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Kaikoura Air & helicopter tours

Our most recommended Kaikoura Air & helicopter tours

Kaikoura: Whale Watching Flight

1. Kaikoura: Whale Watching Flight

Enjoy a panoramic whale-watching flight, with stunning scenic views along the spectacular Kaikoura coastline. Only from the air can you appreciate the huge size of the mighty sperm whale, a frequent visitor to the waters off Kaikoura. After a safety briefing and overview of your scenic flight, hop onboard for your whale-watching adventure in the skies. Every passenger gets a guaranteed window seat to enjoy maximum viewing of the ocean and its inhabitants below. On your 40-minute whale-watching flight, you may see sperm whales, dusky dolphins, humpback whales, blue whales, orcas, and other marine life. After finding whales enjoy a scenic flight of Kaikoura and the dramatic surrounding scenery, including snow-clad mountain ranges and turquoise ocean reefs. Whales are wild animals and sightings cannot be guaranteed. However, with over 30 years of experience and extensive local knowledge, the activity provider aims to give the best chance of sightings. Honest information on the likelihood of spotting a whale will be provided before the flight.

Kaikoura: Whale Watching Flight

2. Kaikoura: Whale Watching Flight

Receive an informative briefing of the Sperm Whales and other wildlife of Kaikoura, ready for your 30-minute flight experience. Learn about its unique geology, and what you can expect to see during the flight. Spend a special half hour viewing these majestic creatures from a unique vantage point.  Head directly out over the Kaikoura Whale Sanctuary to start looking for Kaikoura's wildlife. This whale watching flight showcases the year-round whales and dolphins, as well as the stunning coastline and peninsula. Focusing on the mighty Sperm Whale, this is a once-in-a-lifetime flight to view these animals, as well as other whale and dolphin species that migrate through Kaikoura's waters.  All aircraft are high-winged, which allows each person their own window seat and optimal, unobstructed viewing and photography opportunities. Your tour finishes back at the terminal where there is a gift shop and refreshments available.

Kaikoura: Coastal and Alpine Scenic Airplane Flight

3. Kaikoura: Coastal and Alpine Scenic Airplane Flight

Enjoy a panoramic scenic flight, with stunning scenic views of the Seaward Kaikoura ranges and a birds eye view of the Kaikoura Peninsula. After take-off, we will climb to approximately 6000 feet to fly past the back of Mount Fyffe for some true mountain flying. Experience views of snowy mountain peaks, a waterfalls or a wild deer if you have sharp vision. Next, overfly Lake Hapuku, which is a direct result of the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake. Your pilot will then descend towards the Hapuku river mouth and fly along the black sand beach towards the Kaikoura peninsula. Flying around the peninsula, you get to see that it is dotted with resident seals next to the turquoise ocean.

Kaikoura: 1-Hour Whale Watching Helicopter Tour

4. Kaikoura: 1-Hour Whale Watching Helicopter Tour

Spot sperm whales, dusky dolphins, and fur seals from above before making a summit landing among the towering peaks of the Seaward Kaikoura Mountain Ranges on this 1-hour helicopter tour. The adventure begins with a short safety briefing from the pilot, as well as additional information about the year-round population of sperm whales and the unique underwater Kaikoura Canyon. Next, jump in the helicopter and head out over the Whale Sanctuary and Hikurangi Marine Reserve for a chance to view the pod of sperm whales. Taking on a bird's-eye-view maximizes time viewing the wildlife while not disrupting their natural behavior. Continue along the magnificent coastline of the Kaikoura Peninsula keeping an eye out for playful dusky dolphins and New Zealand fur seals. The last stop of the day will be the towering peaks of the Seaward Kaikoura Mountain Ranges for an incredible alpine landing. Get out and walk around on rugged pristine land with breathtaking vistas of the mountains, peninsula, and ocean.

