Tours, sightseeing tours, activities & things to do | Viator.comKaikoura Whale Watch with TranzCoastal Train from Christchurch
Duration: 10.5 hours (approx.)
Location: Christchurch, New Zealand
Product code: 2950CLT08C
Spend the day getting close to nature. Travel by the Tranz Coastal train through the rolling hill country of North Canterbury, enjoying the beauty of its rural pastoral scenes, to Kaikoura where mountains meet sea (a journey of approximately 3 hours by train). Kaikoura is world renowned for the variety of marine mammals which can be seen, not least of all the giant sperm whales and the acrobatic Dusky Dolphins.
On arrival in Kaikoura you will be transferred to a whale watch tour by boat. On the tour you may view the giant sperm whale and often other whale species, dolphins, seals and the Royal Albatross. Following the tour, lunch has been arranged at the Craypot Cafe and Bar. There will be the opportunity this afternoon to visit a seal colony where fur seals may be viewed at close quarters. On returning to Christchurch this afternoon (approximately 3 hours by coach), a stop will be made at a North Canterbury vineyard where a wine tasting has been arranged for your pleasure.
Kaikoura Peninsula
Daily
Unavailable Dates:
- December 25 (Christmas Day)
- December 31 (New Years Eve)
Hotel pick up is available from all centrally located Christchurch hotels (below). Please advise your full hotel name and address at time of booking. If you are not staying at one of the hotels listed - the tour operator will advise the most convenient pick up location upon reconfirming your booking 24 hours prior to travel. Contact details provided on confirmation voucher.
Camelot Cathedral Hotel, Carlton Mill Lodge, Chateau Blanc, Chateau on the Park, Commodore Hotel, Copthorne Central, Copthorne Durham, Cotswold Hotel, Crowne Plaza, Fino Casementi, Garden Hotel, Heritage Hotel, Holiday Inn on Avon, Holiday Inn City Centre, Hotel Grand Chancellor, Kingsgate, Millennium Hotel, Pacific Park Hotel, Pavillions Hotel, Russley Hotel, Rydges Hotel, Stonehurst, Sudima Grand Chancellor, The Elms Hotel, The George Hotel, The Manor House, The Orari, The Poplars, The Towers, The Windsor Hotel and YHA Central.
- Prices are listed as a guide only. For an exact price quote, select a date
- Infants aged 2 years and under travel free of charge.
- Children aged between 3 and 13 years inclusive qualify for child rate.
- Please note, infants under 3 years of age may not join the cruises but may travel on the light aircraft tours.
- Prices are per person.
- Currency is set to USD. Change currency
- Our pricing is updated constantly to ensure you always receive the lowest price possible.
- Learn more about our low-price guarantee.
- All coach transportation with fully guided tour and commentary
- Travel one way on the TranzCoastal train (Christchurch to Kaikoura)
- Lunch (if this option is selected)
- Fur seal colony viewing
- North Canterbury vineyard visit and wine tasting
- New Zealand's Goods and Services Tax (GST)
- Food and beverages not specified in the tour itinerary
- This tour must be booked at least 48 hours in advance of travel.
- Confirmation for this product will be received at time of booking
- Tour is operated in English unless otherwise stated.
- This tour requires a minimum of 2 adults to operate.
- Once the tour has commenced only the unused portion of the tour will be refunded should the boats not sail or the planes not fly.
- If due to whale sightings or weather conditions the boat offers a partial refund, this refund will be passed on to our customers.
- If whale watch is undertaken by light aircraft and no whales are seen, no refund applies.
Kaikoura Whale Watch Refund Policy:
The whale watching cruises in Kaikoura operate depending on weather conditions. The tour operators policy when dealing with the variations in weather in Kaikoura is that a decision is made at 6:30am each day, based on the weather conditions, as to whether the tour will depart Christchurch or be cancelled. If the tour is cancelled, clients are notified by 7:15am and there are no cancellation fees charged. If the tour travels to Kaikoura and the whale watch cruises are cancelled, whale watch plane tours are offered as an alternative. If clients do not wish to fly, or the plane tours are also cancelled, then a cash refund of NZD 80.00 per adult is given. This refund is issued on the day of the tour by the tour operator in Christchurch.
Kaikoura Whale Watch Refund Policy:
- Once the tour has commenced only the unused portion of the tour will be refunded should the boats not sail or the planes not fly.
- If due to whale sightings or weather conditions the boat offers a partial refund, this refund will be passed on to our customers.
- If whale watch is undertaken by light aircraft and no whales are seen, no refund applies.
- Booking canceled or amended 21+ calendar days in advance of the scheduled departure or commencement time will be charged a 10% cancellation fee between 30 and 6 calendar days in advance of the scheduled departure or commencement time will be charged a 30% cancellation fee between 5 and 3 calendar days in advance of the scheduled departure or commencement time will be charged a 50% cancellation fee within 2 calendar days of the scheduled departure or commencement time will be charged a 100% cancellation fee.
Complete Operator information, including local telephone numbers at your destination, are included on your Confirmation Voucher. Our Product Managers select only the most experienced and reliable operators in each destination, removing the guesswork for you, and ensuring your peace of mind.
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