• About
  • Travel Resources

One Day in a City

24 Hour Travel Itineraries to Make the Most of a Day in a Destination

  • United States
    • California
    • Pacific Northwest
    • New England
    • Midwest
    • South
    • West
    • New York
    • Hawaii
    • Florida
  • Europe
    • Austria
    • Croatia
    • Czechia
    • Finland
    • France
    • Germany
    • Greece
    • Hungary
    • Iceland
    • Ireland
    • Italy
    • Netherlands
    • Poland
    • Portugal
    • Romania
    • Russia
    • Scandinavia
    • Slovenia
    • South Korea
    • Spain
    • Turkey
    • United Kingdom
  • More Destinations
    • Canada
      • Quebec
      • Vancouver Island
    • Caribbean
      • Dominican Republic
      • Puerto Rico
      • Jamaica
      • St. Maarten / St. Martin
      • St. Thomas
    • Central & South America
      • Argentina
      • Colombia
      • Mexico
    • Australia & New Zealand
      • Victoria AUS
      • Queensland AUS
      • North Island NZ
      • South Island NZ
    • Asia
      • Cambodia
      • India
      • Japan
      • Jordan
      • Nepal
      • Singapore
      • Taiwan
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
    • South Pacific
    • Africa
      • Kenya
  • Travel Tips
    • Travel with Babies & Toddlers
    • Couple Travel
    • Solo Travel
    • Cruise
    • Packing Tips
    • Work and Travel Balance
  • Shop
    • Gift Guides
One Day in a City > Destinations > Australia & New Zealand > South Island NZ > Kaikoura, New Zealand: Where Beach and Mountains Collide

Kaikoura, New Zealand: Where Beach and Mountains Collide

November 2, 2020 By Gina
Posts on this site may contain affiliate links. Read the full disclosure here.

Pin4
Share4
Tweet
8 Shares

Whales, Crayfish, Beaches and More in Kaikoura, New Zealand

Kaikoura, New Zealand: Pretty even on a hazy day.
The town of Kaikoura, New Zealand: Pretty even on a hazy day.

Kaikoura, New Zealand is a little beachside town located about a two hour drive north of Christchurch. Kaikoura used to be a sleepy crayfish fishing town, but its beauty of ocean and mountains couldn’t be kept a secret forever and the past couple of decades have seen its tourism increase at a rapid pace.

The shore of Kaikoura is known for the whales and dolphins that play in its water. I didn’t see any sea life during my time in Kaikoura (It was Christmas Day so perhaps all the Orcas were at the relatives house in Able Tasman), but it didn’t take away from the loveliness of the town.

Kaikoura’s buildings are unassuming – obviously catering to tourists yet not in a kitschy way. Though most businesses were closed while I was there due to the holiday, I could tell that there were some gems located amongst the town, such as this bar and restaurant:

Kaikoura, New Zealand Restaurant: The ruggedness of the building seemed to match the rocky ocean view seen from its windows and patio.
The ruggedness of the building seemed to match the rocky ocean view seen from its windows and patio.

That beach is the main draw of Kaikoura. After descending over the creek that runs parallel to the shoreline, a vast rocky carpet of white and gray hues spreads before you with the crashing waves behind it. The water has light teal and turquoise accents to it, especially when the sun is sparkling on it.

The wide rocky shoreline of Kaikoura, New Zealand.
Creamy Crayfish Mornay.
Creamy Crayfish Mornay.

A dish to try in Kaikoura is the locally caught crayfish – which is the Kiwi’s term for the lobsters caught off their shores. These lobsters are smaller than Maine lobster and are more reminiscent of the spiny lobster caught off the shores of California. The Kiwis definitely know how to cook their lobster to bring out its sweet flavor. Tom and I got the Crayfish Mornay at Aromas restaurant (one of the few restaurants open on Christmas – and we were sure glad it was). The Crayfish Mornay was cooked to the restaurant’s “secret recipe” and came cut up into a creamy broth that taste like buttery Alfredo sauce. It was divine.

Aromas Restaurant in Kaikoura, New Zealand.
Aromas Restaurant in Kaikoura, New Zealand.

As the restaurant has an indoor/outdoor ambiance, signs were displayed warning diners not to leave food unattended. While sitting there we saw quite a few abandoned dinners attacked by seagulls.

Kaikoura, New Zealand

Ah, yes, the seagulls. It’s impossible to leave Kaikoura without seeing – and hearing them.

Tom and I decided to call the seagulls of Kaikoura “Rooney birds” after our cat Rooney who goes through fits of urgent meowing at times for no seemingly apparent reason except to get us to pay attention to him. This seemed to be the seagull’s motto as well.

Kaikoura, New Zealand

To the northwest of Kaikoura white-capped mountains jut up from the earth in the distance, a reminder that this land isn’t just about the beach.

The mountainview from Kaikoura, New Zealand.
The mountainview from Kaikoura, New Zealand.

If taking your chances of just seeing marine life from the shore sounds too risky for you, there are many whale watching tours offered out of Kaikoura, which can be done via boat or plane. We passed by Wings Over Whales, which looked quite nice and has a 95% success rate of seeing whales.

Whether you spend a couple hours or a couple days in Kaikoura, New Zealand,  it’s definitely worth a stop during your time on New Zealand’s South Island – and if you’re lucky, you’ll see a whale or two (or more!).

About Gina

I'm a former travel agency marketing director turned freelance travel writer. My editorial and copywriting work has been published on and in USA TODAY, Travel + Leisure, the Travel Channel Cities app, TripSavvy, and many more online and print publications. I especially love sharing my knowledge of traveling with limited vacation time, making the most of cruise ports of call, and vacationing with kids. I also enjoy sharing my favorite travel gear and products to make traveling easier!

Comments

  1. Gina says

    January 7, 2013 at

    Thanks Susan!

  2. Susan @ Cruise Vacation says

    December 28, 2012 at

    Amazing last picture view which you captured from car. Thanks for sharing your experience love the you explains.

About One Day in a City

One Day in a City: Start Here
Hi! I'm Gina, a former cruise and tour marketing director turned independent travel writer who helps those short on time make the most of their travels, even if you just have 24 hours to spend somewhere. Read More...

Travel Writing

Gina Tarnacki Writing

Top Travel Tips

Travel Resources and Websites to Make Your Vacation Easier

Travel Inspiration

One Day in a City: Start Here
I have over a decade of experience working in the travel industry and use what I've learned to help you take control of your travels and design YOUR best trip with however much vacation time you have. Start Here...

Recent Posts

  • Should You Use a Travel Agent for Your Disney World Vacation? 
  • Ultimate List of the Best Cities to Visit in Europe
  • 20 Best Beaches in California to Add to Your Bucket List
  • Best Weekend Getaways in Michigan: A Local’s Ultimate Guide
  • The Best Winter Family Vacations for Fun and Snow

Search for a Destination…

Contact
Advertise
Content Writing Services
Privacy Policy, Disclaimer, and Disclosure

Copyright © 2023 · One Day in a City is a property of Ports and Pen Media LLC.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided 'as is' and is subject to change or removal at any time.