Eco-Tours: Kaikoura, New Zealand

With its population of around 3900 residents, the seaside town of Kaikoura has the fine distinction of attaining Green Globe Benchmark certification in 2004. This certification is a world standard for sustainable tourism and meeting environmental goals. Kaikoura is used as a community success story on the Green Globe website. For any community, overcoming the environmental challenges necessary to be certified can be extremely overwhelming.

There are endless activities for visitors to participate in and around Kaikoura with several eco-tours available. Operating out of Kaikoura, Albatross Encounter and Dolphin Encounters are two such Tours. Encounter Kaikoura owns both tours.

Offering year round boat cruises, Albatross Encounter tours will take you to see a wide variety of seabirds including thirteen different types of albatrosses. The waters off Kaikoura are renowned for the great numbers of seabirds that occupy a small area. One of the reasons for the seabirds congregating here is the deepwater trench that is close to shore and allows nutrient rich cold water to upwell over the warmer coastal water sustaining a wide variety of marine life. These tours are roughly two hours in duration and costs $110NZD per adult. Children are $55NZD for this tour.

Dolphin Encounters has been in the dolphin watching and swimming with dolphins business for around 20 years. Whether you want to swim with the dolphins or simply watch them frolic, the tour will bring you up close to the dusky dolphin. If any of your party wants to swim with the wild dolphins, it is important that you book well in advance so that they will not miss the opportunity. Unfortunately children under 5 are not allowed to go on the boats unless you have made arrangements in advance. The tour is about three hours and is reasonably priced at $80NZD for adults to dolphin watch and $150NZD per adult for the unique experience of a lifetime of swimming with wild dolphins. The cost for children is $40NZD and $140NZD respectively.

Join Kaikoura Wilderness Walks for two or three days of guided walks in the Seaward Kaikoura Mountain Range. Each day there are 5-7 hours of walks through this remarkable area with the guides giving you the information that will make this walk an experience to remember. Nights are spent at an eco-friendly lodge nestled in an alpine valley with a private balcony and incredible views from every room. The prices for this vary but they are all inclusive and children participate at a reduce cost.

Seal kayaking is a great way to spend an afternoon. Kaikoura Kayaks gives you the option of having a guided kayaking experience or, for experienced sea kayakers, a self-guided tour through the playground of NZ fur seals. These options make for an enjoyable opportunity for the novice and advanced kayaker alike. Seals, being a curious creature, will get up close and personal while they play around your kayak. Guided tours are for three hours while the self-hires are for a half or whole day. Kaikoura Kayaks also offers a unique kayak fishing experience with a fully equipped fishing kayak. Prices vary depending on the option you choose.

Kaikoura Marine Tours assists in the collection of research data to assist in the long term marine management of the area. Their eco-tours include data collection and focus on the educational aspect of the marine life around Kaikoura. Each tour is very personal as there is a maximum of 8 people per tour and lasts for three hours. Given the small groups, the cost of $120NZD per adult and $80NZD per child is money well spent.

Come and visit Kaikoura where you can embrace the great outdoors and all that it brings with it!