr, 2024

Very well organised, crew were really friendly and knowledgeable. The the whales were in good order too 😄

Mirte

5/5

Dec, 2024

Zhu

5/5

Dec, 2024

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Your Experience

Are you a marine wildlife fanatic? Well, you’ve arrived at the right place! Hop on a modern catamaran designed especially for whale watching as you set out to explore the marine wildlife in Kaikoura. Kaikoura is one of New Zealand's leading ecotourism destinations, abundant in local marine life.

What Awaits You Inside?

The spacious air-conditioned passenger cabins are furnished with comfortable seats. Throughout your tour, the large plasma screens, within the passenger cabins, display an onboard visual presentation, “World of the Whales” – an experience that virtually teleports you to the depths of the Kaikoura canyon. Get to know about the marine life found in Kaikoura waters. The stunning view on the outside deck offers opportunities for beautiful photos. The most exciting part of this cruise is when you sight the 'Giant Sperm Whale,' and other marine creatures like common dolphins, southern right whale dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, elephant seals, and leopard seals.

Luxury and Exclusivity in the VIP Captain’s Cabin

Upgrade your ticket to the VIP Captain’s Cabin for a luxurious experience. With this ticket, enjoy business-class seating. These perfectly angled seats permit you to have a better view through the large windows. Get exclusive access to the captain and a dedicated tour host for a full tour narration, giving you more information about the marine creatures throughout the cruise. This VIP experience has your hunger pangs taken care of with locally-made food boxes and cold drinks as you enjoy exclusive access to the viewing area on the top deck. Available all year round, this extraordinary marine experience simply cannot be missed.

Know Before You Go

Important Information

Any requests to upgrade bookings after the tour check-in begins will not include a food pack.
Passenger capacity is limited to 104 in the Ocean Cabin.
Passenger capacity is limited to 12 in the Captain’s Cabin.
The experience is restricted for guests aged 3 and under.