Boutique hotels
-
Hapuku Lodge & Tree Houses
- Style
- Architectural meets arboreal
- Setting
- Deer-dotted pastures and peaks
Kaikoura Overview
South Island
- Coastline
- Ocean-lapped, snow-capped mountains
- Coast Life
- Whale watching and wine quaffing
A name which translates as ‘meal of crayfish’ gives a taste of the scene in store. Lying midway between Christchurch and Picton on the spectacular South Island, the seaside town of Kaikoura is blessed with a soul-stirring surf-and-turf setting.
Wildlife lovers, immerse yourselves in dolphin-spotting and more – a catalogue of much-protected marine life is at your flippers, including whales, seals, penguins and albatross. Or mingle with this vibrant fishing community and meet inspiring artists and craftsfolk whose wares make great mementos of this fascinating former whaling station with a rich Maori heritage. By the way, the surf’s not half bad either.
Keenly Kaikoura
Eat crayfish like the locals do at the beachfront Kaikoura Seafood BBQ. Little more than a roadside shack with shaded tables outdoors, the meals served here don’t come much fresher. Dishes include whole crayfish, grilled scallops, whitebait fritters and steaming chowder – all served with rice or bread. Hold that thought and try not to salivate, then seek it out at 194 Torquay Street, near the seal colony.
Local Knowledge
- Taxis
- There are no local firms as such, but there are shuttle services that operate sightseeing trips and airport transfers (www.kaikourashuttles.co.nz).
- Tipping culture
- Optional – free free to tip 5–15 per cent, based on service.
- Siesta and fiesta
- Shops are open typically 9am–6pm. Restaurants start to fill up from 7pm and bars are open until midnight or 1am, depending on how busy they are. Life does slow down in winter though, with some places closing altogether.
- Packing tips
- Outdoor gear is the local uniform; and don’t forget your splash-proof camera for marine snaps.
- Recommended reads
- It may be set on the North Island coast, but Witi Ihimaera’s 1987 novel The Whale Rider, about a young Maori girl’s ability to communicate with whales, will make for a perfect read in Kaikoura.
- Regional specialities
- As the name indicates, this is a seafood lover’s heaven, with crayfish a must on the menu. Other local delights include grouper, cod, mussels and paua, as well as kumera, a kind of sweet potato long cultivated here. There are also organic options, award-winning wineries and sweet treats such as fudge.
- Currency
- New Zealand Dollar (NZ$).
- Time zone
- GMT+12.
- Dialling codes
- New Zealand: +64; South Island: (0)3 (drop the zero if dialling from overseas).
- Do go/don't go
- November until February is usually the warmest and driest time to visit; March is often a rainy month and temperatures drop in winter (June until August). If you’re planning some whale watching, summer (December to March) is the best time to spot orcas (killer whales), June to September is prime time for southern right whales, and giant sperm whales can be seen year-round, along with dusky dolphins and fur seals (all sightings are very weather-dependent).
Don't go home without...
taking a dip in Hanmer Springs’ warm, mineral thermal pools, just under two hours’ drive inland, which have been attracting visitors for 125 years (NZ$18 an adult; NZ$9 a child, aged 3–15; younger kids get free entry). There’s a spa too for additional pampering, as well as private pools and sauna and steam rooms, although it’ll cost extra to go it alone (www.hanmersprings.co.nz).
