The seaside settlement of Kaikoura, situated an easy
two hours drive from Christchurch
or Picton on the rugged east
coast of New Zealand's South Island, is overlooked by majestic
mountains which are snow-capped for many months of the year. The
township is located on a rocky peninsula protruding from lush
farmland beneath the mountains.
In the waters off this peninsula a complex marine system provides
an abundantly rich habitat for marine mammals and seabirds. It
was Kaikoura's numerous species of whales, dolphins and seals
that first attracted European settlers to the town when the whaling
industry began in the early 1800's. Maori folklore says that it
was from Kaikoura that the god Maui fished up the North Island
from the sea.
Kaikoura was once an important whaling settlement set on the beautiful north eastern coast of the South Island. Today Kaikoura
is still important as a whaling centre but in a totally different capacity as only a few km further out, giant sperm whales can be
seen all year round. Fur seals lounge on rocks just meters from the shore, Dusky and Hectors dolphins frolic in the sea with sight of town.
Quick tips/suggestions
Apart from whale
watching tours you can snorkel among the dusky dolphins in their natural environment or swim with the
inquisitive New Zealand
fur seals in the shallow waters of Kaikoura's rocky coastline.
If there's a place you've stayed or something you've done, but we haven't listed, review it for us!
KAIKOURA
Hostels