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Kaikoura: Whale Watching Flight (Extended)

Name: Kaikoura: Whale Watching Flight (Extended)
Brand: Air Kaikoura
SKU: 130346P5
Price: 101.50 USD
Rating: 5.0 (135 reviews)

Badge of ExcellenceKaikoura, New Zealand

40 minutes (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

What's Included

Headsets with live commentary from the pilot

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

627 State Highway 1, Peketā 7374, New Zealand
As you turn into Kaikoura Airport make a right turn towards the black whale watching hangar and buildings. PLEASE CHECK IN 30MINUTES PRIOR TO YOUR FLIGHT TIME

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Service animals allowed
Infants must sit on laps

Transportation is wheelchair accessible
Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Most travelers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 7 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Featured review

Sadie_H

Friendly and very professional and thorough operation. Got me checked in, briefed and on the plane on schedule. Saw humpback whale surrounded by dolphins within a few minutes. Lots of opportunity to view sea life in the water from a completely different point of view and also the beautiful mountains nearby. Highly recommend the extended version as time flies by and don’t wear a jacket as it gets warm inside the plane.

Reviews

5.0

135 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

We perform checks on reviews

Showing 1-10 of 135 reviews

amazing experience!!

Mia_L, Apr 2024

We saw so many dolphins and a whale. The weather was also great and at the end we even flew a bit over the mountains:)

A Birds Eye of the sea life

Sadie_H, Apr 2024

Fun tour

Blake_W, Apr 2024

It was a fun tour. They were upfront and honest about not knowing if they could find a whale the day or our tour. They spotted one and decided to go ahead with the tour. If we were unable to find a whale we would have received a voucher for a free flight. We did find a whale. It was really cool. Had we not found a whale the flight was awesome by itself.

Great flight, scenic views and dolphins.

Kevin_P, Apr 2024

I've done a lot of whale watching from a boat. I lived almost 2 decades in San Clemente CA, which is another place migrating whales pass every year. There are a couple of things anyone who goes whale watching should know. 1. You usually don't see whales. I mean you have better luck when you're in the right season, when the weather is good and there's been recent sightings. But you might have to settle for dolphin watching. 2. The people selling whale watching tours let's say, don't always emphasize the first point. I know for other such activities, such as tiger spotting in India, they will post a daily log of sightings and where on a chalkboard. This might be a good idea, perhaps online. I'm sure some places do that. All that being said, I recommend this tour. If you read my review, you will know that sighting whales (or any animal in the wild) isn't like a zoo or a circus. They aren't just lined up and waiting for you (dolphins might be the exception, they do seem to like people, and they are smart). I've never done whale watching from the air, and the flight was a good experience. The problem with flying is often weather, so getting up in the air might be a challenge too. This is a fairly remote place and perhaps some of you are staying in the area for a while but I suspect many are making a daytrip, or like me, passing through. So keep all that in mind. Don't yell at the guy at the front desk if your plane can't go up or you don't see a whale. Just know in advance how things work. It's like a lottery ticket, with better odds. It's not terribly expensive (at least compared to a helicopter) and kinda fun just going up for the ride. Great views. Maybe the best way to think of it is a scenic airplane flight with the possibility of seeing a whale. You will probable see dolphins, which is why, when I lived in California, and was taking my kids out for a trip, I told them we were going dolphin watching. Full disclosure: I did not see a whale on this flight.

Amazing pics, great service.

Todd_H, Mar 2024

Great experience, these guys are top notch. They have these whales timed just right when they come up and plan their trip accordingly.

Awesome experience

Frank_T, Mar 2024

The plane ride was just awesome. The views incredible. This is the only way to go for whale watching. Don't waste your time on a boat ride!

Blue whale sighting

Clare_B, Mar 2024

We had been flying around for over 40 minutes and we were going to head back in when we got to see a blue whale, although it was only fleetingly. Amazing opportunity.

Great flight with a perfekt pilot and a spectacular view to a whale and many dolphins

Birgit_H, Feb 2024

Good atmosphere with a lot of humor and interesting informations. Perfekt flight and spectacular views over the ocean.

Incredible!!! DO IT!!!

Cynthia_P, Feb 2024

Incredible!!! I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to see the beautiful coastline of Kaikoura and stunning Turquoise ocean! Everyone was knowledgeable anout the area and the Whales and very professional!! The flight was smooth with absolutely breathtaking views! Seeing the Sperm Whale was the icing on the cake!! Once in a lifetime experience!!

Really recommend this...

Jonathan_M, Feb 2024

Really recommend this trip the view from the plane was amazing and getting to see 2 whales was a bonus the staff were excellent very friendly and knowledgeable definitely worth it

Response from Host, Feb 2024

Thanks for the review!

Must do!

Sonia_M, Feb 2024

The whole experience was amazing and cheap! The pilot (forgot his name) was a gentleman and very knowledgeable with great flying skills and managed to find whales and dolphins. 10/10 experience!

Response from Host, Feb 2024

Many thanks for the kind review! We're glad you enjoyed your experience.

Amazing views, best people!

Jennifer_K, Jan 2024

Really wonderful experience even though I didn’t get to see a whale. They offered for me to go up a second time on a free seat, just had to pay a fuel fee… still no whale, and they offered for me to come back the next day and they’d take me up again if they had a spare seat. Really love the passion with these folks, just wanted us to see the whales but obviously can’t control the whale does!

Response from Host, Feb 2024

Hey Jennifer, thanks for your understanding. While we do our absolute best to locate wildlife, nature can be completely unpredictable at times. We're glad you enjoyed the experience anyway, and thanks for the review!

Anniversary Weekend

Fiola_M, Oct 2023

We sighted a Sperm Whale, which was a real treat, as they are not normally around our waters this time of year.

Response from Host, Nov 2023

We're happy you enjoyed your experience and saw a sperm whale, they are definitely amazing to view from the air and it's always so great to see them. Thanks so much for flying with us!

Value for money!!!

Toby_H, Jul 2023

Super value for money. Adrenaline rush matched with whale sight seeing! Not only do you get to enjoy the thrill of flying around Kaikoura, you get to see Whales from up above!!

Excellant

Melissa_W, Jun 2023

Was an amazing trip and thoroughly enjoyed, highly recommend to everyone, friendly staff, beautiful scenery, amazing to see the whales, a must do

Fab to see whales but miss-sold. It is NOT an extended trip

Andy_D, Jan 2023

Fabulous to see 2 whales - hence the 4* but this trip is not extended and is being miss-sold as being a 1 hour 30 minutes (approx) trip by Viator. Plane took off at 1654 and landed at 1733 (39 minutes approx). You get nothing more so I would strongly suggest that you book your trip with Air Kaikoura or one of the many other providers when you get here. I do not recommend Viator.

Whales, dolphins and the most amazing view!

Sherry_S, Jan 2023

A great (faster, warmer) alternative to the boat tours (mine was canceled because of high winds). Yes! We saw a sperm whale and a HUGE pod of dolphins, but even if we hadn't, it would have been worth it for the views.

Expérience incroyable

Malanto_R, Apr 2024

J'ai déja observé des baleines dans différents pays, avec des bateaux de différentes tailles et passant plus ou moins près, mais le fait d'observer les cachalots (et autres animaux marins) depuis le ciel est une expérience totalement différente. Je le recommande très fortement, à faire une fois dans sa vie