Sunset Evening Kayaking Tour - Kaikoura
5

Sunset Evening Kayaking Tour - Kaikoura

By Kaikoura Kayaks
Recommended by 96% of travellers
96% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
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Kaikoura's Original Kayak Operator - Est 1998 Celebrating over 25 years of operation! 100% guaranteed to view Fur Seals on all tours. Family Friendly - operating year round. New Zealand's only Sea Kayak operator that holds a marine mammal permit to view Whales. Kaikoura's only Kayak operator that holds a marine mammal permit to view Dolphins, Seals and Whales. New Zealand's 1st Friend of the Sea sustainable operator for Dolphin and Whale viewing. Traditional double sea kayaks with cockpits and spray skirts for a dry ride and rudders for easy steering. Qualified New Zealand guides. The Sunset Evening Kayaking tour is the real deal!
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 3-90, max of 24 per group
Duration: 3h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Live guide: English
More


  • Dry bags for camera's, all kayaking equipment, paddle jackets, wet shoes, spray skirts, dry pants, gloves and hats over the winter months.
  • Private transportation


Start:
  • 19 Killarney Street, Kaikōura 7300, New Zealand
    Travel through the main street of Kaikoura South past the information centre towards the seal colony and take your first right off the Esplanade on to Killarney st. Look for the Kaikoura Kayaks flying banner at 19 Killarney st. Please check in 15 minutes prior to departure.
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    • Service animals allowed
    • Near public transportation
    • Pushchair accessible
    • Not wheelchair accessible
    If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 246568P2

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • Most travellers can participate
    • In any adventure activity, there is an element of risk involved. Risks in undertaking this activity include, property damage, personal injury, illness because of adverse weather conditions, risk of drowning, death, sunburn, dehydration, hyperthermia, and exhaustion.
    • We recommend you bring the following: Long sleeved thermal top, Fleece (if a bit chilly), shorts or light pants e.g. quick drys, NO JEANS! Sunglasses, cap, running shoes or sandals, drinking water, camera and towel.
    • 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 tour/activity will have a maximum of 24 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: 246568P2

