A visit to Kaikoura would not be complete without a whale watching tour, as this little town is well-known for its deep ocean canyons which are home to a diverse range of deep sea creatures including many whale species.
One of the most frequent visitors which can be seen all year round is the Giant Sperm Whale, which can grow up to 20 metres and weigh up to 50 tons. Wow! Now that’s huge!
Many other species of whale cruise the Kaikoura coastline including Orca, Blue, Humpback, Southern Right, Sei, Minke, Pilot and Beaked Whales. Whale Watch Kaikoura is a great trip to get up close to this amazing giants of the deep, and you may even be lucky enough to see a number of other species as they follow the whales’ migratory route. Keep your eyes peeled for New Zealand fur seals, dusky dolphins, the rare and endangered Hectors dolphins, and a wide range of seabirds including the Royal Albatross.
So after a briefing at the Whaleway Station base, which is still the stop for the passenger train from Christchurch in the morning, and on the return journey from Picton each afternoon, we were ready to board our boat.
We were given a great visual presentation and introduction to the waters we were about to explore, with mind-boggling facts about the depths below us in the vast 1600 metre deep undersea canyon, and interesting history about the area’s connection with Maori.
As we sped across the water, the staff on board were keeping an eagle eye out for any signs of whale activity, which can be found just 800 metres from the shore. We were all encouraged to help with the search, as the more eyes involved, the better! It wasn’t too long before we spotted our first whale, which was an amazing sight.
It was incredible to see the sheer size and magnitude of this fascinating sea creature. Its body was huge, almost as big as the boat, but it still managed to glide effortlessly through the water. Our guide gave us commentary on what it was doing, and even gave us a heads-up on when it was going to breach.
Then it was cameras at the ready for that all-important whale tail photo. And yay I got one! Well, three actually. We were lucky enough to see not one, not two, not three, not even four, or even five….but SIX pilot whales on our whale watching trip.
It was a breath-taking experience. Just hearing the water spurting through the blow hole and the sound of their tail crashing down into the water is something I will never forget.
Rachel stayed in a six bed dorm room at the cosy Dolphin Lodge Backpackers, 15 Deal Street, Kaikoura. For more information call 03 319 5842, email dolphinlodge@xtra.co.nz or visit www.dolphinlodge.co.nz
Kaikoura has a resident population of bachelor Sperm Whales just off the coastline all year round. This means there is no better time of the day, week, month or year to see Sperm Whales.
Remember to take warm clothing with you, as even in the summer it can be a bit breezy when you’re viewing whales outside on the deck.
And don’t forget your sea sickness tablets if you feel a bit queasy on the water.
Tours are scheduled at 7.15am, 10am and 12.45pm each day. There is an extra tour during the summer from November to March at 3.30pm. The whole experience last 3.5 hours.
Weather and sea conditions can change quickly, which may mean a trip is cancelled, but it is possible to postpone it to a later time or day.
If your tour does not spot a whale, Whale Watch Kaikoura guarantees to refund 80 percent of your money back.
Adults are $145 (valid to 31st Aug 2011). Advance booking is essential.
Rachel stayed in a six bed dorm room at the cosy Dolphin Lodge Backpackers, 15 Deal Street, Kaikoura. For more information on the lodge call 03 319 5842, email dolphinlodge@xtra.co.nz or visit www.dolphinlodge.co.nz
