Whale Watching Ultimate Adventure Tour Kaikoura 1 hour 20 min
5
Whale Watching Ultimate Adventure Tour Kaikoura 1 hour 20 min
By South Pacific Helicopters
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
About
This tour begins with whale watching, when you head out over the Kaikōura Whale Sanctuary and Hikurangi Marine Reserve to view the incredible wildlife found in Kaikōura’s waters. Experience the magnificent sperm whale, which can be found here all year round. Kaikōura is also a migratory route for a variety of different whale and dolphin species.
After viewing the abundant marine life, your trip takes you north along the rugged Kaikōura coastline. During this trip you can see the incredible changes from the 2016 earthquake that occurred in Kaikōura. The shoreline lifted up to 6 meters in places, entire mountains moved, and fault lines run out into the sea.
Head into the Seaward Kaikōura Ranges for a landing at the turquoise waters of Hapuku Lake, which was created during the earthquake in 2016. Then we will fly you to the tops of the peaks for a second landing overlooking the ranges, Kaikōura Peninsula, and the Pacific Ocean.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 0-99, max of 6 per group
Duration: 2h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Live guide: English
More
- Life Jacket & Head Phones
What's not included- Bottled water
- Start:Multiple pickup locations offered.
- 617 State Highway 1, Peketā 7374, New ZealandWe are located in the main airport terminal which is a large log cabin building. We have lots of free parking available.
Pickup details- Please check in 30 minutes prior to your flight time. Should you need to avail of our shuttle service to and from the airport this must be arranged at least 24 hours in advance.
Hotel pickup offeredDuring checkout you will be able to select from the list of included hotels.Airport pickup offeredDuring checkout you will be able to select from the list of included airports.- Kaikoura Airport, Kaikoura New Zealand
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Wheelchair accessible
- Pushchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Infants must sit on laps
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 61327P4- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Most travellers can participate
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 6 travellers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 61327P4
From
$1,495.00
per adult
Select date and travellers
Similar experiences
Itinerary
- Pass byKaikōura
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- stevewH2845UT0 contributionsFantastic from start to finishA fantastic experience from check in to the pilot. Very friendly and a special thing to do. A great alternative to spending several hours on a boatWritten 1 December 2024
- peternZ9753YT0 contributionsWonderful whale watching from a helicopter aboveWe arrived in Kaikoura at 10pm in the dark on our UK Titan holidays trip all around NZ. Today 25Nov we had a morning whale watching cruise and were lucky to see a sperm whale on the surface and got good photos. The excursion was great BUT after a 10 minute sojourn at the hotel we were collected by South Pacific Helicopters and couriered to the helicopter base. Soon we were in the air and wow just wow how fantastic this experience was. Sliding off over the sea swooping around the sperm whale watching the circling spotter planes ,: this was just something else - a treasure of a lifetime. Then watching swimmers with dusky dolphins and not just a dolphin or two but a pod or two of 100s of dolphins. Then a cliff top landing a flight over Kaikoura the last road and our hotel - magic. My thanks to everyone involved in the company - this has been a holiday of a lifetime and South Pacific Helicopters provided the crowning experience that surely cannot be battered. Thank you so much for being such lovely hosts and giving us such special treatment in. Very safe and friendly way. Absolutely brilliant - do not miss out.Written 24 November 2024
- andrewtU3111LN0 contributionsIncredibleOne of the most unforgettable experiences of my life. To see a sperm whale in it's natural environment is beyond words and a little emotional. If funds allow go for the helicopter. IncredibleWritten 7 November 2024
- soycarolineward0 contributionsHighly recommended whale watching experienceWhat an amazing experience. Any nervousness I had quickly dissipated once our pilot Dan took off. The entire experience was beyond our wildest dreams. The weather was perfect for whale spotting and a peninsular landing. We were lucky enough to see a 19m sperm whale. Dan's knowledge share was informative and interesting. I would highly recommend this experience and have no hesitation in giving 5 stars.Written 6 November 2024
- 112augied0 contributionsUp close and personal (very personal)!The pilot flew our small group right over a humpback whale that was putting on quite a display trying to impress a female or a male. He/she turned stomach side up on the surface slapping its pectoral fins (arms) on the top of the water. It turned back upright and then did it some more! The helicopter was able to circle over the whale clockwise and then reverse so people on each side of the ‘copter could get clear views and snap some once-in-a-lifetime images. It was a fantastic experience!Written 26 October 2024
- mieyeed0 contributionsAmazing flight over Kaikoura.The flight was awesome. Viewing Kaikoura from the sky was an exceptional experience. We would recommend this highly (pun intended).Written 25 August 2024
- 358leilam0 contributionsMt Fyffe Gin and HelicoptersTruly spectacular trip up to Mt Fyffe hut with Cal from South Pacific Helicopters and Justine from Mt Fyffe Distillery. Incredible views, delicious gin and great hosts! An experience of a lifetime - highly recommend :)Written 29 July 2024
- Curiosity399819871640 contributionsAwesome helicopter flight over whales!Awesome flight, lots of knowledge and love of what they do, 2 whales seen right away meant maximum time over them, pilot and ground crew were all awesome, recommended to anyone.Written 27 June 2024
- Stay148028099550 contributionshighly recommendedThey offers unmatched aerial tours of New Zealand's dramatic landscapes. Experienced pilots guide visitors on thrilling, custom-tailored helicopter excursions, granting access to remote, hard-to-reach destinations and unveiling breathtaking vistas from an unforgettable bird's-eye perspective.Written 1 June 2024
