Reviews

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Wow wow wow! We'd done whale watching the day before but this beat that hands down. Miles was great, just enough instruction and safety chat and getting us involved in prep. He mentioned that he'd seen spouting and splashing over the other side of the bay so we decided to head that way. Within minutes we were seeing loads of leaping and splashing dusky dolphins but then also spotted a humpback whale feeding amongst the main pod. It was the first of the season and stayed close along shore spouting and making sounds. We followed at a safe distance. The main pod then headed back into the bay and we were right there to watch and join in with their frolicking and feeding frenzy. Amazing!

Lesley H, UK

We did the trip with a 6 and 8 year old. Parents in the back of each kayak, kids in the front. This worked really well. Saw a huge number of dolphins & Seals. They were playing & doing crazy tricks. Had a lovely time, the staff were really friendly, helpful & enthusiastic. Great value for money and would highly recommend this trip. Thank you very much!

Steve, Nelson NZ

Marine mammal megamix Spent a truly incredible morning around the Kaikoura Peninsula with Matt and Emma, two fantastic local guides. The whole operation was very professional, with high quality kayaks, equipment and a detailed safety briefing. Spent a good amount of time observing the seals, tried our hand at some kayak surfing in the big swells, and just as we were thinking about heading home, encountered a superpod of about 100 dusky dolphins completely by chance. Needless to say this was unbelievably lucky, but an absolutely unforgettable experience, and just goes to show the abundance of marine life in Kaikoura. Thanks for an awe-inspiring day out in the kayaks!

Tom, Neverlands

I would have to say this is up there with one of my best experiences in New Zealand! The kayak tour was incredible and I would really recommend this to anyone. The staff are great, friendly and funny which made the tour even more enjoyable. My team included Emma, Cam and Sophie. As I was on my own, I had the pleasure of sharing a kayak with Sophie, who was great. A really good tour guide with a great sense of humour. We saw lots of dolphins and seals. Well worth doing!

Giorgio Favarulo, UK / Ireland

Third time with Kaikoura Kayaks! Have been in guided tours and hired a double kayak; all experiences were incredible. Great staff and equipment. Kaikoura is one of the most amazing places to kayak - so much wild life and you're surrounded by epic scenery.

Kiana Saltarelli, North America

Great Trip - even the oldies loved it! Had a really great trip with Cowan out to the see the seals and the reef on a beautiful morning. I was a bit worried getting in a kayak with my mother (67) and father (70) but Cowan kept us going at a leisurely pace and even convinced us to have a go in the open ocean! What a great experience and something we'll never forget. Mom and Dad were very proud of themselves and loved seeing the seal up so close from the kayaks. Thanks so much for a great trip!

John R, UK

"To Matt and the Kaikoura Kayaks team, Thank you very much for a fantastic day of kayaking. Both our trips were very well organised by your friendly team. We found your lessons enjoyable, helping us all to be confident, expert paddlers! We were so lucky to have a beautiful sunny day, and we enjoyed fantastic scenery and wildlife out on the water. We were even lucky to see some dolphins on the first trip. For most of the children in our class, kayaking was the highlight of our camp. Thank you for making it so memorable".

Kowhai Class, Hurunui College NZ

The experience of a lifetime! Having intuitive and professional guides who allowed us the opportunity to experience an outstanding and very memorable day. They knew just where the incredible action was happening. We saw an amazing array of dolphins playing right near us and also saw blue penguins and seals. We travelled for two weeks around the South Island partaking in many fabulous tourist attractions and experiences and this was by far the best one! Thanks for creating long lasting memories!

Paula Kirby, Wellinton NZ

Sunset magic 10/10 thanks to Emma and her crew. We had a magical day on the water and got to see feeding seals, dolphins and wildlife. Thanks so much would 100% recommend to anyone looking for a unforgettable experience in Kaikoura!!

DKG, Australia

We had a truly wonderful experience; my husband and I went as a stop on our honeymoon trip. Our guide, Ru, was knowledgeable and skillful, and checked in with us often to provide the experience that would help us feel challenged, excited, and also safe and comfortable. From start to finish the team was so thorough and made sure we had all of the equipment and information to have the best time possible. We saw dolphins, which swam under and around us, and stopped over at a seal colony. Even outside of amazing animal sightings, it was really enlivening to kayak in the ocean armed with the information that helped us to navigate the waves with confidence. Thank you! Anytime we're back in NZ, we'll be with you at Kaikoura Kayaks.

Laura James, USA

We had a private tour with Roo, who was comforting and an exceptional instructor. He found us over 200 dolphins which were swimming all around us which made for a phenomenal experience! Could not recommend Roo, the Team at Kaikoura Kayaks and specifically the private tour enough. 10/10

Shereebee, Australia