Kaikoura Sightseeing: Lookouts and Heritage

October 30, 2026

What to see in Kaikōura

Kaikōura’s sights cluster in three areas: the peninsula east of town, the seal lookouts on the coast road, and two small heritage stops in town. Entry costs are in NZD and come from official pages checked in October 2026.

Lookouts and seals

Point Kean. About 4.4 km from the town centre along the peninsula, Point Kean has a car park, a viewpoint 200 m away and a free seal-watching spot. Stay at least 20 m from seals, and give mothers and pups more space. Keep dogs and children back. Males near the car park can bite. Never touch or feed a seal.

Ōhau Point. This roadside lookout is about 25 km north on SH1 and looks over a fur seal colony. Pups arrive mainly in summer. The pull-off takes about 20 vehicles and opened in October 2018 on the rerouted highway. The Fur Seal Sanctuary, created in March 2014, keeps the public off the shoreline. The Ōhau Stream waterfall walk has been closed since the November 2016 earthquake, so stay on the lookout. Read the report on the lookout’s reopening .

Peninsula Walkway viewpoints

The DOC walkway links viewpoints at Point Kean, Whalers Bay and South Bay. The sections run 1.5 km (about 25 minutes) from Point Kean to Whalers Bay, and 1.1 km (about 20 minutes) from Whalers Bay to South Bay. The whole loop is about 11.7 km, and DOC advises at least 3 hours. Cliff edges are unfenced and high tide can block the shoreline. See the DOC walkway page .

Heritage stops

Fyffe House, at 62 Avoca Street, is run by Heritage New Zealand. Its cottage stands on piles made from the vertebrae of southern right whales (tohorā). The site was a whaling station from 1842, and three families lived there between 1844 and 1980. Adults pay $10. From Labour Weekend to April it opens daily from 10am to 5pm. From May to September it opens Thursday to Monday from 10am to 4pm. See the Fyffe House page .

Kaikōura Museum, at 96 West End, sits in the “craypot” building and opens daily from 10am to 4pm. It closes on Christmas Day and Good Friday, and on the morning of ANZAC Day. Tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for children, with preschoolers free. Its “New Normal” exhibition covers the 2016 earthquake and “Wharenga: First Wave” covers surfing history. See the museum page .

Night sky

The Kaikōura Dark Sky Sanctuary was designated on 12 September 2024. Its dark skies cover nearly all of the district but not the township, so stargazers drive out of town. Details are on the romantic getaways page.

Sightseeing tips

A short sightseeing day could combine Point Kean, the museum and Fyffe House.
Check tide times before walking the shoreline.
Wear a windbreaker at lookouts.
Check NZTA Journeys before driving, as July 2026 floods damaged some roads.

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