Guided Wildlife Kayaking Experience

Paddle around the rugged Kaikōura Peninsula, keeping watch for seals hunting their favourite meal—octopus.

This coastal adventure showcases breathtaking cliff faces, craggy rocks, and mountain ranges, with the chance to spot dusky dolphins and little blue penguins along the way.

Get up close to playful fur seals as they dive, weave, and glide around your kayak.

This award winning tour is suitable for all abilities. 

Operating year round and doesn't require any previous kayaking experience.

These professionally guided kayaking expeditions adhere to the highest of safety standards.

Our wildlife kayaking tours are one of the most popular activities in Kaikōura.

All tours depart from our base at 17 Killarney Street Kaikōura daily, allow 3 hours from sign up until we bid you farewell.

The tour includes a short briefing at the start of your adventure, transport, dressing up to look like pro's, setting up your enclosed double sea kayak, an introduction to kayaking and paddling instruction and of course we will cover all safety protocols. You will spend 1.5 to 2 hours paddling alongside an experience guide as they talk about the Kaikōura history and share their passion and knowledge on the wildlife of Kaikōura .

We look forward to sharing New Zealand's marine life at it's very best, kayaking around Kaikōura aquatic wonderland, it will be an experience that you'll remember for a lifetime!

Awesome Award-Winning Entertainment

Qualmark Endorsed visitor activity "Gold" Certification
2025 Travellers Choice - TripAdvisor.
Inducted into TripAdvisors Hall of Fame.
The very first Friend of the Sea sustainable operator for Dolphin and Whale viewing in New Zealand.                                                                     

Google Reviews - April 2026

-Loved our guides and loved the trip, we saw a big ole bait ball, albatrosses, dolphins, and hutton shearwaters.

-Amazing experience, amazing staff. Hard to recommend Kaikoura Kayaks more.

-Fantastic tour, friendly guides, excellent safety briefing, we saw dolphins ? and a humpback whale?. What more could you want? ?  ?