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Kaikoura Helicopter Tour: Uninterrupted Whale Watching Experience from Beachfront Helipads
4.7
31 Ratings
Kaikōura
Helicopters depart from our centrally located beach front helipads, lifting off on your scenic helicopter tour to view the Kaikoura Coast. View Sperm Whales from head to tail, offering you a unique and uninterrupted vantage point of these magnificent marine mammals.
Helicopters depart from our centrally located beach front helipads, lifting off on your scenic helicopter tour to view the Kaikoura Coast. View Sperm Whales from head to tail, offering you a unique and uninterrupted vantage point of these magnificent marine mammals.
Duration:
30 minutes
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Kaikoura - This helicopter tour departs from our beachfront heli-pads and within minutes you’ll be in the spectacular environment that plays host to one of the world’s largest marine mammals, the magnificent Sperm Whale. From the comfort of our helicopter, you will enjoy the ultimate whale-spotting experience.\nEnjoy spectacular, panoramic views…
- Kaikoura - This helicopter tour departs from our beachfront heli-pads and within minutes you’ll be in the spectacular environment that plays host to one of the world’s largest marine mammals, the magnificent Sperm Whale. From the comfort of our helicopter, you will enjoy the ultimate whale-spotting experience.\nEnjoy spectacular, panoramic views of Kaikoura Peninsula.\nSee the seal colonies along the rocks at the end of Kaikoura Peninsula.\nThere is a possibility of seeing dolphins, baleen whales migrating through, and humpback whales on their way back and forth from their feeding grounds down near Antarctica, to their birthing and breeding grounds in Tonga/Niue in May/Nov\nWe operate under the strict guidelines of our whale watching concession from the Department of Conservation whilst also abiding to the Marine Mammals Protection Act
What's Included
- Scenic helicopter excursion to view sperm whales and wildlife
- Explore the unique and rugged Kaikoura Coastline
- View Kaikoura’s deep-sea canyon while searching for a Giant Sperm Whale
- Uninterrupted views of marine mammals in a luxury helicopter
- Live commentary from knowledgeable pilots
- Headset with microphone for clear communication
- Scenic helicopter excursion to view sperm whales and wildlife
- Explore the unique and rugged Kaikoura Coastline
- View Kaikoura’s deep-sea canyon while searching for a Giant Sperm Whale
- Uninterrupted views of marine mammals in a luxury helicopter
- Live commentary from knowledgeable pilots
- Headset with microphone for clear communication
Additional Information
- A headset is provided with a microphone for communicating with your pilot
- Please call 24 hours in advance to reconfirm your booking +64 3 319 6609
- We recommend wearing covered shoes and bringing a warm jacket
- We recommend bringing your camera and sunglasses
- All passengers will be weighed before departure
- Your pilot in command will load…
- A headset is provided with a microphone for communicating with your pilot
- Please call 24 hours in advance to reconfirm your booking +64 3 319 6609
- We recommend wearing covered shoes and bringing a warm jacket
- We recommend bringing your camera and sunglasses
- All passengers will be weighed before departure
- Your pilot in command will load helicopter based on weight and balance
- All flights are subject to weather conditions and minimum numbers. Please see our website for full terms and conditions
- If the weather does not allow you to fly, we will be happy to rebook you for a later time if your travel schedule allows. Alternatively your voucher can be used at one of our other helicopter bases in Wellington or Christchurch
Location
16 West End
West End
Kaikoura Helicopters is situated under the rail bridge on the main street of Kaikoura. Look for the whales on the windows and the smiling staff on the reception.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.7
(31 Ratings)
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Kaiwend2021
Aug 8, 2024
joy - This was great. I had never been in a helicopter and I was def scared. Actually, though, helicopters feel gentle and magical, like floating in a bubble. And they are a great way to see sperm whales and other marine life. We saw one sperm whale for several minutes and it was astonishing. The ride out and back was beautiful. The Kaikoura coast and mountains are spectacular.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tania_s
Jun 2, 2024
Birthday gift worth it - Excellent service, we arrived early & wasn’t an issue taking us earlier than our scheduled time. Seen a whale and dolphins during our flight! Highly recommend this company. Thank you
Review provided by Viator
309lucyt
Mar 14, 2024
Great helicopter experience - Our pilot was great, skilled and very informative. The views over the bay were incredible. We saw several orca although the sperm whales remained elusive.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
N4321boandrewh
Feb 20, 2024
Highlight of our holiday - Online booking was straightforward and face to face service was prompt and helpful. Pilot was knowledgable and felt in safe hands. Seeing a sperm whale from the air and close up was just superb. A highlight of our holiday
Review provided by Tripadvisor
James
May 6, 2023
Sperm whales and dusky dolphins - We were so well informed before the trip and then the trip was brilliant. We managed to circle over a massive sperm whale before it dived and then found a massive pod of performing dusky dolphins- it truly is a magical experience. The chopper is so comfortable and the pilot really friendly and informative
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Catherine_l
Mar 22, 2023
amazing flight over kaikora & the Whales - What a very professional safe operation this is. We were so well prepared pre flight.
saw 2 sperm whales and a very large pod of dolphins, plus a lovely view of the coast. Helicopter carries 3 passengers plus pilot.
Really can’t recommend this trip enough.
Review provided by Viator
Janenevill
Oct 9, 2024
Office is not helpful or organised which is shame as trip good - Booked this trip months ago
So day we arrived in town and day before trip thought we would check out where place was as our flight was 9 am
The address is their office in the town. The lady in the office showed a picture of where to go but oh it’s bad winds tomorrow so might have to move you blah blah blah. Explained we are on holiday have other activities planned can only do certain days and times if we do need to move but forecast on weather app is sun and v light wind (yes understand up mountain wind is different)
So wake up next morning to message it’s cancelled and rebooked for a time we said we couldn’t do!
Messages backwards and forwards ended up come to hanger we will do whale watch but can’t go up mountain- that’s fine and maybe what should have been offered in first place instead of all this we are going to cancel
Pilot man was lovely saw a sperm whale pretty quickly and managed to circle it a few times before it dove
Moved along stunning coastline found dolphins and seals. There was a humpback somewhere but sadly hiding from us
Feel we did the extended whale tour which is a lot cheaper than the tour we booked so have e mailed suggesting a refund of the difference but of course no reply to date sadly
We did enjoy the trip but somewhat spoilt by the it might be cancelled then was cancelled then having to haggle to get some sort of trip
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Penelope
Sep 4, 2024
No whales but beautiful flight - Only had 1 day in Kaikoura so took the helicopter ride even though we were told the whales weren't around. Had Aaron take us up into the snowy hills which was awesome - then a quick coastal fly by
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Johnd9222
Mar 9, 2024
Whales watching by helicopter - Was warned that might not see whales and given opportunity to not go but decided to and was a great experince, unfortunately no whales seen but time added on for seeing the seal colonies.
Worth it
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Suehes
Feb 22, 2024
Sadly, a waste of money - The administration was poor. We were sent instructions to meet at the incorrect place. Phoned and was told that she'd sent a link to get to the correct place - she hadn't. Finally went in to the office in Kaikoura to get the correct instructions.
Aaron was our pilot. Very friendly and informative but he spoke to us as though we were kindergarten age. Good 30 minute helicopter ride but no whales seen at all sadly.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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