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When I first went to Kaikoura in 2022, the quaint little beach town immediatley caught my eye. I loved that everything in town was a 15 minute walk away, there were no big chain stores and the access to the beach and hiking was unbeatable.
Kaikoura was one of my favorite spots on my 2022 road trip. Now in 2025 I’m living in New Zealand and have been able to go back to Kaikoura again and again!
Kaikoura is a small town on New Zealand’s south island. You really only need to a few days to see the highlights. So let’s get into it – here’s how to spend 2 days in Kaikoura, including where to stay and what activities are the best!
ALSO – I’ve got some absolutely stunning photos in this blogpost from friends Jess (she can be found on instagram [@] albondiga_jack) and Erin! Thanks for the stellar Kaikoura photos guys! They loved this town as much as I did, and they have nice cameras to prove it.
Kaikoura At a Glace
Where is Kaikoura: The top part of the south island on the east coast, 2 hrs north of Christchurch
Best Hotel: Sudima Kaikoura
Best Hostel: Kaikoura Sea Side Lodge
Best Spot to Eat: Flo & Co Cafe
Best Activity: Sperm Whale Watching
Why I Love Kaikoura
I love spending time in this tiny little town for a few reasons!
Number one is that I tend to gravitate towards smaller towns rather than big city experiences. If you’re looking for vibrant night life, Kaikoura may fall a little flat for you! I love eclectic, quirky little towns with vibrant art and people.
I also love that Kaikoura is a great jumping off point to so many awesome outdoor activities! You can whale watch, kayak, chill at the beach, go on a scenic flight, hike and even zipline!
This blog is all about outdoor adventures and is geared toward outdoor (especially ocean) activities – Kaikoura is a great place for all those things!
Where to Stay in Kaikoura
First up is of course choosing your accommodation!
There’s a range of price points when browsing where to stay in Kaikoura. The hostel I originally stayed at back in 2022 isn’t actually there anymore. Which is a shame because it was fun and funky with lots of cool art.
The good news is there are plenty more hotels and hostels to choose from. So even though I can’t recommend the O.G. spot I stayed at, here are a few other options
Sudima Kaikoura: Located right on the beach with a private fitness center and pool, this is a highly rated, clean, comfortable and modern hotel! You’re a 15 minute walk away from town but they also have their own restaurant. Rooms start at $315 NZD ($183 USD) during the summer season.
Kaikoura Beach Motel: If you’re looking for a great stay at a slightly more budget friendly price point, check out the Kaikoura Beach Motel! It’s just a 2 minute walk from the beach and 15 minutes from downtown Kaikoura. There’s even a shared kitchen you can use to cook if you’d like! Rooms are $160 NZD ($93 USD) per night.
Kaikoura Sea Side Lodge: Lastly is our hostel option. Once again Kaikoura is small enough that this hostel is in a prime walking location to eateries, shops and walking trails! This is a family owned and operated spot that really wants you to get a feel for “Kiwi” culture! Dorm rooms start at $55 NZD ($32 USD) , which is pretty average for a New Zealand hostel.
Where to Eat
Kaikoura has got it’s fair share of good eateries!
These are the top 5 places I recommend checking out for food in Kaikoura. This list is based on my own experiences and that of my friend who lives in Kaikoura!
For breakfast and a coffee: Flo & Co Cafe
For an iconic NZ pie: Middlehurst Station Farm Store
For seafood: The Craypot OR King Tide Eatery
For a casual bar/restaurant: The Whaler
Best Things to do in Kaikoura
So what are the TOP things to do in Kaikoura? For a small town there is plenty to keep yourself busy during your 2 day stay. I’m mostly going to highlight “outdoorsy” activities but there are plenty of other cool experiences you can find over on Get Your Guide.
Whale Watch
Starting strong with the most iconic thing to do in Kaikoura…. whale watch SPERM WHALES! And also humpback whales, but the sperm whales are extra cool as they are the largest toothed predator! This is my TOP PICK for what to do in Kaikoura!
I’m an island kid, ocean lover, marine scientist and captain… and I had never seen a sperm whale until taking the Kaikoura Whale Watching cruise. This is an amazing 3.5 hour tour that takes you several miles off shore all in the hopes of seeing a sperm whale (and other bonus wildlife!).
“Whale Watch Kaikoura” was founded by the local Maori tribe in 1987. They have been running an amazing tour for nearly 30 years! I had an incredible experience with them. We got to see 2 sperm whales, dusky dolphins and an albatross!
Swim with Dolphins in Kaikoura
If you’re looking for something more hands on… well you can’t get more hands on than actually getting in the water with dolphins!
Dolphin Encounter is yet another company that helps get you an incredible wildlife experience, all while respecting the animals of course! While I haven’t taken this tour myself, I have a friend who works for the company and another friend who took the tour. Both have gold me glowing reviews of their experience!
Just know that the water around Kaikoura is COLD, even in the summer. Prepare to be in a thick wetsuit and maybe even a little out of your comfort zone. But the payoff with be worth it!
Visit the Seal Colony
We actually stumbled onto the seal colony on accident during our 2025 trip to Kaikoura. We were driving into town from the north and pulled over at the Ohau Point Lookout to stretch our legs. Lo and behold there were over 100 seals hanging out down on the rocks!
These are primarily New Zealand fur seals and are super fun to watch! We must have been there during pupping season (late June) because there were so many cute babies!
There are 2 other spots to check out the fur seals in Kaikoura. I’ve heard that Point Kean may actually be the best because you’ll get a great mountain view in addition to seeing the seals! The most iconic spot to “seal watch” is the Kaikoura Peninsula walkway. You’ll be able to view the seals at a much closer (yet still safe! Respect those seals) distance.
