Discover New Zealand 2-Day Tour

2 Day Kaikoura Whale and Dolphin Tour from Christchurch

No reviews for this tour yet

from $697.92 per person

Opens the live booking page with current dates. Book there; nothing is charged on this site. Free cancellation up to 3 full days before.

Duration: 2 days, 1 night
Meeting point: Christchurch Bus Interchange
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 3 full days before
Run by: Discover New Zealand

Overview

This two day trip from Christchurch bundles the two marine experiences Kaikoura is known for: a Whale Watch Kaikoura boat tour and a Dolphin Encounter swim with dolphins. Discover New Zealand runs it as a coach tour, starting early outside the Christchurch Bus Interchange on Lichfield Street and ending back at the same spot. One night of accommodation at a premium Kaikoura motel is built into the package, so the middle of the trip is unpacked rather than rushed.

The shape of the trip is straightforward. Day one is the drive north to Kaikoura and the dolphin swim, an activity allocated around three hours. You overnight in town. Day two is given over to the whale watching tour, roughly four hours including the boat trip, before the coach carries everyone back to Christchurch, a leg of about three hours.

It suits travellers who want both encounters without organising separate bookings, transport and a motel themselves. The group is capped at 20 travellers, the tour is wheelchair accessible and service animals are allowed. Meals, travel insurance and gratuities are not covered, and you should arrange your own cover, which the operator recommends for all its tours.

Swimmers in black wetsuits lowering themselves off the back of a boat into the cold sea at South Bay, snorkels in hand.

What's Included

Included

1 nights accommodation at a Premium Motel
Experienced coach drivers
Coach transport from Christchurch to Kaikoura and return
Whale Watch Kaikoura tour
Dolphin Encounter Kaikoura Swim with the Dolphins

Not Included

Pre and post tour accommodation
Meals unless specified
Gratuities

Itinerary

Meet at Bus InterchangeMeet outside the Christchurch Bus Interchange on Lichfield Street, near Colombo Street, Platform A. Check in 15 minutes before the scheduled departure and report to the coach driver; the departure time is on your booking.
Coach to KaikouraRide the coach from Christchurch to Kaikoura with an experienced driver. The Kaikoura stop is allocated 4 hours on the itinerary.
Dolphin Encounter KaikouraTake part in the Dolphin Encounter swim with the dolphins, allocated 3 hours, with admission included. Afterwards, settle in for 1 night at a premium Kaikoura motel, which is included. Meals this day are not included.
Whale Watch KaikouraDay 2 begins with the Whale Watch Kaikoura tour, 4 hours.
Return to ChristchurchThe coach heads back to Christchurch, a leg of about 3 hours, and the tour ends back at the original meeting point.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will help you prepare for an early start, a boat trip and a swim in the sea.

$697.92from, per person

2 days, 1 nightduration

20guests at most

Getting there. There is no hotel pickup. You make your own way to the Bus Interchange on Lichfield Street and check in 15 minutes before the scheduled departure. The tour ends at the same spot, so plan your onward travel from there.
Swim gear. The Dolphin Encounter is a swim with dolphins, so bring swimwear and a towel. Wetsuit and equipment arrangements are not detailed, so check the booking page before you travel.
Group size. The tour runs with a maximum of 20 travellers.
Food and drink. Meals are not included unless specified. Bring money or a card for food in Kaikoura and on the road, or pack snacks for the long coach legs on both days.
Accessibility. The tour is wheelchair accessible and service animals are allowed. Infants must sit on laps. If you have specific mobility needs, confirm the details on the booking page.
Weather at sea. Both marine activities are on the water, so consider travel insurance, which the operator recommends for all its tours. Build some flexibility into any onward plans after day two.

Ready To BookCheck availability →

Common issues. The main costs to watch are the exclusions: meals, gratuities, travel insurance, and any accommodation in Christchurch before or after the trip. The day one schedule is full, and check-in closes 15 minutes before the scheduled departure, so lateness is hard to recover from. Confirmation is not instant either; it arrives within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability, so do not treat the booking as settled until that comes through.

Common Questions

What Is Included In The Price?

The tour includes 1 night at a premium Kaikoura motel, coach transport from Christchurch to Kaikoura and back, the Whale Watch Kaikoura tour, and the Dolphin Encounter swim with dolphins. Experienced coach drivers are also included. Meals, gratuities, travel insurance and accommodation before or after the tour are not.

Where Does The Tour Meet, And Is There Pickup?

There is no hotel pickup. The meeting point is outside the Christchurch Bus Interchange on Lichfield Street, near Colombo Street, Platform A. Arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled departure and report to the coach driver. The tour ends back at the same meeting point.

Can Children Or Infants Join?

Most travellers can participate, and infants must sit on laps. No minimum age is stated on the booking page for the dolphin swim or whale watch, so check age requirements with the operator on the booking page before booking for young children.

Is The Tour Wheelchair Accessible?

The tour is wheelchair accessible, service animals are allowed, and the meeting point is near public transportation. Boat access for wheelchairs is not specified, so confirm that detail directly before booking.

What Is The Cancellation Policy?

You must cancel at least 3 full days before the experience start time for a full refund. Cancel later than that and the amount paid is not refunded. Changes made less than 3 full days before the start time are not accepted, and cut-off times are based on local time.

What Should I Bring?

Bring swimwear and a towel for the dolphin swim, and money or a card for meals, which are not included. Travel insurance is recommended by the operator but is your own arrangement. There is no packing list, so check the booking page for any further suggestions.