In days days gone by the town in the north east of the
South Island was a major centre for a booming whaling industry centre; the name
Kaikoura means “to eat crayfish” in Maori language which gives reference to one of Kaikoura’s major industries of today, but it is also known for whale watching. As the Kaikoura Peninsula extends into the sea south of the town, the resulting upwelling currents bring in an abundance of marine life from the depths of the nearby
Hikurangi Trench. Instead of hunting the graceful marine creatures, people and tourists today depart from
Kaikoura to observe whales and other marine life. The Kaikoura coastline is a real Mecca for watching marine mammals and is therefore called the “Home of whale watching" in New Zealand. One can spot
Fur Seals being lazy on rocks just metres from the coast.
Rare Dusky and
Hectors Dolphins play around within sight of the town and only a few kilometres further out to sea, giant Sperm Whales regularly make their appearance. The
Sperm Whale can be seen all year off Kaikoura - it is the largest of the toothed whales. After Blue and Fin whales, it is the third largest whale in the world.