Best Things To Do in Kaikoura, New Zealand

Are you looking for what to do in Kaikoura?

THINGS TO DO

  • All of the splendours of eco-tourism are available in Kaikoura; such as an abundance of marine tours, dives, wilderness walks and traditional Maori tours.
  • During the day you can engage in various water sports such as fishing, kayaking and sailing in the Marlborough sounds, or view the Giant Sperm Whale that inhabit these waters year round. You can also see Dolphin, such as the rare Hector Dolphin, Fur Seals and Turtle, or even go shark diving.
  • A major draw of this fishing village is its delicious seafood, especially Crayfish. So visit around the beginning of October and come to the Kaikoura Seafest, a food and beverage festival, with live entertainment, held at the Takahanga Domain on the Esplanade.
  • For some profound history you could visit  Fyffe House on Avoca Point, built on whale bones, this is the oldest remaining building of the Waiopuka Whaling Station.
  • You can create a great memory and do a good deed by visiting Trees for Travellers, a non-profit charity, where you can plant a tree to commemorate your visit; you can buy trees online or enquire at the i-SITE Visitor’s Centre.

NIGHTLIFE

Try the following few spots for your night entertainment:

  • Mayfair Theatre: Come here for the best music and dance, you will definitely enjoy.
  • Strawberry Tree: A cool pub with pool tables, a beer garden and every Thursday night there is a night jam session. The interior decor is pretty nice.
  • Whaler: Here you find big screens, large pool tables and a beer garden as well.
  • Point Sheep Shearing Show: This is held at Point B&B, its fun and classic.

Below we have a list of things to do in Kaikoura and the places where you want to spend the best moments of your trip. At the same time, the city offers you the best neighborhoods to explore and new foods to try.

This list should help you in deciding and prioritizing what you should plan on your Kaikoura getaway. Find a mix of must-see tourist spots, underrated local hangouts, and maybe even a few new experiences you can try out.

Make the most of your trip to Kaikoura with confidence.

Tourist Attractions in Kaikoura

Here is the list of things to do in Kaikoura and tourist attractions in city.

  1. Ohau Waterfall Walk And Stream Walk

    Outdoors, Trail, Hiking Trail, Walking Area

    The Ohau Waterfall is a little distance away from the main town on the highway. This absolutely gorgeous place can be reached through a short and non-labor intensive walk and is a complete delight. The waterfall is frequent home to incredibly adorable seal pups but if you go around October to February (Summer) you won’t be able to see them. But even without them, this attraction is certai...Read more
  2. Peninsula Walkway

    Outdoors, Trail, Waterfront, Hiking Trail

    This incredibly scenic spot is a must visit in Kaikoura. The Kaikoura Peninsula which juts out into the ocean is an incredibly beautiful area and a walk down it is a unique experience. Morning or evening, the scenic walkway is a great place to take a long leisurely walk in or to sit and stare at the ocean for hours together. The coast is also rich in marine life so the area falls under a scenic...Read more
  3. Kaikoura Ranges

    5 (484 Votes)
    Kaikoura Ranges

    Outdoors, View Point, Hiking Trail, Adventure

    The Town of Kaikoura is famous for the beautiful Kaikoura ranges that lie nearby. Two parallel mountain ranges lie side by side in all their majestic and mighty beauty in this place while the Clarence valley lies in between. This gorgeous natural area is certainly one of the most spectacular places you will see in the town of Kaikoura. The ranges each either face land or sea. The Seaward ranges...Read more
  4. Whale Watch Kaikoura

    4.5 (583 Votes)
    Whale Watch Kaikoura

    Water Sport, Nature

    Whale Watch Kaikoura gives you the opportunity to get up close and personal with the majestic creatures from the oceans that are a cause of great wonder in humans. The sheer size of these creatures makes one think of just how insignificant one is on the face of this earth. Whale watching can be done in very few places on the earth and the experience in New Zealand is unparalleled. The Whales ro...Read more
  5. Kaikoura Marine Aquarium

    3.2 (269 Votes)
    Kaikoura Marine Aquarium

    Museum, Aquarium, Educational Site

    Kaikoura, the beautiful Seaside city in New Zealand is blessed with tremendous marine wealth and while you will be doing all sorts of aquatic activities while here, it makes sense to visit this awesome place. It is especially suitable for younger kids who may not have the patience for longer tours. All the magic of the ocean of New Zealand has been brought to one place at the Kaikoura Marine aq...Read more
  6. Fyffe House

