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Christchurch Explore New Zealand, Australia & Fiji!tune
An exciting up-close encounter with the Giant Sperm Whale at all times of the year!
An exciting up-close encounter with the Giant Sperm Whale at all times of the year!
Highlights
- 95% whale viewing success rate with an 80% refund if your tour does not see a whale
- Discover Kaikoura on the water in our purpose built wildlife viewing catamaran.
- Encounter New Zealand Fur Seals, pods of Dusky Dolphins and the endangered Wandering Albatross
- Crewed by a friendly team of Skippers and Guides very experienced in interacting with the local Sperm Whales
We venture offshore over a deep undersea canyon that attracts an extraordinary abundance of marine life, the most famous being the Sperm Whale.
You will be viewing from our purpose built whale watching catamarans equipped with noise minimising engines, large outside viewing decks, spacious air-conditioned interiors and comfortable seating for those colder days on the water.
Whale Watch® is New Zealand's only marine-based whale watching company offering visitors an exciting up-close encounter with the Giant Sperm Whale at all times of the year. Our 95% success rate means we guarantee an 80% refund if your tour does not see a whale. Whale Watch tours are extremely popular so we advise to book early!
Giant Sperm Whales are the stars of the show and year-round residents. Depending on the season you may see migrating Humpback Whales, Pilot Whales, Blue Whales and Southern Right Whales. Kaikoura also attracts the largest concentration and variety of seabirds on mainland New Zealand!
Whale Watch vessels are crewed by a friendly team of Skippers and Guides very experienced in interacting with the local Sperm Whales. They have expert knowledge of Kaikoura's sea conditions and are fully trained in all aspects of safety.
Authenticated Reviews
Real highlights, tips, and the helpful advice straight from Bookme customers who’ve actually done this experience, summarised with AI support
- emergencyMost customers praised the knowledgeable and friendly crew, highlighting their professionalism and ability to provide interesting information about the wildlife (20 people said this).
- emergencyMany enjoyed the close encounters with whales and dolphins, often mentioning the thrill of seeing these magnificent creatures up close (18 people said this).
- emergencyThe overall organization of the trip received positive feedback, with customers appreciating the smooth operation and safety measures in place (15 people said this).
- emergencyThe stunning views and beautiful scenery during the trip were frequently mentioned as a highlight (12 people said this).
- emergencyCustomers felt the experience was worth the price, often describing it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity (10 people said this).
- emergencyThe comfortable and fast boat was noted as a great aspect, making the journey enjoyable (8 people said this).
- star_shineConsider bringing seasick tablets if you're prone to motion sickness.
Make sure to bring a camera to capture the amazing wildlife encounters.
Showing all 785 authenticated Bookme reviews
Jan Kodeš from Czechia wrote on 07 February 2026
Best experience
It was absolutely amazing. We saw sperm whales, pilot whales, dolphins, seal and albatrosses. It was worth every penny. The guide talking to the mic was exceptional.
Tracy Le Grys from United Kingdom wrote on 26 January 2026
Fantastic experience
The absolutely amazing customer service, the amenities, the boat and the experts made this a fantastic experience that I would recommend to everyone
Luisa Castañeda from New Zealand wrote on 18 November 2025
Kaikoura whale watching
The full experience was amazing, the knowledge of the guide is huge.
zhonglin from New Zealand wrote on 30 October 2025
It was awesome.
It was a amazing trip. And I was so lucky that one whale was very close to me. I took a great video.
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Jordyn Pomare from New Zealand wrote on 09 February 2026
Such a lovely experience!
Kaikoura whale watching was an extremely magical and memorable experience. We were directed by our loved ones to come whale watching and we are so glad we listened! The staff were incredible and knowledgeable and even when an error occured on BookMe's end, the staff in-house were quick to remedy it so we were still able to get out on the water. You get to see so much more sea life than just whales, and grow a major appreciation for nature and it's beauty.