Kaikoura

Where Mountains Meet the Deep

Kaikoura sits in this wild spot where the Seaward Kaikoura Range drops almost straight into the Pacific, and just offshore the Kermadec trench runs deep enough to keep the water absolutely loaded with marine life. It's genuinely the best place in New Zealand to get close to whales, dolphins, and seals, and that's not marketing speak. The wildlife here is the real reason to come.

Get On the Water

The big call is how you see the whales. By sea you get that close, intimate experience, and I'd pick the first sailing of the day when it's calmest. From the air you see the actual scale of these things, plus a scenic flight thrown in on a clear day. Either way, whale watching is the one, and the RANKERS promo code takes a bit of the sting out of it. If dolphins are more your thing, Kaikoura has some of the largest pods in the country. Swimming with them is pretty special but I'd stick to summer months, November through April, the water is genuinely cold. For something a bit different, seal kayaking gets you right down at their level on the water, which is where they're most at ease and most playful.

Do the Peninsula Walk

The Peninsula Walkway is my first pick for land-based stuff here. You don't have to do the whole thing, but you should. There are seals everywhere, and I mean everywhere. If something on the beach looks like a lump of driftwood, check again. The views over the Pacific are great too. If you're a keeno, Mt Fyffe is the one for the big panorama, mountains on one side, ocean on the other, but only bother on a clear day.

Camping and Food

For camping, the peninsula spots are the best position in town. Jimmy Armers is free but fills fast. The Pier Hotel has heaps of space, a flat rate per vehicle, and decent seafood on site if you want to try crayfish without making a big event of it. If you do want to make a big event of it, Hapuku Kitchen is the spot, but book ahead. For something more relaxed, Emporium Brewing north of town is a solid stop. And the RANKERS promo code also works on scenic flights if you end up wanting to do more than one thing from the air.