The local company we use who operate these boats which head out to see the whales as they come up for air, has been running trips for over 20 years and has won many awards in that time. The whole experience is not just exhilarating, but also highly educational and focused on the preservation of the marine environment.
Before departing you are given a safety briefing and then the boats head out for about three hours, giving you the opportunity to see sperm whales, high spirited dusky dolphins as well as the rare and endangered Hector's dolphins, New Zealand fur seals and a variety of birdlife including the Royal Albatross. The commentary on the boat is informative, interesting and delivered with the aid of computer graphics which illustrate the amazing underwater topography of Kaikoura, showing why whales and many other marine creatures are drawn to the area.