Wildlife Sea Kayaking Tour - Kaikoura

Amazing experience: whales, dolphins, seals

Well organised. Experienced and very supportive guide, Matt. We had a great experience. Saw Hector dolphins and lots of seals. If you only have time for one tour in Kaikoura, this is recommended.

My wife and I joined a sea kayaking tour with Kaikōura Kayaks during our recent trip to New Zealand’s South Island, and it turned out to be one of the absolute highlights of our journey. The scenery along the Kaikōura coastline was breathtaking, and seeing seals up close in their natural habitat was an unforgettable experience. Being out on the water surrounded by such beautiful landscapes made for a truly special adventure. What made the tour even better was the outstanding team of guides. They were professional, friendly, enthusiastic, and clearly passionate about both kayaking and the local wildlife. They made everyone feel welcome, comfortable, and safe throughout the trip. A special thank you goes to the guide who led our group. Unfortunately, I can’t remember his name, but he was exceptional. His patience, positive attitude, and genuine care for every participant made a lasting impression on us. He went above and beyond to ensure everyone had a great experience, and his knowledge of the area and wildlife added so much to the tour. We have now completed our South Island adventure and returned home with countless wonderful memories, but our kayaking trip in Kaikōura remains one of the very best experiences of the entire holiday. We highly recommend Kaikōura Kayaks to anyone visiting the area. If you're looking for an unforgettable wildlife encounter and a fantastic day on the water, this tour should be at the top of your list! Thank you again to the whole team for such a memorable experience. We hope to return someday! 🌊🦭🚣‍♂️

My guide Maria was fantastic - informative, friendly, helpful and she tailored the paddle to see what I was interested in. We saw a whale rise surfacing just 20 m away, albatrass, seals, and a pod of dusky dolphins swam along with us for a while. The tour was well organised, with great gear. Highly recommended for all abilities. Thanks so much!

My friend and I have had the most wonderful afternoon with Leon as our guide. He was so organised, reassuring, knowledgeable and very personable. For the entire 3 hours we were well looked after and thoroughly entertained. Thanks Kaikoura Kayaks for a great time!

Fab kayaking trip with Leon. He gauged our skill level and appetite for adventure to ensure a great experience. Learnt heaps about Kaikoura environment and marine life. Also appreciated opportunity to change time of tour to get better weather and sea conditions.

The highlight of our visit to New Zealand. Outstanding guides and spectacular trip!

The staff was very knowledgeable and helpful, teaching us the basics and focused safety. Saw lots of wildlife along the rocks.

Amazing experience kayaking among a pod of dolphins! The guides were very knowledgeable, and I really appreciated the knowledge they shared of the area and the wildlife. We might have just been lucky, but being so close amongst the dolphins was an experience not to be missed. The weather was also amazing, warmer on the water than I expected so no special clothing required.

From getting tix with Grace to chasing April the whale with Holt, the trip and company rock! We were surprised twice on the tour. Once by dolphins popping up just next to our kayak and once (ok, about 5 times) by the glorious, malodorous scent of whale breath. Dang, pure rank. Who would have thought. Something specoal to experience I guess. All part of getting so close to nature! Just book your tour. :-)