Kaikoura

New_Zealand

Kaikoura (pronounced: Kai-kou-ra) is a small coastal town on the east coast (Pacific Ocean) of the South Island of New Zealand, about 180 km north of Christchurch and 130 km south of Blenheim. It is famed for its marine mammals (whales, dolphins, seals) and other sea-life, all of which you can see, some of which you can swim with, and some you can eat. In Māori, kai means "eat" and kōura is "crayfish" (rock lobster). So Kaikoura is a place to eat crayfish!

Kaikoura lies on a narrow coastal plain between high mountains and the Pacific Ocean. In places along this coast the mountains drop almost straight into the sea, with barely enough flat land for a single railway line, two-lane road and rocky beach, and even then some short tunnels are needed on corners. The steepness of the mountains reflects the underwater geography as well. The deep-water Hikurangi Trench and the continental shelf edge lies just offshore here. This causes the ocean around Kaikoura to be rich in sea life and attracts seals, whales (and humans) to the area to partake in the bounty of the sea.

The town has a similar charm to an east coast USA beach town, with a hodgepodge of signs trying to grab tourists' attention. At the edges of the town, the more relaxed and nature-oriented activities again take precedence.

Kaikoura is the perfect place to enjoy both the wonders of the magnificent Pacific Ocean and the tall, majestic mountains. A great place to stay, it is also an ideal rest stop on a section of State Highway 1 (SH1) that passes through isolated country north and south of the town.

The Maori settled in Kaikoura long before European colonisation of New Zealand and cultivated the coastal plain, planting kumara, a form of sweet potato. Maori legend has it that Maui placed his foot on the Kaikoura Peninsula to steady himself as he 'fished-up' the North Island.

In 1770, Captain Cook discovered the Kaikoura Peninsula, believing it to be an island at first. Early European settlers used Kaikoura as a whaling station from 1842 and the remains of pots used to render the whale blubber can be seen on the town foreshore.

  • Fyffe House, 62 Avoca St, +64 3 319 5835. Oct–Apr: daily 10:00-17:00, May–Sep: Th–M 10:00–16:00. Kaikoura's oldest building. The earliest part, built in the 1842, sits on whale vertebrae foundations. Has reopened after the 2016 quake. Adult $10, tertiary student $5, child free.
  • Point Kean Viewpoint: At the tip of the peninsula you can see fur seals sunbathing and seagulls sitting around in their nests. You can walk quite close, but please keep enough distance to avoid making them angry! A parking lot is only few meters away at the end of Fyffe Quay.

  • Peninsula Walkway: This beautiful well-prepared walkway starts at Point Kean Viewpoint and leads along the top of the cliffs. 5 km one-way to South Bay Beach, can be extended to a 12-km loop if you include a few streets and a way through the forest.
  • Mt Fyffe Track: Starting at Mt Fyffe carpark 15km away from the center of Kaikoura you can hike up Mt Fyffe (8 hours loop), or return earlier (5 hours loop to Mt Fyffe Hut, or 2-3 hours loop if you turn around at the viewpoint inbetween on 600 m height). All these options offer beautiful views over the Kaikoura Plains onto the sea. The roads to the carpark are partly gravel roads, but can still be used with bicycles or normal cars.
  • Hinau Track: This short 45-min loop track starting at Mt Fyffe carpark leads through special native forest where you can hear and sometimes see native birds.

A short information about these tracks is available online from the DOC.

  • Sperm whales
  • Dolphins
  • New Zealand fur seals
  • Wandering albatross

Depending on the season you may also see migrating humpback whales, pilot whales, blue whales and southern right whales. Kaikoura often hosts the orca, the largest member of the dolphin family, and is home to the world's smallest and rarest dolphin, 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 petrels and 7 types of shearwater.

Fyffe House, 62 Avoca St, +64 3 319 5835. Oct–Apr: daily 10:00-17:00, May–Sep: Th–M 10:00–16:00. Kaikoura's oldest building. The earliest part, built in the 1842, sits on whale vertebrae foundations. Has reopened after the 2016 quake. Adult $10, tertiary student $5, child free.

