R
Persistence payed off.
Operator tried really hard to find whales and was ultimately successful. Appreciated his optimism as I certainly had doubts we’d find some. Communication through out was really good.
Kaikoura: Whale Watching Flight
+4 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 30 min
- Price from
- $126 / person
- Location
- Kaikoura
- Rating
- 4.8 / 5 · 112 reviews
- Languages
- EN
- Group
- Small group, up to 7
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- Air Kaikoura
- Meeting point
- At Kaikoura Airport, 10min drive south of Kaikoura. Turn right on arrival, Free parking.Checkin 30min before your flight. Flight times may be adjusted to align with whale dive times, this may result in earlier departures. If you are not present at the checkin time, the flight may depart without you
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
Aerial Whale and Dolphin watching - for a 30 minute flight, please allocate a full hour to allow us to adjust your start time to give you the best chance of seeing marine mammals
What's included
Included
Children & infants welcome
Use of a head set.
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.8
112 reviews
Important Information
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- 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.
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Kaikoura: Whale Watching Flight take?
Kaikoura: Whale Watching Flight lasts about 30 min. The itinerary has 1 stop.
How much does Kaikoura: Whale Watching Flight cost?
Prices start at $126 per person for this Kaikoura experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
Can I cancel Kaikoura: Whale Watching Flight for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is At Kaikoura Airport, 10min drive south of Kaikoura. Turn right on arrival, Free parking. Checkin 30min before your flight. Flight times may be adjusted to align with whale dive times, this may result in earlier departures. If you are not present at the checkin time, the flight may depart without you. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Kaikoura: Whale Watching Flight offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 7 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is Kaikoura: Whale Watching Flight worth it?
Travellers rate it 4.8 out of 5 across 112 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Air Kaikoura.
Reviews(112)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
B
Experience was fantastic!...
Experience was fantastic! We had a really great time on board Air Kaikoura. We saw a bunch of whales, even though they were being a bit shy during our flight. The pilot worked hard to get us the best views and max time where the whales were at the surface. Thank you!!
K
Best money I’ve ever spent.
Incredible. Once in a life time awesome experience.
M
Whales
It was amazing experience and i would do it again and the staff was so friendly and helpful so we were not scared at all
Operator response
Thanks for your review Michael. Will pass the kind words onto the team!
T
Must do experience
We had an amazing flight saw 2 whales and large pod of dolphins. Booked via tripadvisor and it was priced and charged in USD which wasn’t apparent until the email confirmation arrived so the great price wasn’t so good when converted to NZD 🤦♀️
Operator response
Awesome to hear you saw some whales. Appreciate the review.
E
Fantastic experience
After researching the boat versus aerial pros and cons, we are so glad we chose to fly with Air Kaikoura. Seasickness aside, you wouldn't see much from the boats. It was great to appreciate the full size of the whales and dolphin pods from the air. The team were fantastic from start to finish including answering multiple queries. They are very respectful of not hanging around the whales for too long as well.
Operator response
Thank you for sharing your experience, delighted to hear you enjoyed flying with us.
M
Decided to fly after our boat trip was cencelled
Decided to fly after our boat was cancelled due to poor weather. Our flight was then cancelled aswell however the staff organised another flight specifically for us at the earliest opportunity. Our flight was great, the staff were really nice and friendly and we saw dolphins and sperm whales.
Operator response
Thank you for sharing, so happy to hear we were able to get you up on a flight once the weather allowed. Thank you for flying with us!
6
Glorious flight! Wanted more info…
The experience is exhilarating and I highly recommend it. If you go, just be aware that the guy talking to you is also flying the plane so he’s not able to provide much context. If the company wants to offer an even more rewarding and worthwhile experience they might consider including a few minutes of whale info during the pre-flight safety orientation.
Operator response
Thanks for flying with us. All of our pilots provide inflight commentary, however they are also required to operate the radios to keep in touch with other aircrafts and sea vessels. We appreciate your feedback.
D
Didn’t happen.
About to board and last minute cancelled due to winds.after driving two hours. Very disappointing! Advanced notice would have been nice.
Operator response
Hi Daniel, the safety of our flights is paramount and we will not fly in unsafe conditions. At the time, we were anticipating being able to proceed with your flight, which is why we were preparing to board. Unfortunately, there was a sudden and unexpected change in the wind conditions right at that moment, leaving us no opportunity to provide advance notice. While we know this doesn’t lessen the inconvenience, these decisions are always made with safety in mind.
A
Disappointing
The flight was cancelled on site due to too low a cloud. An alternative flight the next day could not be offered, nowhere else was it possible to get a flight let alone a boat tour.
Operator response
Low cloud cover can create unsafe flying conditions. While we always hope conditions will improve, on this occasion it wasn’t safe to operate. These decisions are never made lightly and are always based on aviation safety requirements. Unfortunately the weather is out of our control.
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kaikoura: Whale Watching Flight | 30 min | 4.8 (112) | $126 | |
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from$126
4.8(112) Free cancellation