Sperm whale beginning its dive into the depth of the ocean
Whale Watching
Whale Watch is located in the town of Kaikoura, a scenic 2 ½ hour drive north of Christchurch on the east coast of the South Island. Towering snow covered peaks fall to the Pacific Ocean where a deep undersea canyon just offshore attracts an extraordinary abundance of marine life, the most famous being the sperm whale.
An orca
The sperm whale is the world's largest carnivore and is in fact the largest known predator ever to exist. They are equivalent in size to four elephants and each of their teeth can weigh more than a kilogram and grow to 20cm long. Sperm Whales dive 2,000 metres into the dark abyss of the Kaikoura Canyon to hunt prey such as giant squid - many of Kaikoura's sperm whales wear battle scars from close encounters with this monster of the deep.
Kaikoura is one of the finest places to see whales anywhere in the world. The sperm whales here are semi-resident and as a result Whale Watch Kaikoura have an impressive 95% success rate means that you are guaranteed an 80% refund if your tour does not see a whale.
Kaikoura peninsula
Every Whale Watch tour is a unique experience and the sightings vary. As well as whales, a typical Whale Watch tour may encounter New Zealand fur seals, pods of dusky dolphins and the endangered wandering albatross. Depending on the season you may also see a number of migrating whale species including humpback, pilot, blue and southern right. Kaikoura also hosts the world's largest dolphin, the orca and is home to the world's smallest and rarest the Hector's. Kaikoura also attracts the largest concentration and variety of seabirds on mainland New Zealand including 13 species of albatross, 14 varieties of petrel and 7 types of shearwater.
The company operates a fleet of modern catamarans that are purpose designed for whale watching with engines that minimise underwater noise and toilets that never pollute the sea. Passenger numbers for each tour are kept well below the vessel carrying capacity to ensure your tour experience remains a personal one.
Whale Watch is committed to providing a quality whale watching experience while carefully managing the use of a rare natural resource. As a Maori owned company, Whale Watch cherishes the twin values of hospitality to visitors and reverence for the natural world. It is a philosophy that embraces people, the land, the sea and all living things as one.
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