Kaikoura Beach — Attraction in Kaikōura

Kaikōura is a picturesque coastal town on the east coast of New Zealand's South Island, approximately 180km north of Christchurch. Its name, a native Māori word - meaning "meal of crayfish", reflects the abundance of seafood in the area, a tradition that continues to this day with delicious local crayfish being a highlight.

What makes Kaikōura truly special is its unique geography. The town is dramatically set between the towering, often snow-capped seaward Kaikōura Range (a branch of the Southern Alps) and the Pacific Ocean. This proximity of mountains to sea is unusual and stunning. Just offshore lies the Kaikōura Canyon, a deep submarine trench that brings nutrient-rich upwellings from the depths of the Hikurangi Trench to the surface. This creates an incredibly biodiverse marine environment, attracting a wide variety of marine life.

Kaikōura is most famous for its year-round population of sperm whales, which are frequently sighted by whale watching tours. Other marine mammals often seen include various species of dolphins (including playful dusky dolphins and the rare Hector's dolphin), orcas, and a thriving colony of New Zealand fur seals. The area is also a haven for seabirds, with numerous species including albatrosses, petrels, and shearwaters.

Despite suffering severe damage in the 2016 earthquake, the town has remarkably rebuilt its infrastructure and services, remaining a vibrant and welcoming destination that champions marine conservation and...

I must say I wasn't too overly enthusiastic about spending my new years in kaikoura, but on closer inspection this place really is actually pretty awesome 😍, lovely weather and a long beach ⛱️ with far to many stones but this can definitely be over looked as the bike tracks 👣 the town and the beach all the way to the peninsula to see the seals 🦭 is definitely worth a visit, so on reflection I'm not just going to keep on driving when coming up the east coast as kaikoura...

This beach is quite stoney there is not much sand on the beach. The beach is just opposite the sea front buildings. You can experience incredible and amazing views when you get here for sunset and sunrise. Sunrise at this beach is worth getting up for. I have never seen a sun rise like this. The sound, smell and views...