Driving north from Christchurch for two and a half hours brings you to one of the best whale watching spots in the world. Kaikoura, one of the very few places in the world where sperm whales can be easily found, is located on the east coast of South Island. Set on the coastline, with a backdrop of towering mountains, the town looks out over the sea that is alive with marine activity.

Sperm whales populate the waters off Kaikoura all year making this area one of the most popular destinations in the world for visitors seeking the whale watching experience of a lifetime. A deep underwater canyon and an abundance of marine life provide a great habitat for these incredible mammals.

Although sperm whales are seen in the waters year round, other whales visit the waters here on their migratory route. The great Orca, or killer whale, can be spotted from December to March while the majestic humpback can be sighted during July and August. In addition, Pilot whales, Southern Right whales, and Blue whales often use these waters as a rest station during their travels. The waters are also home to the elusive Hector’s dolphin, the world’s most rare and smallest dolphin.

Tour operators in the area offer a wide range of viewing options with their accent on providing an awe inspiring experiences for their customers. A couple of companies provide viewing from an airplane or helicopter. This type of viewing gives you a real perspective on the size of these creatures. They are massive!

If viewing by sea is your pleasure, there are several companies that can accommodate you. Some like Whale Watch Kaikoura Ltd have boats built for the specific purpose of giving their passengers the ultimate whale watching adventure. During tours, knowledgeable guides tell you about the whales you encounter, including the names if they are resident whale. In addition, if you are fortunate enough to see the playful Dusky dolphin and the gravely threatened Hector’s dolphin, the guide will relate information on them.

For whale watching, there really is no other place like Kaikoura to have an incredible whale experience.

On the South Island, excitement is around every corner. Rivers race through rocky ravines and then meander across plains washed down from the Southern Alps. Alpine lakes provide endless diversions, and the various contents that sweep along the western and eastern coasts carry food and a huge variety of dramatic sea life.

Up in the north, the stretches of golden sand and numerous coves attract sea kayakers and canoeists to Abel Tasman National Park. Around the corner, in the Marlborough Sounds, deep waterways entice boaters and fishermen to its inlets and fiords.

The combination of cold and hot currents and the continental shelf drop offs attract sperm, humpback, southern right and minke whales; as well as dolphins, orcas and a plethora of other sea life, to the Kaikoura coast.

The shallow rivers of Canterbury have been well stocked with sea-run trout and well fed quinnat salmon. Within a two-hour drive from Gore, there are 27 rivers worth fishing. Gore boasts that it is The World ‘s Brown Trout Fishing Capital.

High speed jet boats take small groups of people on safe, but thrilling, tours along the rivers and incredible gorges. The Shotover and Kawarau rivers just outside Queenstown provide some of the most exhilarating rides. This resort area is renown as the Adventure Capital, where skillful drivers can judge the gaps with astounding accuracy and can thrill the passengers with seemingly impossible turns and spins.

Whitewater rafting appeals to those that want a marginally more laid back activity and the gleeful shouts and whoops are evidence of their thrills. The Southern Lakes are teeming with sailing dinghies and water-skiers on hot, lazy summer days.

The Southern Ocean’s cold currents thunder as they roll up onto the Otago coast. Thse waves create an awesome surfing experience for surfers. Formidable fiords of the Fiordland region hold many surprises. An event called “deep water emergence” allows you to view a unique marine environment, including rare black coral, about one meter below the surface.