Kaikōura Whale Watching Scenic Flight (40 Minutes)
Description
Discover Kaikōura’s world renowned sperm whales & marine life with an unforgettable Whale Watching Flight. From above, you’ll have the ultimate vantage point to admire these majestic creatures in their natural habitat, fully appreciating their incredible size & beauty. Along the way, we may also spot dolphins, humpback whales, blue whales, orca, & other passing cetaceans. Your flight will also treat you to breathtaking views of Kaikōura’s dramatic mountains meeting the vibrant seas- a truly unforgettable sight. For over 30 years, Air Kaikōura’s friendly team has been providing high quality experiences, combining expert knowledge with exceptional service. While we do everything possible to locate whales, they are wild animals, & sightings cannot be guaranteed. Refunds or rescheduling are not available if whales are not sighted, but we’re confident you’ll love the stunning scenery & the unique opportunity to experience Kaikōura’s incredible landscapes & marine environment from above.
Tour Options
Itinerary
-Meet for check in and a pre flight briefing on Kaikoura's Whales and other marine life. -Depart from the airport to the whale watching area just off the coast to see Kaikoura's whales from above. -Enjoy the dramatic alpine and coastal scenery before returning to land.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Please check in 30 minutes prior to your flight time.
- If you are over 120kg, please contact us. Unfortunately we are unable to provide refunds if you arrive and exceed our weight limits, please call us in advance to discuss if you have any concerns.
Reviews(229)
Great experience with great pilot. Amazing views of sperm whale, seals, costal scenery and Southern Alps. Highly recommended.
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear you had a great experience and enjoyed seeing the sperm whale, seals, stunning coastline, and the Southern Alps. We're also pleased your pilot helped make your flight so memorable. Thank you for your recommendation, and we hope to welcome you back again soon! – The Air Kaikōura Team
Fantastic service . They totally went the xtra mile . Huge thank you to Jamie . My husband Neville is blind so she took us to a special reserved place so he could here the whales spouting and breathing then she took to the captain Tekaani who let him wear the hyraphone earpiece and listened to the sperm whale to hear its echo as it dived to its feeding depth . They made this a truely memorable day for us both . Thanks you Kaikoura Whale watch
Nice 6 seater plane, experienced pilot. Of course it remains to be seen if you see whales, but the pilot does his best to find them. Eventually we saw 4 of them and the plane turned 2 circles so everyone had a good view of them. It's hard to take a good picture, but the memory remains!
Thank you for sharing, 4 whales is pretty special! Glad to hear you enjoyed the flight, thanks for flying with us!!
Great experience, we had the chance to observe two sperm whales and killer whales. The pilot was very good and gave us lots of information about the whales.
Wow that is some amazing sightings! So glad to hear you enjoyed your flight, thanks for flying with us and taking the time to leave a review.
We saw 2 sperm whales and a humpback, as well as dolphins. We were fortunate the weather was really clear, so the view of the whales and also the scenic views of the mountains and peninsula were excellent. Everyone gets a window seat, and the pilot circles the whales in both directions so everyone gets the chance of an excellent view. I’ve done lots of boat-based whale watching previously, so it was great to do something different - and get a clear view of the ‘whole whale’, not just the tail! Seeing these giants blow from above was an incredible experience! Everyone on our flight was fine; but I can imagine that if you’re prone to motion sickness, the circling might get to you a bit, and be wise to take some pills before-hand. The only other observation is that whilst the pilot gives you a great explanation through your headset, you can’t reply, so not possible to ask any questions, and we had a few. Overall, an outstanding and memorable experience.
Thanks for flying with us over beautiful Kaikoura! Sounds like a great trip and we are glad to hear you enjoyed it. The pilots are always available after the flight to answer any questions, and if you can remember you questions feel free to reach out to us! We would be more than happy to answer them.
A bit disappointing to see only one whale after 40 mins and then swiftly heading back to shore. No commentary during the 30 minutes just circling the same area.. Of course there is no way to control wildlife. A bit scary when the pilot was turning. Well organised otherwise but should be called scenic flight and whale watching flight.
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re sorry to hear your experience didn’t quite meet expectations. Our pilots carefully track sperm whale diving patterns to help maximise sighting opportunities. However, as these are wild animals, their behaviour can be unpredictable. They may hunt, socialise, rest, or travel unexpectedly, which can impact how long they stay underwater for. Regarding the flight movements, our pilots are highly trained and experienced in operating within the whale watching area. Aircraft maneuvers are carefully carried out to maintain safe separation from marine life, work cooperatively with other aircraft, and ensure the best possible viewing for all passengers while adhering to strict aviation and wildlife regulations. We understand that every guest hopes for extended whale encounters, and while wildlife sightings can never be guaranteed, we always aim to provide the best possible experience on the day. We do appreciate your comments and will take your feedback on board.
The best moment of my trip to New Zealand! Absolutely magical to see two blue whales hanging out together…
Ah 2 blue whales is so special!! We are so happy to have been apart of your best moment in New Zealand! Thank you for flying with us!
A fabulous flight on a beautiful day. We saw a sperm whale and pods of dolphins as well as having stunning views of the coastline in Kaikoura. Our pilot, Ben, was great and very knowledgeable. We highly recommend this experience.
Thanks for flying with us, we are happy to hear you enjoyed your flight. I will make sure to pass your kind words onto Ben. Thanks again!
If you’re in Kaikoura this is a MUST do! A great experience and so surreal to see the sperm whale from above. Ethan, the pilot did his absolute best to ensure each of us had a good view of the whale. We was able to see the whale surface and then go back down again. The 40 minutes flew by (pardon the pun) but it was honestly so amazing!! Would highly recommend.
Wow, thank you for your kind words! I will be sure to pass them on. We are thrilled to have been able to catch up the whale for you. Thank you for recommending us, we hope to welcome you back in the future!
Interesting flight with optimal view of whales and dolphins. The experienced pilot steered the plane safely. All passengers had good visibility, window seat.
Thank you for your kind review, we are glad you enjoyed your flight and catching up with our local marine animals!
