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Kaikoura Kayaks - Guided Wildlife Kayaking Tour

4.8
413
Embark on Kaikōura Kayaks’ guided wildlife tour, a top-rated eco-adventure, offering an outstanding nature experience on the water!

Embark on Kaikōura Kayaks’ guided wildlife tour, a top-rated eco-adventure, offering an outstanding nature experience on the water!

Highlights

  • Travelers Choice Activity – TripAdvisor
  • Kaikōura's only Kayak operator that holds a marine mammal permit to view Dolphins, whales, and Seals.
  • New Zealand's 1st Friend of the Sea sustainable operator for Dolphin and Whale viewing
  • Award winning & Qualmark "Gold" Endorsed activity
  • Experienced and qualified New Zealand guides

Experience an award-winning guided wildlife kayaking tours with 100% success rate for viewing the NZ Fur Seals!

This adventure takes you around the beautiful coastal waters with breathtaking views of sheer cliff faces, craggy rocks, and mountain ranges while searching for chance encounters with Dusky Dolphins and Blue Penguins. As you paddle, experience the excitement of watching fur seals ducking, weaving, and diving around your kayak, and look out for blue penguins, albatross, and playful dusky dolphins. Then watch as seals swim around the Kaikōura Peninsula hunting for their favorite feed of octopus. Be sure to keep your distance as they devour their delicious dinner in front of you!

Watch in amazement as hundreds of pelagic (ocean-going) birds swoop in to clean up the tasty leftovers. Hop on a traditional sea kayak, which is enclosed, safe, stable, and easily steered using a rudder while fast on the water and you will stay warm and dry. Families, individuals, and groups are most welcome!

This guided kayaking tour with ratio of 1:8 and 1:4 for family’s means that your tour is crowd-free, with a maximum of 8 people per guide!

Book this Wildlife Kayaking Tour—one of the most popular activities in Kaikōura, recognised as a Travellers’ Choice experience on TripAdvisor!

We look forward to introducing you to Kaikōura’s incredible marine life with top-of-the-line sea kayaks!

Adult $160.00
Child $85.00 (12 years and under)

What's included

  • Amazing sea kayak tour from Kaikoura taking in local marine life and historical land based places
  • All equipment including dry bags to keep your things dry
  • Transport to and from departure sites

Duration

  • Allow approximately 3 hours for the whole experience

Location

  • 17 Killarney st off the waterfront 5 minutes from Kaikoura town centre

Notes

  • 100% WEATHER REFUND GUARANTEE.

    In any adventure activity, there is an element of risk involved.

    Risks in undertaking this activity include, property damage, personal injury, illness because of adverse weather conditions, risk of drowning, death, sunburn, dehydration, hyperthermia and exhaustion.

    This interactive tour is suitable for all ages and abilities while operating year-round and does not require any previous kayaking experience.

    Dont forget your camera to capture marine life encounters and be ready for a true kiwi experience!

    These professionally guided kayaking expeditions adhere to the highest of safety standards.


    Please Note: Clients who cancel their tour within 48 hours of the scheduled trip are not eligible for any refund.

    Refunds are processed on a case-by-case basis and for genuine reasons only.

    Kaikoura Kayaks reserves the right to cancel trips due to weather and sea conditions.

    Where Kaikoura Kayaks cancels a trip prior to departure, a full refund is available. Where a trip has commenced and is subsequently cancelled, participants shall receive a 70% refund.

    Kaikoura Kayaks or their operators are not, in any circumstances, liable for any personal injury or loss.

  • This interactive tour is suitable for all ages and abilities while operating year-round and does not require any previous kayaking experience.

    Dont forget your camera to capture marine life encounters and be ready for a true kiwi experience! These professionally guided kayaking expeditions adhere to the highest of safety standards.