  • Whale Watch Kaikoura, Whaleway Station Road (at the Kaikoura railway station, +64 3 319 6767. Cafe and gift shop open 09:00-15:00 daily. Adults $150, children (3-15) $60.
  • Surf reef breaks and point breaks. Two surf shops in Kaikoura plus local board manufacturer Surge Surfboards
  • Fishing trip.
  • Kaikoura Kayaks, 19 Killarney St, +64 21 462 889. Kayak with seals and dolphins. Adults $99, children (3-12) $70.
  • Dolphin Encounter, 96 Esplanade, +64 3 319 6777. Adults $95-175, children (5-14) $50-160.
  • Swim With Seals, 58 West End, +64 3 319 6182. Adults $55-110, children (14 and under) $35-70.
  • Kaikoura Wilderness Walks, +64 3 319-6966. 2- & 3-day all-inclusive guided hikes through the privately owned Puhi Peaks Nature Reserve near Kaikoura. Upmarket lodge accommodation, untamed wilderness, dramatic alpine terrain, expert local guides.
  • South Pacific Safaris, Glencree Station, RD2, +64 3 319-5189. Experienced, professional hunting guides offering deer hunting trips and other trophy hunts amongst magnificent mountains near Kaikoura plus luxury hunting lodge accommodation.
  • Dive Kaikoura, 13 Yarmouth Street, +64 3 319 6622. 5 Star PADI Dive Centre. You can dive the kelp forests and limestone reefs on guided scuba diving tours with them.

Whale Watch Kaikoura, Whaleway Station Road (at the Kaikoura railway station, +64 3 319 6767. Cafe and gift shop open 09:00-15:00 daily. Adults $150, children (3-15) $60.

Surf reef breaks and point breaks. Two surf shops in Kaikoura plus local board manufacturer Surge Surfboards

Fishing trip.

Kaikoura Kayaks, 19 Killarney St, +64 21 462 889. Kayak with seals and dolphins. Adults $99, children (3-12) $70.

Dolphin Encounter, 96 Esplanade, +64 3 319 6777. Adults $95-175, children (5-14) $50-160.

Swim With Seals, 58 West End, +64 3 319 6182. Adults $55-110, children (14 and under) $35-70.

Kaikoura Wilderness Walks, +64 3 319-6966. 2- & 3-day all-inclusive guided hikes through the privately owned Puhi Peaks Nature Reserve near Kaikoura. Upmarket lodge accommodation, untamed wilderness, dramatic alpine terrain, expert local guides.

South Pacific Safaris, Glencree Station, RD2, +64 3 319-5189. Experienced, professional hunting guides offering deer hunting trips and other trophy hunts amongst magnificent mountains near Kaikoura plus luxury hunting lodge accommodation.

Dive Kaikoura, 13 Yarmouth Street, +64 3 319 6622. 5 Star PADI Dive Centre. You can dive the kelp forests and limestone reefs on guided scuba diving tours with them.

  • The Top Shop Fish and Chips, Beach Road, Kaikoura (at the branch of Beach Road and Old Beach Road. 08:00-20:00 most days. About 1.5 km north of the centre of Kaikoura, just on the beach side of the main road, you'll find some of the best fish in New Zealand. However, the chips are without doubt the best and great value too. Run by the nicest, friendliest and most helpful couple you could wish to meet.
  • Waipapa Bay Lobsters, 32km north of Kaikoura, has crayfish – always fresh, never frozen. There are outdoor tables where you are welcome to eat, or you can have them packed on ice should you want to eat them later in the day.
  • Kekerengu Store, State Highway 1, Kekerengu, +64 3 575 8600. Daily 08:00-17:00. On the main highway, 53 km (40 minutes drive) north of Kaikoura. Stop for a bite to eat, or a meal. The best restaurant for miles - hey, its the only restaurant for miles and has to be the best, so people will stop. Just far enough north, on your way to Picton, to justify pulling over for a rest break. $18-24.

The Top Shop Fish and Chips, Beach Road, Kaikoura (at the branch of Beach Road and Old Beach Road. 08:00-20:00 most days. About 1.5 km north of the centre of Kaikoura, just on the beach side of the main road, you'll find some of the best fish in New Zealand. However, the chips are without doubt the best and great value too. Run by the nicest, friendliest and most helpful couple you could wish to meet.

Waipapa Bay Lobsters, 32km north of Kaikoura, has crayfish – always fresh, never frozen. There are outdoor tables where you are welcome to eat, or you can have them packed on ice should you want to eat them later in the day.

Kekerengu Store, State Highway 1, Kekerengu, +64 3 575 8600. Daily 08:00-17:00. On the main highway, 53 km (40 minutes drive) north of Kaikoura. Stop for a bite to eat, or a meal. The best restaurant for miles - hey, its the only restaurant for miles and has to be the best, so people will stop. Just far enough north, on your way to [[Picton (New Zealand)|Picton]], to justify pulling over for a rest break. $18-24.

  • North to the small town of Ward and on to Blenheim, the largest town in the Marlborough region.
  • South to Waipara