[katiejay]

Is it true you can see whales from the cliffs at Kaikoura, or is a boat/plane essential (not a great sailor!)? Is there anywhere on South Island we can spot whales/dolphins from dry land?
Thanks all
Katiex

[Moorf]

Hmmm, the whales are usually quite a way out - takes around 45 mins to an hour sometimes for the boat to get out far enough. I believe it depends on the seasons as to how many and how far in they come.

There is a whale-watching flight in a little 6/8 seater, I believe it's about $99 each - I've heard good reports of that from those who suffer from seasickness and can't do the boat.

I think if you want to be guaranteed to see a whale, and see it close, then the boat is the way to go. Having been several times I would say that half of the time it was bad for seasickness sufferers (my brother and his family who don't suffer badly were all ill :mad:) so if that's your reason for wanting to see whales from dry land then perhaps the flight would be better for you?

[katiejay]

Yeah, I wondered if the claim to be able to see them from the cliff was a tourist lure!! I'll have to see how brave I'm feeling - I really want to see them up close, so I might have to take the pain for the ultimate reward!

[nippa&pippa]

As we drove from kaikoura to blenheim, we saw large group of poeple looking at sea, so we slowed down to see what they looking at....school of dolphins or similar and few people were swimming with them in the sea!
I think that was at half moon bay or bay before that. But i can't guaratnee they are there all the times, or just seasons thing. Maybe try flying but I am going to Akaroea for Easter weekend and have book a cruise trip for 8 of us to see dolphins etc in harbour, not out in the sea! I don't know if that any help? The boat company is called Black Cat

[SharpBlade]

Hi,
We went walking along some tracks around Godley Head, in Lyttleton area. We had a picnic by the water and saw a smalll group of dolphins coming rather close, jumping in and out. That was pretty cool !
We did the Kaikoura whale watching (boat) and I was disappointed. We only saw two whales,it took ages to find them, and we had some very bad seasickness in our group (although sea was calm). We saw plenty of dolphins too.
People have told me that sometimes, if you are lucky, you might spot a whale from the shore and apparently, one was spotted around Sumner a few months ago.
Laura

[benandclare]

If you're not a good sailor go for the helicopter :yes :yes trust me :yes tried the boat option , saw one tail and then 3 hours of a sick bag :(
Ben

[Nathan]

HERE'S SOME COOL STUFF ABOUT NZ WHALES.
http://www.wdcs.org/dan/publishing.nsf/allweb/1EBCD309D0459C37802569F200361A72
Google whales nz and there's other stuff.

My whale watching trips....
Drove like an absolute maniac from Anaheim to Balboa Beach in CA to catch the whale boat. Missed it, but had an excellent time drinking and some bar 'til the wee hours and.... well, I hurt the next day.
Took the zoidiac ride from Vancouver Is to see gray whales. We were only a few yards from a young gray whale who was feeding fairly near the shore. The boat ride was excellent. Absolutely loved the whole experience.
Took a 'big boat' from Bar Harbor, ME to see whales. Foggy!! Saw lots of beautiful gray.... fog! Took dramamine before we left, so slept through lots of the non-eventful trip. Awoke on a couple occassions to see fellow 'big boaters' turning very interesting shades of green.
And... I think I saw a couple spouts while hiking the north shore of Kauai (Kalulau trail) a few years back, but they were so far away that it really didn't count.

Areal viewing....
From photos, it appears that you get to see whole whales!!! Is that cool or what?!! I'm not a fan of that sort of 'tourism', but there are real advantages, and I think seeing a whale from the air would be a very special experience. (Just don't fly overhead when I'm hiking some gorgeous, pristine valley like Milford, OK?! That was not part of the trip I liked!)

[Mal]

The only time so far I have seen a dophin from the land is from the wharf in Akaroa, there was a Hectors Dolphin swimming around for 5 minutes between the moored boats. You are more likely to see Hectors from the shore than anything else, but you won't be able to timetable it, it will be pure luck if you do!

I have seen Hectors twice in Lyttleton Harbour, Dusky Dolphins twice in Kaikoura and Bottlenose once in Milford Sound. I really recommend seeing the dolphins in Kaikoura, they number in the thousands there and are pretty much always in the same location so you are basically guaranteed to see them.

[speckythecky]

We did the plane because they wouldn't take a 2 month old on the boat, don't know if this has since changed. Wasn't expensive, only people on plane, I sat on the co pilot's seat and was offered the controls. Great trip but not a lot of whales to see when we did it.

[migratory birds]

Don't know about the cliffs of Kaikoura but while whale watching in March/early spring on the coast of Oregon I hiked to the tip of the pennisula to catch a glimpse of the whales migrating north and saw only spouts far out into sea.

Headed back on the trail and happened to look down over the cliff's edge into the water to see a mama and babe swimming side by side right below me, coming to the surface and diving deep again and again...an experience I'll never forget.

Perhaps if they do come in close to shore while migrating with their young off the coast of Oregon they'll swim close to shore while migrating along NZ shores?

[Rabbit]

We did the plane, and thought it was excellent value, saw two whales and a school of about 400 dolphins.

The boats, helicopters and planes seem to share an air frequency, so any sightings and locations are known and shared. Also, because the plane goes out and comes back frequently, they know where the Whales are when they last dived etc.

Apparently, the whales dive for about 30 minutes.

If the whales are diving then they will extend the flight so that you get to see atleast one.

Next time we go I think we will take the boat to see the dolphins as they are quite small when viewed from the air and it would be nice to have a swim with them.

Rabbit