    From
    $160.00
    per adult
    Select date and travellers

    Similar experiences

    About the operator
    Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
    • Kaikoura Kayaks
      1,483
      Kaikoura, New Zealand
      Joined in September 2010
    • Jenni L
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Awesome experience, great guide, terrific company
      This was AWESOME. Our guide was Charlie. She was fun and personable and knew everything about the water and the wildlife. We saw dolphins and a little blue penguin and fur seals and a lot of other birds. We also really appreciated the company’s attention to safety. We were booked for an afternoon tour. They got in touch the day before to ask if we could switch to the 8:30 AM tour because the weather forecast looked like winds would be very strong in the afternoon. We went at 8:30 and had perfect conditions - and when we saw the surf and wind after lunch, we were very grateful not to be battling that. The gear was top-notch and kept in good shape. You really can’t go wrong with this company.
      Written 15 February 2025
    • Linda30773
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Wonderful experience, great company
      The company is very well-organized; the guides are friendly, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable. I am pretty old and not very experienced at kayaking, so they put me in a kayak with the guide. He took us out to a pod of dolphins, who completely enchanted us. I couldn’t have had a better experience.
      Written 10 February 2025
    • N2113DDkimg
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      A great way to see dolphins and seals in the wild
      We had a great time. Our guide, Zoe, was very informative and gave us new insights into the lives of seals and dolphins. It would have been useful to have a secure place for our belongings before the tour as we did not have a car. As novice paddlers we felt very secure after the thorough briefing and personal attention by our guide.
      Written 10 February 2025
    • JCMoof
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Dolphin experience
      Amazing trip! Really appreciated the guides taking their time and finding us the Dusky dolphins and pleasant experience would highly recommend
      Written 10 February 2025
    • Debbie I
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Worth it!
      A well organised tour with enthusiastic and competent guides. We were lucky enough to spend over 30 minutes in amounts a large pod of very active dusky dolphins. The paddling was reasonably physical (7-8km) when returning with a headwind but the guides kept a careful watch and everyone was fine. Thoroughly worth the money
      Written 4 February 2025
    • brianjC3393KB
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Dolphins and fur seal kayak trip
      Superb outfit. Very knowledgeable very professional and safety minded. Well worth the money. Very good equipment. I felt well looked after and had the best time
      Written 3 February 2025
    • 237LindaD
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      Nice Time !
      It was a nice easy paddle out and back near the rocks about 1.5 hrs in the water. Good equipment kept us warm and dry. Saw seals up close. Would have liked to see more wild life like dolphins or fish
      Written 3 February 2025
    • LS207A
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Fun & safe sea kayaking
      Although the weather was cool and misty, they provided kayak jackets, spray skirts and booties, so we stayed dry and warm. We were happy to see dusky dolphins swimming around us.
      Written 25 January 2025
    • grahamwZ6135OP
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great experience
      Great tour, saw a big pod of dolphins up close! Also, saw some seals and lots of shore birds. Shelem was a excellent guide.
      Written 23 January 2025
    • Liz W
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Excellent experience kayaking with dolphins.
      Great equipment and very friendly staff. Leader Emma was excellent, very informative about wildlife and competently wrangled 2 older ladies around the sea without mishap. Saw a pod of dusky dolphins, seals and a variety of birds. Will was also very efficient doing the majority of the paddling. The whole day ran like clockwork even the weather was fine . Would definitely recommend them again for any ability.
      Written 23 January 2025
    • Companion36437152449
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Kaikouri Kayaking
      We had a great kayak trip with our guides Emma and Izzy - great views of the marine life and the coastline and lots of informative commentary. A fun afternoon…
      Written 21 January 2025
    • andrewwI3502ZL
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      A swell time with dolphins
      We went out with Charli who was very knowledgeable about the local wildlife & made everyone feel confident and comfortable in the 2 metre swell; great guide! The company was well organised and very well equipped. Instructions were very well provided too. Seeing a Hectors dolphin or two was the highlight for us!
      Written 14 January 2025
    • Coastal67162495495
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Incredible experience!
      what an experience! We saw about 6 seals, a blue fin penguin, AND A HUMPBACK WHALE!!! we joined the 8:30am tour, everything was explained well, we felt super safe and well prepared, all staff were friendly and approachable. Once we got into the water, there were sightings of a humpback whale - I cannot stress enough how amazing the staff were at ensuring we didn’t get too close for the whales safety, but got close enough that it will stay in my mind forever. They explained the rules about why we stay in small groups and ensure we don’t get in the way of the whale on its route, which as an animal lover made it all the more special. Guide then took epic photos of everyone in the group. We couldn’t recommend enough - even without the whale this would’ve been a wonderful experience.
      Written 6 January 2025
    • timaN2939JN
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Perfect wildlife paddle
      Very friendly team who gave us a feeling of confidence and safety as well as great wildlife info. Really enjoyed paddling out amongst the rocks and seals. Also saw a little blue penguin. A perfect 2 hour paddle - Emma and Cam were fab !!
      Written 20 December 2024
    • E9492RRclarej
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Amazing, a must do when visiting Kaikoura
      Great experience. Our brilliant guide Brad made us feel confident on the swelling sea. High light of our New Zealand trip so far. Would definitely recommend anyone to give it a go.
      Written 18 December 2024
    See all 1,483 reviews
    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.

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    5.0
    5.0 of 5 bubbles50 reviews
    Excellent
    44
    Very good
    4
    Average
    1
    Poor
    0
    Terrible
    1

