There's nowhere like Kaikōura

There’s nowhere quite like Kaikōura. this is why you'll love it here.

1. IT’S RETINA-RIVETING

A perennially sparkling sea nips at a pretty township and is backed by an incredibly large mountain range that is both imposing and impressive.

2. THERE ARE FEW PLACES IN THE WORLD LIKE THIS

A place where wildlife is so easily spottable. Whales, dolphins, New Zealand fur seals and penguins all call Kaikōura home. It’s also known as the albatross capital of the world.

3. IT’S A YEAR-ROUND BLAST

The water is always inviting and in winter, the Kaikōura Ranges are covered in snow: carve up the powder at Mt Lyford ski area or head to Lake Stella for ice skating.

4. THE SEAFOOD IS SUBLIME

In Kaikōura, the name directly translates to mean ‘to eat crayfish’ so we’ll give you one guess what tastes particularly good in these parts.

Watching the dolphins in Kaikōura © Kaikōura Kayaks

THINGS TO DO

1. Seek the water

But of course! As a pretty peninsula town, the aquatic activities are endless.

2. Get off the beaten track

Once you’ve admired Kaikōura from sea level, swap your togs for your tramping gear and head 5km out of town to Mt Fyffe. An eight-hour return trek up this relatively unknown mountain trail presents unparalleled views across the Kaikōura Ranges.

3. Kōura Bay Lodge

The lodge is a 13-minute drive from central Kaikōura and features both a 9-hole golf course and indulgent day spa.

4. Quad biking

If you fancy absorbing the scenery a mile-a-minute, jump on a quad bike at Glenstrae Farm for a four-wheel adventure. Fully guided and fun.

5. Fyffe House

An easy 45-minute walk from the town centre, this is the town’s oldest surviving building, creaking with tales

Kaikōura Peninsula © Bare Kiwi

DON’T MISS!

A picnic with a difference. Fly with Kaikōura Helicopters to a secluded landing site for a picnic at altitude. The initial 30-minute flight soars over the stunning Kaikōura Seaward Ranges, drinking up the views, before touching down. Surrounded by 360-degree vistas, picnic in utter peace.

Kaikōura Peninsula wildlife © Paul Boocock

7 OF THE BEST ANIMAL ENCOUNTERS

1. Swim with dusky dolphins

Frolicking in Kaikōura waters in pods of up to several hundred, it’s not hard to get acquainted with dolphins in these parts. Join a tour to observe them from the boat, or jump in and snorkel side-by-side.

2. Say ‘hello’ to fur seals

You can take a tour to see these curious fellas, whereas independent types might like to grab a kayak and paddle out to meet these slinky swimmers playing in the sea. You can also snorkel beside them in the shallow waters of Kaikōura Peninsula and walk to Pt Kean Seal Colony to observe them napping on the rocks.

3. Gawk at enormous whales

Giant sperm whales are a captivating sight whether you spy them from a catamaran, helicopter or plane. Sperm whales make year-round appearances, while orca, humpback and blue whales are seasonal.

4. Photograph an albatross

Kaikōura is one of the best places on Earth to see multiple species of giant albatross. Join a tour to get your head around their colossal three metre wingspan.

Dolphin encounter, Kaikōura © Dennis Burman

5. Walk with llamas

After a quick introduction, Kaikōura Farm Park will give you your very own llama to take for a one-hour guided walk, or half-day trek. Take a camera – they love selfies!

6. Jump on a horse

Horse trekking across Kowhai Gorge makes for a memorable activity and more experienced riders can trot into the Kaikōura mountain ranges with Kaikōura Coast Trail Rides.

7. Birdlife

Kaikōura is a hotspot for normally inaccessible and elusive seabird species such as penguins, shearwaters, petrels and others.

Kaikōura is the best place in New Zealand (and we’d argue the world) to feast on plump crayfish. We don’t know if it’s the salty ocean air or the close proximity to the ocean, but eating these juicy crustaceans roadside from seaside shacks littering the coastline is one of life’s greatest pleasures.

Seafood meal, Kaikōura © Graeme Murray

GORGE ON THIS

As New Zealand’s crayfish capital there are no end of dining spots to put shellfish on your dinner plate and if you’re a keen angler there are fishing tours to help you hook a few, too.

TOP SPOTS FOR A FEED

NINS BIN If you haven’t stopped roadside for a crayfish dinner from iconic seaside shack, Nins Bin, it’s almost like you haven’t even been to Kaikōura.

KAIKŌURA SEAFOOD BARBECUE Enjoy tasty food and generous servings, just past Fyffe House on the way to Pt Kean Seal Colony.

KARAKA LOBSTER Go premium in Okiwi Bay, 35km north of Kaikōura and treat yourself to the finest crayfish in New Zealand.

COOPERS CATCH An unbeatable stop off for traditional fish and chips.

THE PIER HOTEL Nudging the waterfront on the edge of town, the bay views are beautiful and the setting is perfect for a long, lazy lunch.

SLAM CLUB A funky li’l hangout that is cosy, casual and serves a mean sandwich.

FARMERS’ MARKET Open October to April every Sunday 10am-1pm. Pick up the region’s tastiest produce.

Kaikōura seafood barbecue © Destination Kaikōura

DON'T SKIP KAIKOURA MUSEUM

Kaikōura is a place where mountains meet the sea and its award-winning museum reflects how the area has been shaped by its connection with the ocean.

The ‘craypot’ building has won two major interior design awards and was runner-up in the 2017 Museums Aotearoa Museum Project Excellence Award. As soon as you walk in the door, you can sense the pride and passion locals have for this place. Revolving exhibitions often feature the photos and collections of the people who live here.

Uniquely, the exhibits include the restored cabin from the Taiaroa, which sank off the coast in 1886, a jail with padded cell and resident ghost, a replica of the largest moa ever found, and footage of the 1978 Kaikōura UFO lights. There’s social history and natural history, Māori taonga (treasure) and displays and artefacts illustrating Kaikōura’s life as a fishing and whaling settlement.

Kaikōura Museum © Kaikōura Museum

The Kaikōura Museum IS SPOOKTACULAR FUN!

Discover the geological and natural history of the area, including some pretty impressive dinosaur fossils and Māori taonga (treasures). There’s even a two-room jail with a padded cell which is said to have its own resident ghost.

NEW AND UNIQUE IN KAIKOURA

• A kayaking excursion to Hope Springs in Whalers Bay will enthral; ever since the 2016 earthquake, natural gases have been fizzing and gurgling to the surface.

• Uplift Mall: A mini-shopping destination which utilises shipping containers to accommodate cool and quirky pop-up shops.

• Don’t miss Bernie’s Diner & Harmon’s Car Museum, a very slick 1950s-style American diner and car museum rolled into one.

• Kaikōura is home of the Ngāti Kurī people. Book with Māori Tours and experience Māori traditions with a descendant of the iwi.

The fish hook of Maui, Kaikōura © Māori Tours, Kaikōura