Kaikoura Whale Watching Scenic Flight

Kaikoura Aerodrome and your small-group flight

Your experience starts at Kaikoura Aerodrome at Peketa, a few minutes south of the town along State Highway 1. After check-in you receive a personal safety briefing and an overview of the flight, including honest information about the chances of seeing whales that day. Groups are small, with a maximum of 7 passengers, and every seat is next to a window, so nobody misses a sighting.

Once airborne, you wear a headset to hear the live commentary in English, which points out wildlife and explains what you are seeing. Flight times may be moved, sometimes earlier, to match the whales' diving patterns, which is why you should arrive on time and keep your phone on. A Kaikoura whale watching tour by air is quick, smooth on most days and packed with views from start to finish.

Sperm whales of the Kaikoura Canyon from above

Off Kaikoura the seabed falls into the Kaikoura Canyon, a deep underwater trench where cold, nutrient-rich water supports squid and fish that attract male sperm whales throughout the year. These whales dive for 40 minutes or more and then spend around ten minutes at the surface breathing, which is when the aircraft circles to give each side a clear view.

From the air you see the whole body of the whale as a long, dark shape in the blue water, together with its blow and, if you are lucky, the tail fluke as it dives. A plane can cover far more ocean than a boat, so it searches widely for sightings. Whales are wild animals and sightings cannot be guaranteed, but local knowledge built over many years gives you a strong chance.

Dolphins, humpbacks and other marine life

Besides sperm whales, the waters off Kaikoura shelter dusky dolphins, which often move in large, fast pods that look spectacular from above as they leap and spin. Depending on the season you may also see humpback whales on their winter migration, orcas hunting along the coast and, on rare occasions, blue whales passing through.

Seen from a few hundred metres up, these animals reveal behaviour that is hard to notice from sea level, such as how a pod moves together or how a whale rests just beneath the surface. Is the Kaikoura whale flight worth it? For many travellers it is the perfect complement to a boat cruise, and for those who get seasick it is often the better way to see whales at all.

The Kaikoura coast and mountains from the air

After the whales, the flight continues as a scenic tour of the Kaikoura coastline. You fly over the Kaikoura Peninsula with its limestone platforms and turquoise reefs, which were lifted higher out of the water by the powerful earthquake of November 2016, and look down on rocky shores where New Zealand fur seals rest in the sun.

Inland, the Seaward Kaikoura Range rises sharply behind the town, its peaks topping 2,600 metres and often dusted with snow even in summer. The contrast between deep blue ocean, white peaks and green farmland is what makes this flight so memorable, and from your window seat you can photograph it all without anyone in your way. Have your camera ready from take-off until landing.

Planning your whale watching flight

How to get to Kaikoura Aerodrome: it is at 627 State Highway 1, Peketa, about ten minutes by car south of Kaikoura town and about two and a half hours by car from Christchurch, so the flight fits well into a Kaikoura day trip from Christchurch or a drive along the coast. Check in 30 minutes before your flight; if you are not present at check-in, the plane may leave without you.

The best time to visit Kaikoura for a whale flight is any time of year, since sperm whales are resident; calm, clear mornings usually give the best visibility. The maximum passenger weight is 120 kilograms, and infants under 11 kilograms may sit on an adult's lap. Flights depend on the weather and on minimum numbers, and we keep you informed if anything changes.