    Adam Fern
    Nottinghamshire, UK118 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    We had a brilliant time exploring the bay on our Kayaks. I believe our guide was called Issy, she said she was from Scotland and had not long been working in the area. Despite that she was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about getting us to see the wildlife, we got up close to some seals and had a nice paddle around the bay as the sun set. It was a nice steady paddle i would suggest suitable for all abilities. I would certainly return to do it again next time I'm in New Zealand and will be recommending it to anyone who will be visiting the area too.
    Written 26 November 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 paddling with us Adam! Sounds like you had an awesome time on the water with Izzy. We are stoked to have experienced guides from all over the world guiding with us this summer 🙌 See you next time 😊
    Written 29 November 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Stuart J
    Canberra, Australia27 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Mar 2024 • Couples
    It was a fantastic experience. We were lucky to find a pod of around 60-70 dolphins who we were able to follow and watch play for a couple of hours.
    The guides were great and made it all very easy - overall a great experience.
    Written 1 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.
    Thanks for paddling with us Stuart! Sounds like an epic experience you had. We love the photos 🐬📸🙌
    Written 8 May 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    rlehrman747
    Brooklyn, NY5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Mar 2023 • Solo
    Arrived in Kaikoura at 3; stared at the beautiful Pacific, then ran to Kaikoura Kayaks to see if I could get on the sunset kayak. They could not have been more positive or helpful. I was unprepared and they told me what to bring and I ran back to the hotel to get my water, water shoes and sunscreen. I didn’t even need to, since they provided everything you could need, even jackets, water shoes, sunscreen. They gave instruction on how to put on the equipment, how to use the sea kayak, what to do in an emergency. We drove to a beautiful location and were broken into smaller groups, so we would all get the attention we needed. We saw birds, seals and even learned about the rocks rising after the Kaikoura earthquake. It was a wonderful welcome to Kaikoura and I would recommend kayaking on the Pacific Ocean to anyone who visits, specifically with this friendly accommodating company
    Written 9 March 2023
    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 the kind words! We try our best to accommodate everyone and we are stoked to hear the last minute decision to go kayaking was worth it 👌😍
    Written 1 April 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    RH
    4 contributions
    1.0 of 5 bubbles
    Feb 2023 • Couples
    We had a mixed bag experience. Friendly staff but the operator prioritised their profit over offering a good experience (thus 1 star). All wildlife watching cruises were cancelled that day because of the bad weather conditions but this tour operator decided to go for kayaking anyway. When we asked if we could change it (the first time) we were told we would lose the money, they are going anyway. We decided to stick to the original date and hope for the best. I guess there was a pressure as because of the cyclone no one was going out for a few days. Most places decided it wasn't worth going today as the sea was still raugh and probably there wouldnt be any wildlife to enjoy (but not this one)

    The tour itself was ok-ish, I guess. Please note this is a large group kayaking (we had 18 or 19 people in our kayaking) so you wait a long time before everyone is sorted and on the water and split into smaller groups. The equipment was good and the guides were super friendly and fun, some more knowledge than others (some just make up stuff as they go), but they definitely try to make you have fun. We went kayaking in this 'special' place bc of the weather conditions. We basically just kayaked in an open bay. My reflections is that if you are after kayaking this operator is a good choice. If you wanted to prioritise seeing wildlife i wouldn't recommend them. We saw less wildlife kayaking with them than on our walk on the beach earlier that day. This just didn't feel like a priority, the company just wanted us out there so they didn't have to cancel the tour. I am sure when weather is great this tour gets better and some people get great stories and luck with seeing wildlife. Just sharing our experience so you can consider if this is the right company in case things go wrong or weather plays on you during your visit.
    Written 25 February 2023
    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.
    Hi RH, we have already acknowledged the same feedback you posted on Google reviews and to be honest we are a bit shocked from your 2nd review 🤷‍♂️ We were in contact with you many times over the bad weather period you were in Kaikōura and we transferred you twice to try and accomodate as you we’re desperate to take part in a Marine Mammal watching activity. The 4:30pm tour you took part on had the best sea conditions of the day and all people that were on our kayak tours the 1st day back on the water after inclement weather were greatfull to be able to paddle with the Seals & Dolphins 🐬 Review by Client on the same tour KBL_travel97 - 17th Feb 2023 "Incredible tour led by knowledgeable guides. Appropriate for all skill levels. Instructions are clear and helpful. A fun way to see some wildlife." We really didn’t have to take anyone kayaking but simply made sure everyone was aware of the sea conditions and were happy to paddle. Two families with young children also kayaked this day and had an absolute blast 💥 Other operators were also running Wildlife Tours that day after assessing sea conditons. The large group you were in was split into 3 smaller groups once kayaking of 6 people max or 3 double kayaks between 3 guides. We talked to you 3 times throughout the day before your tour concerning sea conditions and where we would be kayaking. I’m not sure 🤔 what else we could have done RH to make you aware of the paddling routes on the day or what marine life to expect but everyone else that kayaked with us seemed to be very grateful for the time & effort all Staff spent putting together 3 tours with sightings of Seals & Dolphins 🐬
    Written 26 February 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Fred
    11 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nov 2023 • Couples
    A great time kayaking! This was my wife's and my first time doing a sea kayak and it was definitely a highlight experience. Our guide Brad was excellent, ensuring everyone in our group was comfortable with the kayaks, explaining all the safety features and providing us with so much information about Kaikoura, the sea life . . . Optional equipment they provided was great, from booties to jackets we stayed dry the whole time. Definitely a workout - especially kayaking back in. We went at the end of November and sunset was at 8:30pm so we didn't get to see the sunset, but overall a great time and highly recommended.
    Written 4 December 2023
    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 kayaking with us for the first time! Our kayaks are user friendly and very stable, perfect for what we do 😊 We'll be sure to pass the positive feedback onto Guide Brad 👌
    Written 11 January 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Celia G
    London, UK6 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Oct 2023 • Couples
    It was only my second time kayaking in 58 years and it was a wonderful experience, thanks mainly to the professionalism and humour of our guide, Bradley. He had a wealth of knowledge and an easygoing manner that made me overcome my initial nerves. He also took pics of us kayaking which was greatly appreciated. We saw and learnt about the fur seals and the highlight was the 3 dusky dolphins that decided to come along and do an acrobatic show for us!
    Written 29 November 2023
    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 kayaking with us, we are pleased to hear you enjoyed your experience with us!
    Written 11 January 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Sherree V
    Winnipeg, Canada20 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Feb 2024 • Solo
    I had never been "sea" kayaking before, but the team made sure we were very prepared by giving demonstrations on how everything worked before we were out on the water. There are two kayakers in each kayak, so that gave me more confidence.

