Kaikoura and Whale Watching
In 1770 Captain Cook first discovered the Kaikoura peninsula, believing
it to be an island.The first shore
whaling station was established in 1843, located near where Fyffe House still
stands today. Other whaling stations soon followed, and at one stage the
industry employed over one hundred men in the Kaikoura district alone.Whale
numbers steadily declined after 1850 and the exportation of them became
un-economic, leading whalers to turn to alternative means of existence, such as
farming. Whaling continued sporadically until as recently as 1964 when the last
of NZ' s whaling operations ceased.
Today, the emphasis in Kaikoura is the conservation of marine life,
working with a sustainable tourist industry which allows visitors from all over
the world to appreciate life in the ocean. In 1978, the Marine Mammal
Protection Act was finally passed, providing total protection to
The clean sharp fin of the Orca is often sighted in Kaikoura, and
schools of Pilot Whales are occasional visitors.And everywhere the fun loving Dusky
Dolphin.Fur seals, once almost hunted
to extinction are now plentiful here, resting on warm rocks after a nights
fishing.Seabirds, also enjoying the
rich sea harvest, are abundant.
Off the Kaikoura coastline is a marine environment so rich in nutrients
that it attracts some of the most magnificent creatures with which we share our
planet. Among them are Giant Sperm Whales that can grow up to 20 metres and
weigh over 50 tons. These whales can be seen all year round making Kaikoura one
of the most popular whale watching locations in the world. In addition to the
sperm whale a number of different species of may also be seen, depending on the
season, as they follow their migratory route. This unique marine experience
also provides an opportunity to sight high-spirited Dusky Dolphins, the rare
and endangered Hectors Dolphin, New Zealand Fur Seals and a wide variety of sea
birds including the Royal Albatross.
Whale watching in
Sperm whales are the most common and visible species, and you are almost
guaranteed to see one at anytime of the year, with the best months being in the
summer (December to March). Orca are often seen too, feeding on the large pods
of dusky and common dolphins that are resident all year. Other whales
occasionally seen include Humpback and Pilot whales, and very occasional
sightings of Cuviers Beaked, Southern Right and even giant Blue whales. As well
as boat based tours, whales can be seen from the air, from either light
aircraft or helicopters. This is a spectacular way to see the whales, and gives
a great perspective. It is also possible to sea Kayak from Kaikoura which can
be very exciting, but is more dependent on the weather.
Dolphins are also a major draw at Kaikoura, and this is one of the best places
in the world to “swim with dolphins”. If you imagined that you will be swimming
around leisurely spotting the dolphins as they swim below you, think again.
This is the dolphins’ home environment, and if they want to come and see you,
they will. Sometimes your best bet is to sing/groan/hum and if you hit the
right note, you will suddenly become aware that you are not alone. On a good
day the dolphins will swim around you, under you, upside down beneath you and
they will even jump over you. Just as you begin to get used to it, they will disappear, and they will come and go
at their whim.
Even if you don’t feel like the swim, boat based viewing can be very rewarding
as you have a great chance of seeing the playful dusky dolphins, as well as
possible sightings of Common and the rare Hectors dolphins (Strictly speaking,
both Killer and Pilot whales are actually dolphins too).
(Information: Kaikoura.co.nz)