Kaikoura: Adventure Helicopter Tour

5. Kaikoura: Adventure Helicopter Tour

Begin your adventure are Kaikōura Airport where you will receive a short safety briefing from your pilot, as well as additional information about the year-round population of sperm whales and the unique underwater Kaikōura Canyon. As you head out over the Pacific Ocean you are surrounded on all sides by the gorgeous scenery of Kaikōura, with the coastal mountains as a backdrop. Slowly orbit the whales so you can see the whole animal from head to tail, minimising your impact on the animal while maximising your time and viewing. Soar back along the coastline keeping an eye out for any other animals that may be around, including the resident population of dusky dolphins and New Zealand fur seals, as well as any other whale species that may be migrating through including blue, humpback, fin, and killer whales. After completing your wildlife viewing, head for the Seaward Kaikōura Mountain Ranges. Fly along the coastline to see the impact from the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that changed the entire landscape of the coastal mountains and see the new Papatea Fault where it scars the land and runs out to sea. Fly inland along the Clarence River Valley and back up through the mountain range for a landing at the turquoise waters of the newly created Hapuku Dam Lake, which was created during the November 2016 earthquake. Enjoy the scenery as you fly back through the mountain range to land.

Kaikoura: Scenic Helicopter Flight & Gin Distillery Tasting

6. Kaikoura: Scenic Helicopter Flight & Gin Distillery Tasting

Relax, sit back and enjoy a scenic flight around the Peninsula & Kaikōura Seaward mountain ranges taking in the breath taking views from above of the Pacific Ocean and Kaikōura coastline. Daniel our chief pilot and CEO will educate you on the surroundings and land you on Mt Fyffe. Here you can inhale the fresh mountain air and meet New Zealand’s newest gin maker Justine Schroder, owner of Mt Fyffe Distillery. Justine will pour her premium gin and tell you the story as to how the award-winning gin was launched. Mt Fyffe Distillery is a small boutique distillery set on the foothills of Mt Fyffe, Kaikōura. Using botanics sourced from around their family farm and the local environment, has led Justine to create two distinct blends of small batch artisan London dry gin; Woolshed Gin & Shearwater Gin This package also includes a complimentary 375ml bottle of Woolshed Gin or Shearwater Gin. 18+ only.

Kaikōura: 45-Minute Whale Watching Helicopter Tour

7. Kaikōura: 45-Minute Whale Watching Helicopter Tour

Discover the beautiful marine wildlife of the Pacific Ocean as you spot impressive whales on a helicopter tour from Kaikōura. Feel the thrill of a helicopter ride, take a scenic landing stop in the mountains, and get views of pods of whales on their migratory route. Start by meeting your guide and getting a flight safety briefing before take-off. Set off in the helicopter from Kaikōura and marvel at the scenic panoramas over the Seaward Kaikōura Mountain Ranges, as well as the Kaikōura Peninsula and the vast Pacific Ocean. Fly over the best spots for whale watching, and admire pods of humpback whales, southern right whales, killer whales, and even blue whales on their migratory routes. Learn all about the animals from your in-flight guide. After the whale sightings, continue the flight along the coastline to spot more marine wildlife, including the resident populations of dusky dolphins and New Zealand fur seals. Enjoy a scenic landing in the mountains to take in the impressive landscape before returning to Kaikōura.

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Other Sightseeing Options in Kaikoura

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What people are saying about Kaikoura

Excellent, To be fair to the guys after 25 mins we had found nothing but they kept looking and then saw 2 blue whales in quick succession but they circled a few times to give both sides off plane a good look then on way home they spotted a pod off about 500 dusky dolphins and also circled them several times too so trip was a lot longer than should off been x been on many trips around the world and always finish when says but these guys went the extra mile - job very well done I’d recommend to anyone- obviously we got lucky as I realise ain’t a thing can guarantee but they kept at it - well done Tony bird

It was really good. The flight itself is amazing views. The pilot was great. We just missed a whale by a minute then spent the next half an hour looking for more ( which I quite enjoyed) then he extended the flight so we could potentially see some and we seen a sperm whale breaching the water over and over again it was great. He didn’t need to extend the flight as nature doesn’t same thing, but he did, and very thankful it was a great experience.

Staff were very friendly and informative. They gave us lots of information before and on the flight. It was clear they were keen to find the whales too! Really enjoyed the experience. Thank you!!

Excellent service, pleasant staff, it was very windy but the pilot reassured us all will be well and we seen two whales, definitely go again, it was so fun and amazing

Awesome whale watching experience!! Pilot and ground crew very nice and scenery spectacular. Beats getting bounced around on a boat!