Are you looking for a place to do some Eco-friendly adventures? No other site can meet your expectations than Kaikoura. Moreover, for a nature lover, Kaikoura is the best holiday destination.
Kaikoura, where the mountains impressively join the sea located on the South Island of New Zealand. People around the globe visit this place for incredible wildlife experiences, including whale watching and swimming with playful fur Seals or dolphins.
If you’re heading to the Coastal Pacific Train from Christchurch, then we have a list of must-do activities in Kaikoura.
Let’s get started.
1. Watching Whale
Although it’s rare to glimpse a massive whale in any other part of the world, Kaikoura is the exception. If you are fond of watching marine life closely, New Zealand is the world’s best place for incredible marine wildlife. The chances are higher that you can have a glimpse of giant sperm whales.
The season and the month don’t matter. Whenever you visit Kaikoura, you’ll have a chance to sight whales along the coastline. You have choices to enjoy these beautiful scenes, such as seeing the migration of whales by boat. Or, if you want to go sky high, you can tour with a helicopter that offers you a chance to enjoy the size of whales from above, the elegance of the ocean, snow-covered mountains, and much more.
2. Float With Dolphins Or Fur Seals
As we have already confessed that Kaikoura is the go-to destination for having a glimpse of Incredible wildlife experiences. Despite giant whales, you can enjoy swimming with dusky dolphins. If it sounds interesting to you, pack your bags and visit Kaikoura at your earliest.
Whatever the season is, whether summer or winter, you have a higher chance of encountering the acrobatic dolphins spotted along with the beautiful coastline of Kaikoura’s beautiful beaches.
Not only dolphins, but you can also get a kick out of snorkeling with wild fur seals. If you want to keep yourself dry, take a tour from the shore. You can also take a trip on a boat and dive with dolphins or fur seals under the supervision of expert guides.
3. Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway
Another best and one of the most popular things to do is the Peninsula walkway, a short hike. Along with the seaside walk, you can enjoy unbeatable scenes on the surrounding mountains, the beach, and the abundant wildlife area.
Everyone can easily access this wonderful place, but you have to be careful while walking with kids due to the slippery cliffs. You might be disappointed to know that you cannot take your furry member with you because on most tracks, dogs are forbidden. It is 11.7m (7.3 miles), an easy walk which you can start from the South Bay car park and end at Kean Bay. It’ll take almost 3 hours to complete the whole track.
4. Albatross Encounter
Kaikoura should be your next holiday destination if you are an enthusiastic bird person. You’ll find many birds native to this region, such as albatross, penguins, petrels, and gulls. If you want to experience these birds nearby, you should go for an Albatross Spotting tour.
You can take boat tours, which will take almost 2.5 hours to complete. To call the birds near the ship, the guide will throw a little fish called “chum”, which will make it easier for you to see these birds closely. It is also a great way to capture a few beautiful photos. The tour is personalized, and only 12 people are allowed, making it less congested.
5. Understand Kaikoura’s History
If you are looking for indoor fun, visiting the Kaikoura museum would be perfect. You can get to know a lot about the cultural history of Kaikoura in this museum. A variety of storytelling displays tell about the natural history of this place and rare aircrafts waiting for you to discover them. You can find out about the cultural, honest, and social journey of Kaikoura in a modern yet peaceful environment.
This museum is a well-known building in the town known as “cray pot” due to its shape. You can find out about the devastating earthquake that was the longest in the history of New Zealand. Moreover, you can also discover the ship’s history that sank in 1886.
6. Mount Fyffe
If you’re fond of hiking, this place is best for you. This is a fantastic hiking trail, but it can be challenging for those who don’t have any experience in hiking. It is the 17km (10.6 miles) return track meeting above Mount Fyffe. The one who has good hiking knowledge and has a satisfactory fitness level should only try this.
Although the path to Mount Fyffe is quite tricky, beautiful scenes along the way are worth it. You’ll discover incredible Kaikoura Ranges along with Peninsula and shining oceans from various viewpoints. You can sit on these viewpoints and take hold of your breath before going ahead. During spring, the seasons become more beautiful when colorful flowers bloom.
7. Lavender Garden
The beautiful lavender farm is situated amongst the backdrop of Mount Fyffe. You can see more than 50 varieties of Lavender on the farm. Usually, the place is crowded from November to the end of January because it’s a popular activity. This is because during this season, Lavender is in full blossom, and its softening smell attracts visitors.
When you visit the garden, you can take home lavender souvenirs and lavender hair products, oil, bath products, and lavender taste honey. These are all lavender products available in nearby stores. Take a walk in the remarkable lavender fields, enjoy tea sitting at the tea house, and if you visit in January, you can watch the lavender oil distillation process as well.
8. See Fur Seals
Another great thing to do in Kaikoura is watching fur seals in the wild. There are a variety of fur seals you’ll find, sometimes even more than the people. One of the best places to find them is on the Peninsula walkway. The walk starts from the South Bay car park and ends at Kean Bay. It takes almost 2 hours to complete.
Another place you can find fur seals is at Ohau point viewing platform. It is almost 12.4 miles or a 20km drive from Kaikoura. There are lots of rocks where you can explore fur seals sunbathing below the stones in this area. The Marine area is also famous for spotting fur seals. The bright blue ocean, stunning scenery, and snow-covered mountains make this place even more breathtaking.
9. Try Some Local Delicacies
Do you know where Kaikoura got its name? It is the combination of two words: “Kai”, which means food, and “Koru”, which means crayfish. Kaikoura is also known as the seafood capital of the South Island. A variety of seafood, including blue cod, lobster, and crayfish, are caught daily, so you should plan to visit Kaikoura if you are fond of these kinds of foods. Especially crayfish, which is another word for lobster.
Different restaurants offer a variety of seafood, which you can explore according to your taste. But if you’re not a seafood lover, you can try other options like poppy’s handmade ice cream, deli foods, baked items, fruit ice cream, and coffee.
10. Enjoy Surfing
Kaikoura is also famous for surfing. People around the globe come here to enjoy diving. If you’re a wave rider, you should consider Kaikoura for surfing. The long tides and some huge swells are the specialties of Kaikoura. Keep in mind that the temperature of the sea in Kaikoura is colder than the other beaches.
The temperature can be 15 degrees Celsius ( 55 degrees Fahrenheit). Don’t forget to pack a cold-water wetsuit. Ask the locals there. Only they can tell you the best surfing spots. You can find hidden surfing gems under the guidance of locals. We suggest Mangamaunu, known as the best surfing spot for an intermediate to expert wave rider. A photogenic and most extended break in New Zealand. Another famous spot is Ward Beach, perfect for intermediate surfers. You also have higher chances to see dusky dolphins here.
Kaikoura Beach has covered most of the town area because it is 5000 meters long (3.1 miles). It is well-known for diving, especially during summers. If you plan to swim, be careful because it is pretty rocky, no lifeguards are available on this beach.
Fishing is another famous activity people enjoy at the beach. For dinner, you can catch delicious seafood, including blue cod and butterfish. Don’t want to swim? You can enjoy the stunning surrounding scenery.
Also Check: New Zealand’s Legendary Spirit
Final Thoughts
Kaikoura is best known for its stunning natural beauty, wildlife, exciting history, and delicious seafood. If you’re a nature lover and fond of watching marine life or wildlife from near, you should plan to visit Kaikoura, New Zealand. Here you can encounter whales and fur seals—delicious tasting seafood, including crayfish.
We have tried to enlist all the best holiday destinations in this article. Hope you’ve enjoyed them. Let us know in the comments below.