    Historical Site, Architecture , Heritage Building

    The Fyffe house is a rather popular attraction in Kaikoura. The appeal of the place lies in the fact that it has been around for ages. The foundations of the house were probably built on whale bones and a lot of the old charm and the architecture of the place has still survived. A nostalgic area, the adorable little pink house is a great place to visit in Kaikoura. The rustic house has a very o...Read more
  7. Mayfair Theatre

    4.4 (587 Votes)
    Mayfair Theatre

    Entertainment, Theatre, Cinema

    The Mayfair theatre is a wonderful community theatre in Kaikoura. This place is a breath of fresh air if you want to catch the latest flick while in Kaikoura. Unlike the typical boring multiplexes this theatre has a rustic charm to it, which makes it a popular destination. The old-style art deco building is simply and elegantly designed. The interiors give you the feeling of watching a movie in...Read more
  8. Kaikoura Farm Park

    3.9 (402 Votes)
    Kaikoura Farm Park

    Ranch, Leisure, Farm

    The Kaikoura farm is a wonderful place to visit in the town. If you are traveling with kids, this one is a definite must visit. The concept is that you get to visit a traditional farm in New Zealand. Additionally you get to interact with the amazing farm animals in the place. Ponies, pigs, sheep and even deer can be found here. Kids love to cuddle up with these furry friends while parents will ...Read more
  9. Maori Leap Cave

    Outdoors, Cave, Geological Formation

    The Maori Leap Cave in Kaikoura is quite stunning. This cave with its stalactites and stalagmites was discovered some time in the 1950s and has been a huge tourist attraction ever since. The limestone cave is quite beautiful and has been naturally formed by the sea-waves. You will quite easily be able to find tours that take you into the depths of this lovely natural phenomenon. If you take a t...Read more
  10. Lavendyl Lavender Farm

    4 (133 Votes)
    Lavendyl Lavender Farm

    Outdoors, Nature, Farm

    This Lavender Farm is a wonderful place to visit. The place stretches on for 5 acres or so and is a lovely sight. Over 50 different varieties of purple lavender are produced here and used for various purposes. If you wish to buy lavender oil or essence, you will also additionally get to see how it’s made and what processes go into it when you come here. And the farm doesn’t just cul...Read more
  11. The Whaler Bar And Restaurant

    Bar, Food And Drinks, Restaurant, Entertainment

    The Whaler is a very pleasant Bar in Kaikoura. The place is perfect for a night out with friends or your significant other. Delicious fresh beer and lip-smacking sea food too go with it make the highlights of this very popular nocturnal haunt. They play lovely music and hence you can relax and not worry about the world as you sit here and sip your drink. The food is worth two mentions because i...Read more
  12. Springbank Estate

    5 (94 Votes)
    Springbank Estate

    Estate, Food And Drinks, Winery, Vineyard

    Not many know that Kaikoura is a very important producer of Wine. The weather of the place makes it is a great area to make wine in. If you want to know more about wine, the wine making process and wine in New Zealand in general, do visit the Springbank Estate where you will be able to tour an amazing vineyard. The verdant greens produce a variety of wines and are worth a see in themselves but ...Read more
  13. Kaikoura Aerodrome

    4.5 (19 Votes)
    Kaikoura Aerodrome Image
    ©
    Kaikoura Aerodrome (IATA: KBZ, ICAO: NZKI) is a small aerodrome located in Kaikoura, New Zealand. It is owned and operated by the Kaikoura District Council. The aerodrome is located on the south side of the town, and is used mainly for general aviation.The aerodrome has a single asphalt runway, designated 09/27, which is 1,067 metres (3,501 ft) long and 18 metres (59 ft) wide. The runway is equ...Read more
  14. Traditional Maori Tours
    All of the splendours of eco-tourism are available in Kaikoura; such as an abundance of marine tours, dives, wilderness walks and traditional Maori tours.
  15. Giant Sperm Whale
    During the day you can engage in various water sports such as fishing, kayaking and sailing in the Marlborough sounds, or view the Giant Sperm Whale that inhabit these waters year round. You can also see Dolphin, such as the rare Hector Dolphin, fur seals and Turtle, or even go shark diving.

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