New Zealand · Oceania
Kaikōura
Deep water close to shore brings albatrosses within metres of boats.
When to go
- JanJanuary: Best
- FebFebruary: Best
- MarMarch: Best
- AprApril: Good
- MayMay: Good
- JunJune: Good
- JulJuly: Good
- AugAugust: Good
- SepSeptember: Good
- OctOctober: Good
- NovNovember: Best
- DecDecember: Best
BestGoodFair
Pelagic trips run year-round.
Why go
Kaikōura (; Māori pronunciation: [kaiˈkoːuɾa] ) is a town on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand, located on State Highway 1, 180 kilometres (110 mi) north of Christchurch. The town has an estimated permanent resident population of 2,350 as of June 2025. Kaikōura is the seat of the territorial authority of the Kaikōura District, which is part of the Canterbury region. In 2023, Kaikōura was named as one of the "most beautiful small towns in the world".
Kaikōura was first inhabited by the Māori, with the Ngāi Tahu iwi occupying the area since at least 1670.
Background from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Target birds
Map
Combine with
Nearby destinations
- JJanuary: Best
- FFebruary: Best
- MMarch: Best
- AApril: Good
- MMay: Poor or no data
- JJune: Poor or no data
- JJuly: Poor or no data
- AAugust: Poor or no data
- SSeptember: Poor or no data
- OOctober: Good
- NNovember: Best
- DDecember: Best
- JJanuary: Best
- FFebruary: Best
- MMarch: Poor or no data
- AApril: Poor or no data
- MMay: Poor or no data
- JJune: Poor or no data
- JJuly: Poor or no data
- AAugust: Poor or no data
- SSeptember: Poor or no data
- OOctober: Poor or no data
- NNovember: Good
- DDecember: Best