On the Water
3 hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this booking up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Recommended by 96% of travellers
96% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
from
$150
per adult
Kaikoura Kayaks
Kaikoura Kayaks
5
Water SportsPrivate ToursDolphin & Whale WatchingNature & Wildlife ToursKayaking & Canoeing
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Full view
About
Celebrating over 25 Years of Service! KAIKOURA'S ORIGINAL KAYAK OPERATOR - Est. 1998 100% guaranteed Seal viewing, meet the locals of the marine kind in a real Sea Kayak with us today. Curious NZ Fur Seals, Blue Penguins and chance encounters with Dusky Dolphins. Our local Kiwi Guides would love to introduce you to them around the Kaikoura Peninsula. Stay warm and dry in our enclosed stable sea kayaks with all equipment provided including GORE-TEX dry pants in winter, wetsuit booties for your feet and dry bags for camera's. Our “Wildlife Kayaking" tours offer a safe, enjoyable, interactive experience, with little effort and a whole lot of good fun. No experience needed, suitable for all ages and abilities, families welcome. If you want to tick off a real kayaking experience from your bucket list with the help of our qualified guides amongst a multitude of marine life, come paddling with us! Kaikoura’s only Kayak operator permitted to view Seals, Dolphins & Whale's.
Kaikoura, New Zealand
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Awards
Travellers' Choice
2024
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Improve this listingTours and Tickets by Kaikoura Kayaks
On the Water
3 hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this booking up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Recommended by 94% of travellers
94% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
from
$150
per adult
On the Water
3 hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this booking up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Recommended by 97% of travellers
97% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
from
$300
per adult
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5.0
1,444 reviews
Excellent
1,310
Very good
99
Average
24
Poor
6
Terrible
5
Brian H
Minneapolis, MN5 contributions
Jan 2020
We'd booked the half-day seal kayak tour for Monday afternoon on Jan.13th well in advance. After a hot sunny Sunday clouds, cool temps, and rain were in the forecast for Monday. Our early morning whale watch tour was canceled due to rough seas so we were skeptical of an enjoyable afternoon kayak tour. But the tour was on, seas around the peninsula were calm. Kaikoura Kayaks outfitted us with gear that would keep us dry and warm. Our guide Cowan ran us through the basics of using their tandem sea kayaks and our group of 6 was off. We spent the first 20 minutes getting comfortable with the kayaks while angling towards a group of seals on the peninsula. Though there was some light rain we were completely comfortable and actually glad it was a cooler day. Cowan was a wealth of knowledge about the wildlife in the area. As we moved to an area with the bigger male seals on a point Cowan noted there were some dolphins in the distance. Before he even finished asking if we wanted to go out towards them we were racing to catch up with them. For the next hour we kayaked among a large group of dolphins who darted, frolicked and did flips around us. It was a highlight of our 2 weeks on the South Island. We did eventually get closer looks at the seals and a variety of sea birds as we finished up the tour. I'd highly recommend the kayaking tour as a way to really experience Kaikoura's sea life up close. The kayaks are comfortable, easy to steer, and we came back essentially dry. We appreciated Cowan's flexibilty in allowing us to enjoy the dolphins on a tour normally focused on seals. We returned from the tour re-invigorated and in high spirits after our encounter with the dolphins. We did get to take a later whale watch tour but we all agreed that our kayak tour with the dolphins was what we would most fondly remember. We have a fun video of our encounter but unfortunately TA reviews don't allow attaching videos.
Written 18 January 2020
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 There,
Thanks for your amazing review!
It’s great to hear you had such an incredible experience paddling around the beautiful Kaikoura Peninsula with Cowan and even better that you got to spend some time with the Dusky Dolphins!
Thanks again,
The friendly team at Kaikoura Kayaks.
