Kaikoura With Kids: Family Activities by Age

Kaikōura with children

Families visit Kaikōura for wildlife that can be seen close up, and most operators price children separately. Costs below are in NZD and were taken from operator pages in October 2026. This page is organised by age and effort, so you can match the activity to your children.

For all ages

Seal watching at Point Kean. This is free and open at any time. Seals rest on the rocks near the car park. Hold small children’s hands, stay at least 20 m back and keep dogs away. Males near the car park can bite, and a seal bite can become infected. Never touch, feed or throw things at a seal, and leave it a path to the sea. Call 0800 362 468 to report harassment. See the DOC advice on seals .

Kaikōura Museum. At 96 West End, it is open daily 10am to 4pm. Children pay $6 and preschoolers enter free, while adults pay $12. It is closed on Christmas Day and Good Friday. The “New Normal” exhibition explains the 2016 earthquake. See the museum website .

For school-age children

  • Whale Watch: children aged 3 to 15 pay about $60, and under-3s are not permitted. The boat carries motion-sickness VR goggles and bags. If no whale is spotted, 80% of the fare is refunded. See the Whale Watch FAQ .
  • Dolphin Encounter: watching trips cost from about $95 for ages 3 to 14. Children aged 8 to 14 can swim from about $240. Pods with young dolphins are left alone, so swimming is not guaranteed.
  • Hinau Track: a 45-minute loop through large hīnau trees, from the Mt Fyffe car park. An unbridged stream crosses the path.
  • Kayaking: a family tour with Kaikōura Kayaks is listed, so ask about age limits.

For older children and teenagers

  • EcoZip: the zipline tour takes about 3.5 hours. Children pay about $129 but must go with an adult who also zips, and adults pay about $199. The family price is about $527. Ask the operator about the minimum age.
  • Llama trek: a taster of about 1 hour in the Kōwhai River valley, or a half-day trek with a seal visit. The river flooded in July 2026, so confirm the operator is running before you go. Prices vary, so ask for the current rate.

Seals from the road

The Ōhau Point lookout, on SH1 about 25 km north of town, is free and has parking for about 20 vehicles. It looks over a fur seal colony where pups are born mainly in summer. The shoreline there is a closed sanctuary and the Ōhau Stream waterfall walk has been closed since 2016, so everyone watches from the lookout.

Family tips

  1. Seasickness is the main medical issue on any boat, so book the water trip early in your stay.
  2. Tours cancel in rough seas.
  3. Check NZTA Journeys before long drives, because of July 2026 flooding.

Read more: Group activities in Kaikoura and walking tours in Kaikoura .

Compare family trips on Viator .