    It was a beautiful evening and we ended up seeing the dolphins! They were jumping right in front of us :) The group I ended up with were experienced outdoorsy people and wanted to go further out into the swells to see if we could see the dolphins again. We didn't see them again, but that experience that I had, I will never forget! Up and down on the swells (with a guide of course).

    If you weren't that experienced, they seemed to put people into different groups as they saw how they paddled, etc, which is brilliant. So, the people that were struggling a bit, didn't go out as far and stayed closer to shore and saw the seals, etc.

    They seem to have figured it all out in order to keep it very safe and a great outing for all.
    Written 6 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.
    Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review. We are thrilled to hear that you loved your experience with us. Your kind words mean a lot to our team!
    Written 12 March 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    HVyncke
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    We just had the best time ever out on the water with our guide, Kylie (hope I'm writing that right :) ) , who was the personification of loveliness!
    In general staff was knowledgeable and professional and I felt more than safe out on the water with them!
    Gear (kayak, paddle, water skirt, life jackets) was available and of good quality.
    To top it all off, we got lucky with our wildlife encounters and did not only see the fur seals, but also a blue penguin and dolphins!
    There was a lot of respect for the wildlife going around, which one can only applaud.
    All in all: great experience, highly recommended!
    Hanne
    Written 15 February 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 the fantastic 5-star review, Hanne! We're thrilled you enjoyed our tour, and had a great experience with us. Your support means the world to our team. Looking forward to welcoming you back!
    Written 12 March 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Dreamer37421608119
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Apr 2024 • Friends
    One of the best kayak experience in my life !! I was with a friend at sunset Time (we were only two with the guide) ! We saw many dolphins (200 maybe) all around us and jumping, it was like a private show. I recommand 100%!! I will remember this day all my life. Thank you !!
    Written 29 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.
    Thanks for paddling with us! We are pleased to hear the tour was an experience you'll remember for all your life 😊🐬
    Written 10 May 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Kathleen P
    5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jan 2025 • Couples
    Our guides were professional and friendly. The equipment was in great shape. We were treated to an amazing evening paddling around looking at dusky dolphins playing around us, seals napping nearby, and an albatross soaring overhead. We had a great time!
    Written 10 February 2025
    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.

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    *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.

    Sunset Evening Kayaking Tour - Kaikoura provided by Kaikoura Kayaks

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