Kaikoura: Whale Watching Cruise

1.Kaikoura: Whale Watching Cruise
Spot giant sperm whales off Kaikōura on a low-noise catamaran. Watch dolphins, seals, and albatross, with expert narration.
“Whales made it great, dolphins were an added bonus!”
New Zealand · CRUISES & BOAT TOURS
139 reviewed
Here are the 15 best cruises & boat tours anywhere in New Zealand, set out with the price, the running time and the town each one leaves from. The one at the top earned its place.

Spot giant sperm whales off Kaikōura on a low-noise catamaran. Watch dolphins, seals, and albatross, with expert narration.
“Whales made it great, dolphins were an added bonus!”

Small-group Milford Sound day trip from Queenstown with hotel pickup, scenic stops, picnic lunch, and a 2-hour cruise to Mitre Peak.
“We recently went on this experience and highly recommend it to anyone visiting Queenstown, New Zealand. It exceeded our expectations in every way. Joe, our guide, drove us to Milford Fiord (learnt that it is geographically accurate name for Milford Sound) and went above and beyond to make the journey engaging and informative. His insightful commentary throughout the drive helped us truly appreciate the geographic, historical, and cultural significance of the scenic lookouts. Despite the heavy rain, the tour was conducted seamlessly and in fact, Milford Fiord was even more spectacular in the rain. The cruise itself was beyond words, making us feel as though we had stepped into another…”

Small-boat Milford Sound cruise with half-capacity comfort, live skipper narration, hot drinks and biscuits, and close wildlife viewing near Mitre Peak.
“Great cruise! Much smaller than the others which was very enjoyable. The staff was so kind and the captain very funny and entertaining. Also, great views of waterfalls! Highly recommend.”

Speedy catamaran whale watching in Kaikoura with live commentary. Spot sperm whales, dolphins, and seals, plus an 80% refund.
“Was well organized , saw 4 whales , 2 of them for 5-6 of minutes each , crowded a bit when whale come.”

Cruise Lake Whakatipu to Walter Peak for a wood-fired gourmet BBQ, lakeside farm dog show, and a relaxing return ride by ship.
“Had a great day out on the TSS Earnslaw. Arrived at 10.30am for 11am boarding and arrived back about 3pm. Onboard had plenty of areas to sit and was able to move around. Was able to see the steam room for the boat which was amazing! We arrived at the farm/station and debarked the boat. Absolutely beautiful spot, with flowers and buildings along the lake. Signage/instructions was poor: no clear area to head to or where to go so everyone just followed each other, but wasn’t a big deal! The food was a BBQ buffet, beautifully cooked with decent variety. We then were given a short period to explore the…”

Full-day Milford Sound cruise from Queenstown with coach views, tea and lunch, 3 decks, and close-up Stirling Falls.
“Milford sound was BEAUTIFUL! Highly recommend this day trip and cruise. We had an amazing driver, Brandon (maybe spelled Brendan). Our driver was informative, kind, friendly, sociable and offered to take photos for his passengers at the stops. For a tourist not from AU, I would have loved WiFi on the coach bus.”

2-hour small boat Milford Sound cruise with close-up waterfalls, live skipper commentary, wildlife spotting, and hot drinks onboard.
“To answer the question which to choose between Milford Sound or Doubtful Sound, we did both. This tour with Mitre Peak was excellent. We were on a small boat that could get close enough to waterfalls for passengers to get wet. We were also able to cruise amongst a group of cheeky dolphins who playfully did jumps and flips in front of the boat and then in the boats wake as we accelerated across the mouth at the Tasman Sea. This lasted for 15 minutes. For Doubtful Sound we used a different operator who also did a very professional job. There isn't much to see in the two cruises across…”

A small-group, high-speed jet boat through the Shotover River canyons in Queenstown, with 360-degree spins, rapids, and photo stops.
“It was fun and exciting The driver was professional . Fan and very recommend . I smile all the time.”

Small group Milford Sound day trip from Queenstown with hotel pickup, picnic lunch, a 1h45 cruise, hot drinks, and scenic stops.
“The driver and tour guide, James, arrived eight minutes before the set time, so I did not have to wait long. In a later pick up, I saw that the driver waited until the specified time and then did all he could to determine what might be keeping the Read more”

A 2-hour Akaroa catamaran wildlife cruise with trained dolphin-spotting dogs, included drinks, and homemade cookies, in search of Hector’s dolphins.
“This was a wonderful experience! We saw penguins, dolphins, seals, and shags. The boat was small but spacious. We also really loved to ship's dog, he was so cute and friendly.”

Fly Queenstown to Milford Sound, cruise the fjord, then fly back a different way, saving road time with big alpine views.
“Holy cow was this awesome! The beauty of Milford Sound is unmatched. The plane was an amazing way to experience the beauty of the mountains. Our pilot Andrew was incredible and very friendly and knowledgeable. The boat was a little crowded, but it was comfortable nonetheless. One of my favorite things we did in NZ!”

4.5-hour eco safari from Viaduct Harbour in Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf to spot dolphins, whales, seabirds, and more with marine scientists.
“I highly recommend this crew. They were incredibly kind and knowledgeable. We had two whale sightings and saw multiple dolphin pods during our January 6th afternoon safari. This trip was truly memorable and well worth it.”

Jet boat thrills in Queenstown, with 360 spins, heated handrails, and a high-speed run up the Shotover and Kawarau rivers.
“Fantastic fun filled ride. Had a great time. A must do in Queenstown.”

Fly Queenstown to Milford Sound with guaranteed window seats, then enjoy a 2-hour boat cruise through Mitre Peak and waterfalls.
“The whole activity was excellent from start to finish, especially the outward and return flight to Milford Sound, just a sheer magical experience from start to finish, the cruise was also excellent. I highly recommend this to anyone just brilliant.”

A 2-hour Milford Sound cruise in a smaller boat with close waterfall views, live onboard commentary, and chances to spot seals, dolphins, and penguins.
“Though the cruise is excellent, the process to get to the ship is awful. The park and ride is a shame , all passenegers gather around a small bus like sheep and hustling each other to get into the bus. What a shame for international visitors”





