A unique dedicated bird watching tour by boat, offering the opportunity to get up close and personal with the magnificent albatross, as well as a variety of other seabirds including petrels, shearwaters, terns, shags and gulls.

Your experience begins when you check into the office in Kaikoura. After checking in you will be given the departure time for the transport that will take you to the vessel in South Bay, some 6 minutes drive. We currently have two birdwatching vessels, both 8 metres in length and capable of carrying 11 passenger each.

Once aboard the vessel your skipper will brief you on the tour details as well as safety instructions and safety equipment carried on the vessel.

The vessel then proceeds out to sea, normally to a point beyond the Continental Shelf some 10 minutes offshore. Some birds will be seen on the way out, but once out beyond the Shelf where the larger birds are found, the skipper will stop the vessel and put out the chum (fishy bits) that will attract the birds to the boat.

The skipper will normally spend 20-60 minutes in the one area enabling the opportunity of seeing as many different species of seabird as possible. If time allows, other locations may be tried, before the vessel moves inshore to a large rock called Barney’s Rock which often has other birds such as gulls terns and shags on it.

At this stage of the journey, hot chocolate and cookies are served; before the vessel makes for port some 15 minutes travel distance. Clients are then returned to the office where they will receive a species list of all the seabirds seen on the tour as well as a small information pack.

This experience voucher is valid for six months from date of purchase.

Venue:

Kaikoura, 2.5 hours drive north of Christchurch and approximately 1.75 hours south of Picton.

Session Length

Tours out to the seabirds occur 3 times daily: 6.00am, 9.00am and 1.00pm. Arrive 10 minutes prior to the stated tour times. Tours normally have a duration of 2.5 hours.

Guidelines:

We do not accept children under the age of 5 on this tour.

Numbers:

The number of passengers on our current vessels is 11 per vessel.

Weather:

As this tour is an open ocean experience it is reliant on suitable weather and sea conditions. Weather conditions in New Zealand can change dramatically quickly, which may lead to tours being cancelled at the last moment. Cancelled tours can be rescheduled but this depends on availability.

Map

The map below gives you the location of this experience to allow you to plan.

Exact location, directions and meeting place will be available to you once you have purchased your voucher(s).