Written 21 January 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Esther_Dickinson
Barcelona, Spain11 contributions
Jan 2020 • Solo
I decided to book onto a tour with Kaikoura Kayaks as I love being in the water and fancied seeing some marine life on my flying visit through Kaikoura. I have only been kayaking in calm lake waters so it was a new experience for me. The guide Ty was awesome I actually got paired with him in the Kayak. He was really professional and made such a huge effort with everyone on the tour making sure everyone was comfortable and felt at ease. It's not always easy to find in an instructor/ tour guide so that was fantastic.
We were a smaller group for the sunset tour so got to paddle out into some other bays, the whole trip was really wonderful. This company do a great job. We saw a couple of blue penguins, lots of seals and birds. The knowledge shared was superb. It was a beautiful way to spend the afternoon/evening. I have the shark's tooth etched into my memory. Serene and blissful. And to top up - my arms and abs got a little workout. I highly recommend doing a tour with these guys. Thankyou Ty for being so approachable!!
We were a smaller group for the sunset tour so got to paddle out into some other bays, the whole trip was really wonderful. This company do a great job. We saw a couple of blue penguins, lots of seals and birds. The knowledge shared was superb. It was a beautiful way to spend the afternoon/evening. I have the shark's tooth etched into my memory. Serene and blissful. And to top up - my arms and abs got a little workout. I highly recommend doing a tour with these guys. Thankyou Ty for being so approachable!!
Written 24 January 2020
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 Esther!
What a review!
We are so happy you enjoyed your trip and quick visit here in Kaikoura.
It is great to hear you enjoyed Ty and that he is doing a good job. We will pass on the message to him!
South bay, Kaikoura and Sharks tooth point are stunning arnt they?
Good to see you were using your core!
Thank again for your review Esther.
The team at Kaikoura Kayaks.
Written 2 February 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Chris L
Beijing, China13 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
We called a night ahead to ask about the sunset kayak tour and received very informative answers on the phone from Kim.
The next day, my wife and I was kayaking with our guide Cowan and another couples along the South Bay. Sunset had made everything so warm and lot of photos opportunities. Cowan, our guide gave us the necessary orientation in the shop and another quick instruction on paddling on the shore. The boat, clothing and everything u needed to be on the water is being taken care of and are all in good condition.
Cowan is able to show us not only the fur seals, penguins, birds on the way, he is also very knowledgeable with these creatures. He observed and paid good attention to us while we are on the sea so that we don’t hit the rocks or paddling ourselves into the whirlpools.
We enjoyed the journey, took quite some photos and loved the calm and scenic South Bay very much.
We recommended this tour to you and trust me that it’s hard to fall into the water🤪
The next day, my wife and I was kayaking with our guide Cowan and another couples along the South Bay. Sunset had made everything so warm and lot of photos opportunities. Cowan, our guide gave us the necessary orientation in the shop and another quick instruction on paddling on the shore. The boat, clothing and everything u needed to be on the water is being taken care of and are all in good condition.
Cowan is able to show us not only the fur seals, penguins, birds on the way, he is also very knowledgeable with these creatures. He observed and paid good attention to us while we are on the sea so that we don’t hit the rocks or paddling ourselves into the whirlpools.
We enjoyed the journey, took quite some photos and loved the calm and scenic South Bay very much.
We recommended this tour to you and trust me that it’s hard to fall into the water🤪
Written 25 February 2020
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 Chris,
Sounds like you had an enjoyable time on our Sunset Evening classic tour with guide Cowan!
Thank you for the detailed review and recommendation
Regards,
The friendly team at Kaikoura Kayaks
Written 18 May 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Julie
2 contributions
Jan 2020
We thoroughly enjoyed the sunset kayaking excursion with Ty as our guide on 25.1.20. It was a last minute booking and was the highlight of our time in Kaikoura. Ty was just awesome from start to end, he was friendly, professional, informative, had a great sense of humour and read the needs of the group really well. Highly recommend to anyone spending time in a Kaikoura. Thanks very much to Ty and the team.
Julie, Jacqui and Heidi
Julie, Jacqui and Heidi
Written 27 January 2020
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 Guys!
The highlight of your time here in Kaikoura! Wow thanks.
We will tell Ty about your review and to keep up the good work!
