Kaikoura is located on the east coast of New Zealand’s South Island. It is an enchanting place teeming with wildlife and untamed beauty. We lived in New Zealand for two years and this was one of our favorite weekend getaways. Keep reading to discover 8 of the best things to do in Kaikoura!
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8 Unforgettable Things to Do in Kaikoura
Table of Contents
- 1. Hike the Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway
- 2. Explore the Half Moon Bay Tide Pools
- 3. Sea the seal colony at Ohau Point
- 4. Explore a Sea Cave
- 5. Get out on the water
- 6. Camp at Goose Bay
- 7. Stop at the Kaikoura Lookout
- 8. Hang out on the shores of Kaikoura Beach
1. Hike the Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway
The Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway is one of the best spots to view seals in Kaikoura. The rocky headland also offers some of the most striking views in all of Kaikoura.
The hike starts at the Point Kean parking lot a few miles outside of town. There is no fee to park or enter. From the parking lot, take a short 5-minute walk up the hill to the Point Kean Viewpoint.
Here you’ll find a platform with informational plaques and breathtaking views of the ocean, rolling green hills, snowcapped peaks, and the seal colony below.
If you’re lucky, you may even see dolphins, whales, and orcas that regularly frequent these waters.
Walking along the Kaikoura Peninsula was one of my absolute favorite things to do in Kaikoura.
As you continue along the flat well-marked path, you’ll most likely be sharing the coastal view with the resident grazing cattle.
Besides the cows, we virtually had the entire peninsula to ourselves, it was so peaceful and serene.
You’ll find informational panels along the trail detailing the history of the area.
You’ll learn about how the peninsula was once covered in thick vegetation, but farming and land development have cleared all but a few outcrops of trees and bushes.
The trail continues for another 0.9 miles before reaching the Whalers Bay Viewpoint.
From here, you can take a staircase down to Whalers Bay where you’ll have a chance to view seals up close in their natural habitat.
Hundreds of seals can be seen sunbathing on the rocky outcrops. Be sure to keep your distance and not approach the seals. Kaikoura and the Otago Coast are the best spots to see wildlife in all of New Zealand.
It is pretty incredible to see wildlife out in the wild, even if they are smelly and grumpy and growl at you if you walk too close or give them the wonk eye. So note to self, don’t give a seal the wonk eye.
If the tide is low, you can walk back to the parking lot along the shoreline, making it about a 2-mile roundtrip hike.
We chose to do this and loved being able to see the views from the peninsula on the way over, as well as views of the wildlife on the way back. Just check the tide to ensure that it will not be coming up as you are walking back.
If you choose not to walk back along the bay, you can continue along the peninsula loop track. The full loop track is 7.3 miles, but you can also turn around at any point.
*Related post: Check out our guide 17 Underrated Spots on New Zealand’s South Island for more great recommendations!
2. Explore the Half Moon Bay Tide Pools
Kaikoura sits right on the coast with miles of rugged shoreline. You won’t find sandy beaches to lay out on, instead, you’ll find rocky beaches that are awesome for tide pooling.
There are plenty of spots to search for sea creatures as the tide moves out, but one of our favorite spots is Half Moon Bay.
The rock pools are filled with crabs and interesting creatures. The rocks are also covered in these bubble-like plants that pop if you accidentally step on them.
My kids had the best time spending the afternoon exploring here, but full disclosure, it can get pretty stinky!
And while you’re in the area, be sure to stop at Nin’s Bin for some fresh crayfish. Kaikoura is the Maori translation for ‘meal of crayfish’, so eating crayfish in Kaikoura is a must!
This third-generation family food truck has been slinging up fresh crayfish and seafood since 1977. It was even ranked #7 out of 500 in Lonely Planet’s Ultimate Eatlist.
3. Sea the seal colony at Ohau Point
Over the years, the biggest draw to Kaikoura was the seal pups found playing in the Ohau stream and waterfall.
The Ohau stream feeds into the ocean and each winter the seal pups would swim upstream to a waterfall where they would frolic and play in the water.
It was truly a remarkable sight. Unfortunately, the Oahu Stream Walk is currently closed due to the devastating earthquake in 2016.
As crews continue to make the area safe, the Department of Conservation will continue to review the trail until it is safe to reopen, so keep an eye out.
Although the trail to the waterfall is closed, plenty of fur seals and pups can still be seen at Oahu Point.
There is a newly constructed platform that makes it easy to view the mama seals basking in the sun and the seal pups playing in the surf.
The fur seal pups are born between December-February so the best time to see them active and playing in the water is between April-September.