Available Bookings from 22 Aug to 4 Sep 2025

All prices are shown in NZD ($)

Change Dates
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  • Adult$128.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$85.00

  • Adult$112.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$85.00

  • Adult$112.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$85.00

  • Adult$112.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$85.00

  • Adult$128.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$85.00

  • Adult$160.00
  • Child$85.00

  • Adult$160.00
  • Child$85.00

  • Adult$160.00
  • Child$85.00

  • Adult$160.00
  • Child$85.00

  • Adult$160.00
  • Child$85.00

  • Adult$160.00
  • Child$85.00

  • Adult$160.00
  • Child$85.00

  • Adult$160.00
  • Child$85.00

  • Adult$128.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$85.00

  • Adult$160.00
  • Child$85.00

  • Adult$112.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$85.00

  • Adult$160.00
  • Child$85.00

  • Adult$128.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$85.00

  • Adult$160.00
  • Child$85.00

  • Adult$160.00
  • Child$85.00

  • Adult$160.00
  • Child$85.00

  • Adult$160.00
  • Child$85.00

  • Adult$160.00
  • Child$85.00

Bookings close in 3 hours...

  • Adult$160.00
  • Child$85.00

  • Adult$160.00
  • Child$85.00

  • Adult$160.00
  • Child$85.00

  • Adult$160.00
  • Child$85.00

  • Adult$160.00
  • Child$85.00

  • Adult$160.00
  • Child$85.00

  • Adult$160.00
  • Child$85.00

  • Adult$160.00
  • Child$85.00

  • Adult$160.00
  • Child$85.00

  • Adult$160.00
  • Child$85.00

  • Adult$160.00
  • Child$85.00

  • Adult$160.00
  • Child$85.00

  • Adult$160.00
  • Child$85.00

  • Adult$160.00
  • Child$85.00

Authenticated Reviews & PhotosAll of our reviews are from people who have booked and paid for this activity thru Bookme

Authenticated Reviews & PhotosAll of our reviews are from people who have booked and paid for this activity thru Bookme

4.8

413 reviews

Showing all 413 authenticated Bookme reviews

Martin from France wrote on 01 June 2019

Incroyable

Nous sommes partis pour une petite ballade en kayak et nous nous sommes retrouvés entourés par les dauphins ! Nous avons meme eu La chance de voir et d'approcher une baleine. Je recommande !

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From Kaikoura Kayaks - Guided Wildlife Kayaking Tour

Hi there, Thanks for your review! sounds like you had an amazing tour!

celineb1 from France wrote on 21 March 2019

fabuleux

nous avons eu la chance de croiser un pinguin, et de nombreux phoques, les guides etaient patients et plein d'anecdotes. et la balade en kayak est juste superbe, on s'est régalés du début à la fin!!!

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From Kaikoura Kayaks - Guided Wildlife Kayaking Tour

Awesome to hear! Thanks again for your review.

clotildea from France wrote on 05 June 2017

Super guide et super moment !

Je recommande absolument cette super expérience ! Superbes vues sur la montagne, et approche des phoques très chouette !

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Mark Richardson from United Kingdom wrote on 25 December 2024

A great day out.

A very enjoyable experience with a group of enthusiastic and knowledgeable guides. A great day out for all the family.

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rachaelb12 from United Kingdom wrote on 02 April 2024

Nice to have a different perspective

The 2 guides, Brad and John were informative, caring and fun. My partner and I love being on the water anyway but this was a nice way of spending a few hours with a (small) group of people and seeing the new coatline from a different angle. We learnt some new facts and made some temporary friends!

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Qualmark Certification

This award identifies a business with a high level of professionalism, a keen awareness of the impact it has on the environment and a commitment to a customer centric approach.

This award is evidence of a sophisticated tourism business that consistently exceeds visitor expectations. Their proactive leadership and management ensure the business's focus on continuously improving their economic, social and environmental performance to create genuine, constantly evolving and sustainable tourism experiences.

This award recognises the best sustainable tourism businesses in New Zealand. It denotes exceptional customer experiences at the heart of everything the company does. This business is leading the way in making the New Zealand tourism industry a world class sustainable visitor destination.

When you see the Qualmark logo, your activity of choice is endorsed by New Zealand Tourism's official quality assurance organisation and backed by leaders in the industry. It's your trusted guide to iconic activities and experiences that are awarded for their exceptionally high level of quality, safety and sustainability.

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