Thanks alot Julie, Jacqui and Heidi for your review.
The team at Kaikoura Kayaks.
Written 2 February 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
467anut
Mountain View, CA2 contributions
Jan 2020 • Family
We thoroughly enjoyed our kayaking tour with Cowan. We had a big group with young kids and grandparents (age range from 4 years to 77 years!) and Cowan did an excellent job keeping us all safe while entertaining us with facts about seals and stories of the area. We enjoyed the paddle out to see the seals and it fun to see the seals swimming by our kayaks. Our kids were thrilled. The grandparents were happy. All in all, a great outing. Highly recommend Kaikoura Kayaks for families with young kids.
Written 24 January 2020
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 Anut,
Thanks for your review.
We love taking familys out kayaking no matter what age, its an experiance that the whole family can do.
It sounds like you had a great tour with Cowan.
Thanks again alot for your review
The team at Kaikoura Kayaks
Written 2 February 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Monica Muir
38 contributions
Aug 2020 • Couples
We had a fabulous trip kayaking with seals. Had great communication about our booking and monitoring the weather, a great safety briefing and brushing up on paddling technique before taking to the water in a double kayak - excellent chance to practice communication skills in any relationship. Lovely views of the seals on the rocks and a range of seabirds. Would definitely recommend doing a trip! We were lucky and got a private trip so tailored specifically to our needs.
Written 16 August 2020
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 5 star review and recommendation! Sounds like you had a fantastic tour
Many thanks,
The friendly team at Kaikoura Kayaks
Written 24 September 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Julia R
Melbourne, Australia2 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
We had Emma as our tour guide, she knew sooo much at our questions and had such great banter!! It was fun having her.. we were actually sooo lucky to have no one else in the tour so it felt like a private one. She also offered to take photos and not just a couple like 50!! It was such a perfect day! The seals where sooo cute 🥰 I highly recommend this tour 100% definitely worth every $. I do have to say Emma does deserve a pay rise for her jokes and such a fun day!! She was more than we expect!! Thankyou sooo much!!
Written 10 February 2020
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 detailed review! Emma is one of our best guides, we will be sure to pass this feedback onto her:)
Many thanks,
Thr friendly team at Kaikoura Kayaks
Written 26 September 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
familyoffiveonhols
New Zealand296 contributions
Jan 2020
We did the morning kayak with two children aged 14 and 9. Some of us in the group had kayaked before and others had not. Kayaking is physical but the instructors provided words of support and encouragement all along the way. The interaction with the children was amazing and the local knowledge incredible. We were lucky enough to have seals swimming all around our small group and playing in the water and generally showing off. We watched the seals near the main peninsula as this is the main colony but being able to interact with them in the water was incredible. It would not be recommended to be so close when not in the water. Towards the end of our experience in the water the Dusky Dolphins arrived and that made the experience even more awesome.
Written 14 January 2020
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 you lovely review, we hope to see you again in Kaikoura for another inforgettable kayaking experience.
Written 15 January 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Erin Bennett Pennell
Raleigh, NC14 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
Emma was our guide for the half day seal kayaking experience. Though we had never been sea kayaking we felt safe with all the instruction and had a blast. We even saw some hector dolphins and a blue penguin. Emma’s knowledge was impeccable and enthusiasm was infectious as she led us in a chase of the dolphin pod and cheering us on.
Written 8 February 2020
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,
Thank you for the review on your tour with our guide Emma!
We are pleased to hear you felt safe and enjoyed your experience with us.
Kind Regards,
The friendly team at Kaikoura Kayaks.
Written 8 February 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Linda
Bend, OR20 contributions
Feb 2023 • Couples
We are experienced kayakers, so decided upon the 1/2 day kayak hire. The safety briefing was thorough and we were provided with everything we might need out on the water in the event of a mishap. The weather was beautiful and we soon found ourselves in a small cove surrounded by swimming fur seals - magical! The next couple of hours were spent meandering among the interesting rock formations and viewing some incredibly beautiful birds.