4. Explore a Sea Cave
The drive along SH 1S is sure to take your breath away. The road contours the shoreline with crashing waves, green pastures dotted with sheep, mist-shrouded forests, and vegetated hills drenched in sunshine.
The drive is truly breathtaking. You are bound to find yourself pulling over to enjoy the view or explore the untamed beauty. We were doing just that when we came across this cool sea cave.
As you are driving south along State Highway 1, you’ll pass through a tunnel about 6.8 miles south of Kaikoura. Shortly after, you will come to a bend in the road and the sea cave is visible from this point.
There is a small parking area on the other side of the road, so use caution as you cross the road to access the beach.
My son wanted to go on a ‘bear hunt’ so my husband took him into the cave but came running out a few minutes later. Apparently, there was a seal hiding out in there that growled at them and it sounded just like a bear growling!
It’s something that we’ll be laughing about for years to come. So consider yourself warned and be sure to bring a flashlight if you plan to explore the cave.
If you climb around the rocks outside of the cave, you’ll find this beautiful turquoise pool that we nicknamed the “mermaid pool”.
The water is too rough to swim, but it’s a beautiful little spot to look at. There are also plenty of rocks to climb and seashells to find if you’re looking for a spot to let your kids run and explore.
5. Get out on the water
Kaikoura is considered New Zealand’s whale-watching capital and is a dream come true for all marine wildlife enthusiasts.
We didn’t get a chance to go on a whale-watching tour while we were there, but this whale-watching tour comes highly recommended.
We were fortunate to go on a chartered fishing boat and it was an experience we won’t soon forget!
They were so helpful in teaching us how to fish and they will even clean and fillet your catch for you to take home and fry up for dinner!
While we were on the water, it was like watching National Geographic right before our eyes.
We watched a seal eat an octopus, we had a pod of about 50 dolphins swimming alongside the boat, and we had a giant albatross with a wingspan nearly the width of the boat flying overhead.
To top it all off, as our captain was messing with the lines he came almost eye to eye with a shark. It was a small Mako shark, but it was equally terrifying and fascinating. It circled around the boat a few times before majestically swimming away.
The Kaikoura waters are rich with marine life and it was definitely an unforgettable experience! The most common seafood off the shores of Kaikoura are Grouper, Sea Perch, Crayfish, Cod, and Bluenose.
There really is nothing better than a fresh seafood dinner after an exciting day on the ocean.
6. Camp at Goose Bay
Goose Bay is a coastal campground about 10 miles south of Kaikoura. It’s a beautiful little spot with easy access to the beach and river.
The campground has a kitchen, laundry room, and BBQ areas with picnic tables at each site. If you are traveling without a tent, there are also limited cabins available to rent.
It really is such a beautiful spot, and it’s so magical waking up to your own private beach.
The pebble beach and rolling waves are perfect for swimming when the water is calm. And the forest-covered hillside makes for a picturesque backdrop.
I have to take a moment to give a nod to the Kiwi ingenuity. Our friends that we camped with brought a bathtub and set it right on the beach.
They dug a hole under the tub and started a fire to heat the water creating our own little hot tub right on the beach.
Soaking in the hot water under a twinkling sky while listening to the waves crash was such an unforgettable experience.
7. Stop at the Kaikoura Lookout
The Kaikoura Lookout is a short drive off the main road on the Kaikoura Peninsula.
The road takes you to a small parking lot at the top of the hill with panoramic views over both sides of the peninsula.
You’ll find benches perfect for a picnic lunch while you relax and take in the views.
This is also the best spot to watch the sun setting below the mountains. The lookout is located at 274 Scarborough Street, about 1.5 miles from the Point Kean Lookout.
8. Hang out on the shores of Kaikoura Beach
Kaikoura Beach is located in the heart of the Kaikoura township. The rocky shingle beach spans a little over 3 miles long.
This is a popular place to swim in the summer when the water is calm. However, there are no lifeguards on duty so use caution. The best place to swim is on the southern end where you’ll find some sandy areas.
Kaikoura Beach is conveniently located near restaurants and shops. I would recommend grabbing fish & chips from Coopers Catch and walking across the street to enjoy your meal on one of the picnic tables on the shore.
Kaikoura really is such a remarkable place to visit, and you’re bound to create memories you’ll never forget. I hope this guide has helped you discover the best things to do in Kaikoura with kids!
Other posts you might like:
- 17 Underrated Spots on New Zealand’s South Island
- South Island New Zealand Bucket List
- A Local’s Guide to Christchurch New Zealand
- 10-Day South Island Itinerary
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