- Cruiser562703071080 contributionsExciting and rewarding family fun!Our pilot, Dan, was friendly, informative and jocular. He made us and our 10 and 6 year old feel happy and at ease about flying in the helicopter. The flight was exciting enough by itself, but actually seeing a young humpback 🐋 whale surfacing several times and spouting water was very special and we are still talking about it now. Our helicopter tour with South Pacific helicopters was worth every cent and we will still be reminiscing about it as a family many years from now, I’m sure. Thank you Dan and your lovely team!Written 16 May 2024
- Simon T0 contributionsDon’t think twice, just do it! What a truly great holiday experience.This was possibly the best experience of our whole holiday in NZ. What a special family firm this is. From the moment we entered the office, having just had our boat trip cancelled, Monique was so helpful and friendly. Her husband, Dan, took the trouble to greet each of us individually, by name. The trip itself was totally awesome (we saw two blue whales and then we only landed on top of a mountain!). Put aside the superlatives, I genuinely cannot recommend this firm and this trip highly enough. A massive thank you to Dan and Monique for providing such a brilliant memory.Written 5 March 2024
- kellyt8650 contributionsFirst class family business who really careOMG what can I say about this trip! From the moment of stepping into their Kaikoura office and meeting Monique, I cannot fault them. We were beaked last minute after disappointments at both Franz Josef and on the whale watching boat trip from Kaikoura due to bad weather. With the minimum of fuss Monique had us booked and ready to go on a fabulous trip, Dan was brilliant, welcoming, friendly and informative, making sure we got to see the rare blue whales and taking us on an unforgettable helicopter trip. Thank you all for making our holiday!Written 5 March 2024
- Rachel C0 contributionsDon’t hesitate - if you are considering it you can’t afford to not do thisOnce (or twice) in a lifetime experience to see whales from above. Fantastic facility outside of town with super experienced pilot / guide who was great at supporting one of our group with a touch of anxiety. Whole experience was spot on. Don’t hesitate.Written 26 February 2024
- robinm8910 contributionsa once in a lifetime experienceOur whale watch tour was cancelled the day before due to rough sea conditions and seeing a Sperm whale was on our bucket list. We found South Pacific Helicopter 1 hr whale watching tour and said what the heck we are here and we definitely want to see these giant whales. I am prone to ait sickness but did fine on this tour and we were rewarded with seeing a Sperm whale on the surface for longer than usual. Daniel our pilot was informative and an excellent pilot. After the whale we went into the Kaikoura mountain range for some beautiful scenery rarely seen. The entire trip was spectacular and well worth the cost. Having previously seen whales from boats, the aerial views give you an entirely different perspective. I highly recommend it!Written 22 February 2024
- Morten T0 contributionsOnce is a must and we will go back - live it big time.Awesome experience - Very easy guidance, smooth ride and fabulous views Happy to recommend this to everyone it’s a MUST do 🙏Written 22 February 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
5.0
3 reviews
Excellent
3
Very good
0
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
0
ruthieb02
Ely, UK58 contributions
What a fantastic experience. Our boat trip was cancelled 2 days running due to high winds and rough seas so we looked for an alternate experience. From booking at the shop in the town to the flight itself, it was excellent. The pilot, Daniel was superb - friendly and informative. He made sure that all of us were given equal opportunities to witness the fin whales and blue whales. Having done whale boat trips previously, this is a completely different experience. Seeing the blue whale from a helicopter gives you a true idea of the scale and beauty of these magnificent creatures. After seeing the whales, we were treated to a huge pod of dusky dolphins. Leaving the sea behind, we flew through the mountains, landing on Mount Fyffe. Here you are afforded great views of the bays below. It was interesting to learn how the landscape was changed following earthquakes and watch red deer run through the mountains. A definite recommendation if you want an experience in Kaikoura.
Written 5 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks so much for taking the time to share your experience with us, sounds like you had an amazing encounter - how lucky to see not just a fin whale but also a big blue! They are so impressive from above when you can witness their true magnitude. Thanks for flying with South Pacific Helicopters.
Written 13 August 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
craigadam2017
Brooklyn, NY30 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
Dan took us on an incredible Whale/Dolphin - Heli Hike combo experience. After seeing a sperm whale hanging out and ultimately diving as well as hundred of dolphins on a feeding frenzy, he dropped us off at the Mt Fyffe hut and we hiked 90 minutes to the top. He met us there with an amazing hamper and bottle of champagne. We had the best time!
Written 5 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your lovely review. It was our pleasure to curate this unique trip for you, ensuring that you enjoyed the well-deserved refreshments along the way. Pleased to hear you both had a great time. Thanks for choosing South Pacific Helicopters.
Written 29 September 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Patrick F
Picton, New Zealand129 contributions
Mar 2024 • Friends
I heartily recommend The Ultimate Adventure Tour. Daniel our pilot was knowledgeable, very helpful and the whole experience was quite stunning!
Written 22 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for your great review Patrick. It was a pleasure to have you onboard to view the breathtaking Kaikoura landscapes. Safe onward travels.
Written 29 September 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
No questions have been asked about this experience
Top rated
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.