We would definitely recommend working with Kaikoura Kayaks if you enjoy being out on the water!
We would definitely recommend working with Kaikoura Kayaks if you enjoy being out on the water!
Written 18 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.
Thank you, the Kaikoura coastline certainly has so much to offer.
Written 23 February 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
My wife & I will be on a Moatrek tour & in Kaikoura on March 16,2020. We're both in our middle 70's. Is the sunset kayak tour something we can do?
Written 25 February 2020
Certainly, if you are healthy and the weather cooperates. Late day is usually rougher than in the mornings though. But, it could also be perfectly calm at sunset. The guides are very nice. You may want to just stop by and chat with them when you arrive and get their feedback.
Written 3 March 2020
We are looking at booking the Sunset Tour in mid Feb, do you actually see the sunset on the tour? It says they depart at 4:30 and allow 3-3.5 hours, which takes you to 8pm... sunset isn't until 9pm.... other companies run a later tour.... we are just trying to figure out which is best.
Written 12 January 2020
Hi Joe, our 4:30pm Sunset Evening Classic tour runs later to incorporate the Sunset & Evening kayaking.
In early February the Sun sets from 8:30pm - 8:10pm (mid to late Feb).
Your tour will finish after 8pm.
Hope this helps......
Written 15 January 2020
I get sea sick easily. Should I take this kayak tour. I will be traveling to Kaikoura mid October this year and wonder how rough the sea be.
Written 21 September 2019
Hi there,
Normally our kayak tours run in sheltered waters, so the sea is calm. If you are prone to motion sickness I would still recommend taking sea sickness medication as a precaution.
Hope this helps…..
Written 22 September 2019
Hi there, I am a big guy (120 KG and 1.80 m). Can I git on the kayak?
Written 30 January 2019
Hi there!
Our Kayaks have nice big seats in them especially in the back cockpit, I would say most likely but unfortunately it can be hard to tell until you actually sit in it physically. Height shouldnt be an issue as we have people come out for tours who are over 6ft tall. We do also have sit on top Kayak options available which we gaurantee will be suitable.
Hope this helps!
Written 13 February 2019
What time of day is best to kayak with fur seals, Will the waters be calm in January?
Written 27 October 2018
The male seals tend to do absolutely nothing all day bar lie on the rocks, cool down and have a good scrap. We saw a few on the rocks in the morning just last week, and a couple in the water. Book it, you won' regret it as the guys from Kaikoura Kayaks will find interesting things besides seals for you if they are unavailable that day.
They choose the best side of the headland dependent on conditions and you're 110% safe.
Written 28 October 2018
What is the best time to kayak with a chance of having some dolphins around?
Written 3 October 2018
I recommend the 8:30am & 12:30pm tours for the best chance of kayaking with Dolphins!
Written 3 October 2018
When is the best time to visit if I want to see Orcas?
I've seen some videos of Kayaking around Orcas, esp in NZ. Does your company do that?
Written 11 October 2016
Hi there,
Orca Whale's are not normally seen that often in Kaikoura or by kayak.
If you want to view Whales I would recommend Whale Watch Kaikoura.
Our kayak tours focus on Fur Seals and Dusky Dolphins.
Thanks for your time.
Written 12 October 2016
I have a 5 year old. Can you go on the kayak?
Written 3 November 2015
Hi Chloe,
We take out family's all the time in our safe, stable, double user friendly kayaks.
Normally an adult or guide is in the back of the kayak so the younger one's don't have to paddle as much.
Your guide will also have a tow line which can be used for assistance.
We also cut the paddling distance down on a family tour and spend more time with the seals.
Child life jackets and dry bags for cameras are also available.
Paddling time on the ocean would be only 1 and 1/2 hrs with a family group with a 1/2 hr briefing at the start and end of the tour.
Most family's kayaking with us in the past have found 2 and 1/2 hrs a good length of time for a tour and sometimes a lot of the younger children have fallen asleep in the front of the kayaks on the way home.
Hope this helps Chloe......
Written 30 November 2015
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