Get on the water

Imagine an underwater canyon that twists along the seafloor and joins Hikurangi Trench, the deep trough that extends as far north as the East Cape. Kaikōura Canyon sits 500m from the peninsula and, as such, is one of the few places in the world to see sperm whales year-round so close to the shore. This peculiar deep-water ecosystem, aided by warm and cool ocean currents, encourages a food chain that starts with phytoplankton and ends with albatrosses, seals, dusky dolphins, sharks and whales. While seals and seabirds can easily be spotted along the coast, those willing to get out on the water will be rewarded with a taste of what lives beneath

Whale Watch.