Travel Itinerary:
Weekend in Kaikoura to Swim with Wild Dolphins
While there are many places in New Zealand to experience wildlife, here Rico Pena explains what makes a weekend in Kaikoura different and therefore the perfect place to travel. Especially if you love dolphins.
If you don’t have a lot of time, this itinerary is a great way to unwind and reconnect with nature over a long weekend. Swim with wild dusky dolphins on Kaikoura’s dolphin encounter boat trip, one New Zealand’s best wildlife experiences. And once you’ve dried off, kick back and relax on the verandah of Kahutara PurePod, with mountain views and nighttime stargazing from bed.
We did this itinerary return from Christchurch, as the city has plenty of affordable flights and car rental companies. If you’re flying in to visit Kaikoura, Christchurch is by far the easiest place to start.
Breakfast at PurePod balcony for our weekend in Kaikoura
Day 1: Christchurch to Kaikoura
Distance: 190 Kilometres
Time: 2.5 Hours
Because Christchurch is so close to Kaikoura, it really doesn’t matter what time your flight arrives, or what time you hit the road. The drive is just under 2.5 hours, making this short trip easy.
However, if you are staying at the PurePod we’d recommend maximising your time there, to make the most of the verandah’s beautiful views. Either bring your own food or pay extra for their dinner and breakfast package. Trust us, you’re not going to want to leave those views for anything.
Kahutara PurePod for our weekend in Kaikoura, New Zealand
Day 2: Kaikoura
Distance: Day Trips
Time: Day Trips
The next day is just a short 20-minute meandering drive into downtown Kaikoura, which puts you at the heart of all the Kaikoura tours. We decided to snorkel with Dolphin Encounter because of their environmental efforts, long-standing history, great reviews and money-back guarantee. The trip was seamless, from the wetsuits to the tour itself.
Dolphin Encounters do not lure the dolphins in with bait or food, but instead it’s up to you to entertain the dolphins so they hang around. Once a pod of dolphins has been located the skipper will sound a horn indicating that everyone should jump in and splash around, literally. The dolphins are intrigued and attracted to the noise and movement.
Dusky Dolphins as seen from the boat
Dolphin Encounter, horn signaling to get in the water to swim with the dolphins
The more noise you make, and the faster you swim, the more the dolphins will hang around you. We found spinning in circles while singing through our snorkels was a hit, and we had multiple dolphins within a metre of us. As you can see from our video, we were able to spin in circles just fast enough to keep their attention.
Grab lunch in Kaikoura before heading back to the PurePod for a second night of stargazing.
Snorkeling with Dusky Dolphins in Kaikoura, New Zealand
Day 3: Kaikoura to Christchurch
Distance: 190 Kilometres
Time: 2.5 Hours
Enjoy the relaxing morning! If the weather is nice, open all the doors and enjoy the view. If you go in the fall, winter or spring, there is a good chance you will see snowy mountains in the distance from the Kahutara PurePod, as we did.
Departure day is always a bit sad, but with a short weekend and a short drive, packing up and heading out couldn’t be easier. If you have the time, which we didn’t, there is also the Kaikoura Seal Colony at the end of the Kaikoura Peninsula. The Department of Conservation track, called the Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway, is around 8km return – though you don’t need to do the whole thing. Alternatively, there are a few scenic stops on the way back to Christchurch.
This particular weekend in Kaikoura was a highlight of our time in New Zealand. Swimming with dolphins is one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences and was even better than we had envisaged. And the Kahutara PurePod is like glamping on steroids, a luxurious glass box with a world-class view. We couldn’t recommend it more.
Kahutara PurePod, Dinner and Breakfast Hamper for our weekend in Kaikoura
Weekend in Kaikoura Route
More travel itineraries are available on the Travel Tips page.
Visited: October 2019
