Kaikōura Helicopter Whale Watching Tour with Crayfish Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★ 5.00 (2 reviews)

Free cancellation

1/8

Duration2h 30m

GroupPrivate

LanguagesEN

PickupAt your hotel

Spot whales from the air, then eat them fresh at altitude

This private helicopter tour flies up to five passengers over the Hikurangi Marine Reserve near Kaikōura, where a marine biologist narrates sightings of sperm, humpback, orca and blue whales, plus dolphins and fur seals. The flight lands at an alpine location in the Seaward Kaikōura Ranges for a crayfish lunch with ocean views, then returns over the 2016 earthquake's geological aftermath—fault lines, diverted rivers and landslides reshaping the landscape. The tour runs 2.5 hours and includes the biologist guide, life jackets, headsets and the meal. Minimum age is 13.

2h 30m

Step-by-step itinerary

Helicopter whale watching and lunch

Fly over Kaikōura Whale Sanctuary
Spot whales and marine animals
Land at alpine location
Enjoy gourmet crayfish lunch
Fly over earthquake-shaped landscapes

The Experience

The helicopter lifts from Kaikōura and climbs over the Kaikōura Canyon and Whale Sanctuary, where sperm whales, humpbacks, orcas and blue whales feed in deep water close to shore. Your onboard marine biologist—Dr Krista Van Der Linde—identifies what you're seeing and explains the ecosystem that draws them here: the cold currents, the prey, the migration routes. Dusky dolphins and New Zealand fur seals move through the same waters. The biologist's narration turns the flight into something more than sightseeing; you're learning why this stretch of coast concentrates marine life that most visitors never see.

The helicopter descends into the Seaward Kaikōura Ranges and lands at a remote alpine location. A fresh crayfish lunch waits—sourced from the famous Karaka Lobster Café—and you eat it at altitude with panoramic views of the ocean and the mountains. This is the local delicacy, and the setting makes it the centerpiece of the day rather than a side arrangement.

On the return flight, the pilot guides you over the landscape the 2016 Kaikōura Earthquake reshaped: visible fault lines, rivers diverted from their courses, massive landslides that still mark the hillsides. The geological story unfolds beneath you, a different kind of natural history than the marine one you saw on the way out.

What’s included

Helicopter flight over the Hikurangi Marine Reserve and Kaikōura Canyon.
marine biologist guide narrating whale and marine life sightings.
crayfish lunch at an alpine location in the Seaward Kaikōura Ranges.
life jackets and headsets.
bottled water on request.
return flight over the 2016 earthquake's geological features.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyPets welcomeInfants must sit on laps

Operated by South Pacific Helicopters NZ

Is this one for you?This is a private tour, so you control the group and the pace without sharing the helicopter or the guide's attention. Choose it if you want marine education woven through the sightseeing—the biologist explains what you're seeing rather than just pointing—and if a crayfish lunch at altitude matters more than a standard meal stop on the ground.