Things to do in Kaikoura
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Fyffe House
Kaikoura’s oldest surviving building is Fyffe House. Built by Scotsman George Fyffe, cousin of Kaikoura’s first European settler, Robert Fyffe, it started life as a small cottage in 1842 (with whale vertebrae for foundations) and was completed in 1860. There’s plenty to see inside and out, including the original brick oven, historical displays and gardens.
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Hislops
This snappy, feel-good cafe maintains its reputation for fresh, wholesome food. Start the morning with fruit salad and toasted muesli, then come back at night for organic meats plus great seafood, veg and vegan choices. The caramelised-pumpkin and blue-cheese salad is delicious.
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Beach House Café & Bar
Serving the best brunch and coffee in town, this chipper roadside cafe garners more than its fair share of the passing trade. Sit on the front terrace or back deck and reconstitute with green eggs and ham, fish and chips or seafood chowder. Good counter food, too.
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Dolphin Encounter
Here’s your chance to rub shoulders with pods of dusky dolphins on three-hour tours; wet suits, masks and snorkels are provided. Limited numbers, so book in advance.
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Mayfair Theatre
Resembling a pink liquorice allsorts, this seafront picture house screens almost-recent releases.
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Whale Watch Kaikoura
With knowledgeable guides and fascinating ‘world of whales’ onboard animation, Kaikoura’s biggest operator heads out (with admirable frequency) in boats equipped with hydrophones (underwater microphones) to pick up whale soundings. It’ll refund 80% of your fare if no whales are sighted (success rate: 98%). Sailings may be cancelled if the weather turns to custard, so if this trip is a must for you, allow a few days flexibility.
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Green Dolphin
Quality Kaikoura fish Asian style, and the omnipresent bovine, ovine and lobstery treats, all made with care and a fondness for good local produce. On busy nights, book ahead or nurse a cocktail or aperitif in the pleasant bar or garden. Those with foresight should plump for a table with a view by the floor-to-ceiling windows.
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Café Encounter
Housed in the Dolphin Encounter complex, this cafe is more than just somewhere to wait for your trip. Good counter food, and coffee plus cakes, crepes, bagels, toasties and daily specials, such as hot smoked salmon on focaccia. Sea and esplanade views from the sunny patio.
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Store at Kekerengu
A good place for a pit stop, being halfway between Blenheim and Kaikoura. Your best bet is the counter food or coffee and cake, rather than the overpriced à la carte menu. Enjoy it by the fire in the rustic interior, or out on the wide sun decks, with magical sea-peeks.
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Board Silly Surf Adventures
Mangamaunu Beach, 15km north of Kaikoura, has wicked surf (a 500m point break when it’s working). Board Silly Surf Adventures here, can teach you to surf, or if you already can, it’ll hire you a wetsuit and board ($40).
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Strawberry Tree
A boisterous, atmospheric pub with couches, pool table, beer garden and Thursday night jam sessions. Much of the interior is built from historic materials salvaged from old mansions and dance halls. Journalistic antiwar photos adorn the walls.
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Sonic
A casual bar-eatery on West End’s southern end, with a pool table, oceans of Mac’s beer and occasional live music. Grab a sundowner on the covered deck or terrace and look out to sea through the grand Norfolk pines on the esplanade.
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Kaikoura Winery
If you haven’t yet exceeded your annual wine intake around Blenheim, sip a few local drops at Kaikoura Winery, 2km south of town off SH1. The building and views more than make up for the unremarkable wines (our pick is the bubbly).
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Fyffe View Ranch Adventure Park
Farmy Fyffe View Ranch Adventure Park offers horse treks including a sunset trek. Bone-shaking mountain kart luge, farm-animal feeding and woodshed archery are also available.
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Albatross Encounter
Bird-nerds fly at the opportunity for a close encounter with pelagic species: albatross, shearwaters, shags, mollymawks and petrels. Albatross Encounter is run by the same folks as Dolphin Encounter.
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Skydive Kaikoura
Based at Kaikoura Airport, Skydive Kaikoura, otherwise known as Sarah and Henk, will bring you down to earth in its own personal style. Handicam ($129) and photo packages ($39) are available.
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Kaikoura District Museum
Kaikoura District Museum includes the old town jail (1910), historical photos, Maori and colonial artefacts, and an exhibit on the region’s whaling era (check out the sperm-whale jaw).
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Maori Leap Cave
Not far from Kaikoura Winery is Maori Leap Cave, a sea-formed limestone cave discovered in 1958. Tours depart the Caves Restaurant, 3km south of town. Book at the restaurant or i-SITE.
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Whaler
A lively leviathan of a pub with good people-watching from the front seats, pool tables, big screens and a spartan deck upstairs. Monteith’s and Murphy’s on tap and a Neil Young soundtrack.
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Point Sheep Shearing Show
The 30-minute Point Sheep Shearing Show at the Point B&B is fun and educationally ovine. You can also feed a ram, and lambs between September and February. Classic NZ!
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Dive Kaikoura
The whole coastline, with its rocky formations and abundant marine life, offers fabulous snorkelling and diving. Dive Kaikoura runs small-group trips and diver training.
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Thai Siam
Cheerful, vaulted space on the main drag serving a typically expansive Thai menu of over 45 mains including a good selection of Asian salads. The $10 lunch special is a bargain.
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Kaikoura Helicopters
Reliable whale-spotting flights (standard tour 30 minutes $195 for three or more people), plus jaunts around the peninsula, Mt Fyffe, and peaks beyond.
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Fish Kaikoura
Short-and-sweet fishing (sea perch and blue cod) and crayfishing trips, launching from Kaikoura Beach. Ask about longer trips. No fish: no charge!
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Kaikoura Kayaks
Guided sea-kayak tours to view fur seals and explore the peninsula’s coastline. Kayaking lessons, freedom hire and kayak fishing also available.
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