A first-timer’s guide… to Jordan
What should you know before your first trip to Jordan? Cox & Kings' Roop Kumar covers the basics.
Read more
Mon - Fri 9:00am - 6:00pm
Sat 10:00am - 2:00pm
MONTH BY MONTH
Choose a month to travel and discover the best places to visit at that time of year...
READ OUR COMPASS BLOG
Compass is an online travel magazine, designed to inspire and inform...
THE COX & KINGS DIFFERENCES
Discover some of the unique benefits of choosing to travel with Cox & Kings...
- Kaikoura
- Overview
- Group Tours
- Private Travel
Kaikoura holidays
Kaikoura is a base for wildlife experiences of all kinds. It is also a great place to eat crayfish (in the Maori language kai means food, koura means crayfish). The environment is truly spectacular; the village is caught between the rugged Seaward Kaikoura Range and the Pacific Ocean. In winter the mountains are covered with snow, adding to the drama of the landscape. Kaikoura’s special talent is marine mammal encounters, as whales, fur seals and dolphins live permanently in the coastal waters. Whale watching trips leave the town several times a day and the local seal colony is always entertaining.
Explore Kaikoura
Click on your destination of interest
Top things to do in Kaikoura
Albatross encounter
From Kaikoura it is possible to get up close to the mighty albatross, one of the world’s largest flying birds. The tour involves feeding and observing the large pelagic birds, letting the birds visit the boat, rather than seeking them out. Birds that may be seen off the Kaikoura coastline include twelve species of albatrosses, penguins, gannets, skuas, shearwaters, petrels and terns.
Swim with dolphins
Off the coast of Kaikoura it is possible to watch, or swim with dusky dolphins in their natural environment. These dolphins are resident in these waters all year round and are known for their acrobatic leaps and interactive behaviour. Other marine mammals, including orcas and pilot whales, are also occasionally seen.
Whale watching
Surrounded by spectacular landscapes, with the rugged Seaward Kaikoura Range to the west and the Pacific Ocean to the east, Kaikoura is a great base to experience some of New Zealand's best wildlife experiences. Giant sperm whales are present year-round and New Zealand fur seals, pods of dusky dolphins, albatrosses can also be seen. Humpback, pilot, blue and southern right whales are also visible at certain times of year. Whale watching can be done by boat or scenic flight.
The latest from Compass - our online travel magazine
The 9 islands of the Azores: a brief guide
Nine islands in the middle of the Atlantic promise an experience of Portugal a world away from Lisbon or the Algarve. In
Read more
Why you should visit Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan: a vibrant stop on the Silk Route, a crossroads between east and west, and the metropole of a medieval empire. This
Read more
A guide to Bhutan’s fantastic festivals
The best time to visit Bhutan is undoubtedly during one of its colourful annual festivals (tshechus). It’s a chance to gain greater
Read more"To my friends I describe holidays with Cox & Kings as like 'floating along in a protected bubble without a care in the world!' Knowing that mundane travel matters will be taken care of, accommodation will be of a high standard and the advice given prior to the holiday by your travel consultants will be excellent is the essence of your appeal."
Mrs Tooley
Request a brochure
Order your copy of the brochure to see the world come to life in print.
© Cox & Kings 2021