The best part about this is that it’s freeeeee!
Blue Penguins in Kaikoura
Okay this is my last wildlife activity and it’s a bit of a stretch! I may be sending you on a wild goose chase here but if you like adventure this one’s for you.
There is or at least was a blue penguin colony on and around the Kaikoura peninsula. The little blue penguin is the worlds smallest penguin and native to New Zealand. Their population is declining and New Zealand is one of the only spots you can see them.
Where to find the blue penguins
When my friends and I went to spot the blue penguins in 2022, we did it the hard way. But admittedly it was more fun and memorable this way! The best way is to book a tour through Kaikoura Kayaks. They know all the tips and tricks to hopefully get you to see a little blue penguin.
If you want to do it the bootstrap way aka the hard way aka the way I did it. You’re going to need a flashlight and a lot of patience.
There are reportedly blue penguin colonies along the Kaikoura Peninsula. If you ask around in town you have the best chance of finding out where they’ve been most active recently. When we were there back in 2022 we were told to go to the coast gaurd station as dusk and wait near the shore.
The blue penguins come back from sea in the evening to either nest or feed their young. You have a better chance of spotting one between May-June when they nest or Nov-Dec when the adults are feeding their young. I am not a penguin expert, this is just what I’ve heard!
We walked all the way out to the coast guard station just before sunset and waited for over an hour hoping to see one. Just before we called it a day we saw one lone penguin march up onto shore! This was well past dark and we were so glad we stuck around!
That was 3 years ago and it’s just getting harder and harder to see them. Best of luck to any penguin adventures!
Hike Mt. Fyffe
If you drive just 15 minutes out of town, you’ll end up at the trail head for Mt. Fyffe! This is a challenging hike but WOW is the view amazing!!
Mt. Fyffe is an out and back hike to a beautiful summit which gives you stunning ocean and mountain views. It’s one of my favorite hikes I’ve done in NZ! Expect it to take about 8 hours round trip as it’s about 10.5 miles and of a steep grade.
Even if you don’t make it to the summit, there are beautiful views and stopping points along the way. Making it to the Mt. Fyffe hut, which is 1 hour before the summit, will boast incredible views! I can’t rave about this hike enough!
Walk the Peninsula
If you’re keen to go for a little walk but don’t want to do a full day hike, check out the Kaikoura peninsula walk. If you walk the full loop around the peninsula, it will take about 3-4 hours. And BONUS, you will likely see seals along the way!
Kayak, Helicopters and Flight Tours (oh my!)
As I mentioned, there are an impressive about of things to do in Kaikoura. While I listed some of my personal favorites above, there’s even more opportunities to get outside and explore. From wildlife kayak tours to zip-lining to the heli tour, there’s something for everyone!
2 Day Kaikoura Itinerary
If I was going to Kaikoura for the first time and I had just 2 days, here’s how I would spend my time. I would have a relaxed first day that focuses on wildlife, and opt for a more adventurous hike the second day.
Day 1: Wildlife
Morning – Whether you’re just rolling into town in the morning or you wake up beachside, your morning stop should definitely be at Flo & Co! Fuel up before doing either the iconic whale watch or dolphin encounter!
11:15 am – Head out on a morning whale watch with Whale Watch Kaikoura. If you’re prone to sea sickness, play it safe and either take a non-drowsy dramamine or a ginger chew! Keep your eyes peeled for those sperm whales!
If you’ve got a bigger budge for your time in Kaikoura, you could go on a dolphin swim in the morning (they only operate in the morning) and a whale watch in the afternoon! For me personally I choose the whale watch because the chance to see a sperm whale is just too rare to pass up!
Dinner – For dinner I would either head over to The Whaler for something casual or King Tide Eatery for something a bit more upscale!
Post Dinner – Here comes the bonus “after dark” adventure! Venturing out to the peninsula (specifically over by the coast guard station) to see the little blue penguins! Be patient and best of luck!
Another option would be going to check out the seals!
Day 2: Hiking
To see the other half of what Kaikoura has to offer, make your second day focused on hiking!
Morning – In the morning swing by the Middlehurst Station Farm Store for a pastry or NZ pie!
Mid Morning – Drive out to the Mt. Fyffe trail head (expect an 8 hour return from the summit) or to the Kaikoura peninsula to take in stunning views on your hike! If you’re hiking Mt. Fyffe make sure you have plenty of snack and water and maybe even a packed lunch!
You can also turn around before the summit at the Mt. Fyffe hut which will be about a 6 hour hike instead.
Evening – Enjoy a chilled out evening after your big hike! Check out the Craypot, King Tide Eatery, the Whaler or any of Kaikouras other fine restaurants!
Final Thoughts
I truly hope you are able to incorporate Kaikoura into your New Zealand itinerary! With amazing wildlife and stunning mountain views from the beach, this little town is a dazzler! Without a doubt I think the whale watch should be on your must do list!
I think all you really need is two full days to get a good feel for the town, but seeing as there’s so much to do, there’s certainly room to add on more days and make this a full blown adventure stop!
Make sure to book your accommodation and excursions well in advance if you’re traveling during the summer (Dec-Feb). I hope you enjoy your 2 days in Kaikoura as much as I did!
Ahoy! I’m Bree and I’ve started this blog to help you plan your next great outdoor adventure. With a background in marine science, I’ve got an aptitude for all things ocean, but you’ll find land based adventures here too! Everything you see here is based on my own travel experience and paid for myself. I hope you stick around!