Local Attractions

Kaikōura Fishing Tours skipper Tomo, has had years of experience at sea, taking fisher men and women on fishing adventures in the beautiful Kaikōura area.

The main trip he offers is a two hour excursion with the opportunity to catch a variety of fish, including the infamous kōura or crayfish (New Zealand lobster) which are plentiful around the Kaikōura coastline.

However, three and four hour excursions are also available, as well as a full day trip.

South Pacific Helicopters offers premier whale watching and scenic flights in Kaikōura, New Zealand. For an unforgettable and unique adventures experience nature with us at South Pacific Helicopters. Capture the best of Kaikōura by air, land and sea!

South Pacific Helicopters is a local family owned and operated company. Dan and Monique Stevenson first opened this company in October of 2016. Unfortunately, a few short weeks later, a major earthquake struck Kaikōura completely cutting off access to the town, and changing the landscape forever. Daniel and the South Pacific employees were invaluable to the recovery and relief effort, working tirelessly on the rebuild to restore access to the town of Kaikōura.

After a year and a day, roads once again reopened to Kaikōura and tourism returned to the town. Our goal is to share the beauty of Kaikōura, as well as the local marine life which make this place one of the best in the world for marine wildlife encounters. With every tour we convey our passion for this beautiful place and offer exceptional customer service to provide one-of-a-kind and unforgettable experiences. 

Head into the ocean and grab yourself a fresh feed of kaimoana. From kina, to pāua, kōura to fresh fish, Kaikōura provides. Depending on rāhui status, and the time of year you visit, there may be restrictions on certain species, but there's plenty of kai to choose from. Whether you are free diving, tank diving, or simply floundering around the rocks, Kaikōura has plenty to provide.

Kaikōura is one of the best places in the world to encounter dolphins in their natural environment. It's just you, the open ocean... and Kaikōura's wild Dusky Dolphins. One of the most interactive and acrobatic species of dolphin, they're thrilling to watch and magical to interact with. Here the encounter is all on their terms. With one of the highest success rates in the world, this bucket list experience is one you will never forget! 

The open air centre has: 3 heated pools, 25 x 12m lap pool, 6m x 10m multi-use learn to, swim/hydrotherapy pool, beach entry toddler pool, a splash pad, changing rooms, and a seated picnic area.

Bring your own food and drinks if you wish, and there is a coin operated BBQ area outside the centre.

Mangāmāunu is a world renowned, exposed point break that has very reliable surf, like "Meatworks" summer can be a flatter season than winter with the best wind direction coming from the west. Mangāmāunu tends to receive a mix of groundswells and windswells with the ideal swell direction coming from the southeast. Mangāmāunu is best around mid tide when the tide is rising. 

The worldwide famous "Meatworks" surf spot is literally 50m from your front gate. "Meatworks" is an exposed beach and reef break that boasts reliable surf all year round, although summer tends to be the flatter time of year. Offshore winds are from the west, with both windswells and groundswells in equal measure, the ideal swell angle is from the southeast. Waves at the beach break both left and right together with both left and right hand reef breaks offshore.

The Stag and Spey waterhole and waterfall is an awesome relatively easy access for the family to enjoy. You won't be disappointed once you arrive at the actual rock face - it is awesome, and not too high, not too low.

If you don't feel like jumping, simply enjoy floundering around in the pristine clear water and on top of the warm sunny rocks.

Aotearoa - New Zealand, The Land of the Long White Cloud.

But when the cloud clears at night the sky offers some of the best stargazing opportunities in the world.

Surf Casting in general in Kaikōura can be loads of fun and 'freezer filling'.

But when the kahawai are running the water goes black. The Hāpuku river mouth will provide a feed of fresh kahawai for you and your family in only a matter of minutes should they be running. Kahawai schools are often seasonal at the mouth, and usually show up between September and May, with numbers peaking in the warmest months of January and February. The karoro (black backed gulls) will usually let you know when they have showed up.

Every Whale Watch tour is a unique experience and the sightings vary. "Parāoa" (Sperm Whales) are the stars of the show and year-round residents. These whales share these waters with up to 14 other species of whales and dolphins that migrate past at different times of the year.

This unique marine experience also provides an opportunity to sight high-spirited "aihe" (dusky dolphins), the rare and endangered "upokohue" or (hectors dolphin), "kekeno" (New Zealand Fur Seals), and a wide variety of sea birds including the "toroa whakaingo" (royal albatross).

Kaikōura is blessed with some good whitebaiting opportunities right on its doorstep giving locals and visitors alike a chance of doing some whitebaiting. Even if you don’t have a net it is still fun watching whitebaiters scooping into the incoming tide, hoping to catch some whitebait as each wave recedes.

For photographers, whitebaiting makes a great subject matter especially at dawn as the sun rises out of the ocean. Birds can be seen darting around the river-mouths also hoping to get some whitebait.

Lyell Creek, Middle Creek just north of Kaikōura, and the Kahutara just south of Kaikōura are all good options. When the Kōwhai River is running low and clear it is also worth a look.

New Zealand’s whitebait is quite possibly the tastiest in the world, especially when caught straight out of the salt water.

The ECAN site below will offer a guide around new rules and regulations pertaining to whitebaiting.