Where to see the seal colony Kaikoura – South Island of New Zealand

Where to see the seal colony Kaikoura – South Island of New Zealand

Visiting the Kaikoura seal colony on New Zealand's South Island offers one of the best wildlife experiences in the country. Hundreds of native fur seals call Kaikoura home, and here are the best places to see them.

Kaikoura is famous for its diverse and numerous marine species. Before we even reached the township of Kaikoura, we spotted hundreds of dolphins and large humpback whales from the coastal road.

While whales and penguins are popular with wildlife watchers, none receive as much attention as the Kaikoura seal colony.

In this quick guide, I'll describe the best places to watch seals in Kaikoura, as well as some useful tips to ensure sustainable and safe wildlife viewing.

alt="NEW ZEALAND FUR ROBE IN KAIKOURA">
alt=“KAIKOURA PENINSULA WALKWAY SEAL COLONY”>
alt=“SAIL IN KAIKOURA”>

Unmissable things to do in Kaikoura

Before I get into the information about the Kaikoura Seals, check this out!

If you'd rather experience more of Kaikoura's unique wildlife, check out these selected activities below. They are the top rated experiences in Kaikoura.

The best places to spot the Kaikoura seal colony

The truth is that seals are everywhere on the Kaikoura Peninsula. There are dozens of separate seal colonies along the coast.

However, there are two main locations that are best to visit. The Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway and Ohau Point Colony.

Kaikoura Peninsula walkway

The most popular place to spot seals in Kaikoura is the Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway. This is a flat and rocky headland loop located approximately 3 kilometers from the main road.

There is a large car park at the headland, but if you don't have a car it's just a short, leisurely walk along the seafront from town.

alt=“KEANS POINT OUTLOOK KAIKOURA”>

Seal watching on the Peninsula Walkway

If you're up for it, the 2-3 hour Kaikoura Peninsula hike is a great way to guarantee seal sightings.

The seal population that surrounds the headland consists of dozens, if not hundreds, of seals. This means you won't have any problems detecting them.

If you don't want to walk the loop, it's best to visit Kean Point at low tide and head out onto the rocky headland. Here you can often find lots of seals dozing in the afternoon sun. Just think of a rising tide that could result in wet legs returning to the parking lot.

Although this area with seal colonies is not typically an active breeding area, you should still maintain a safe distance of at least 20 meters.
alt=“KAIKOURA PENINSULA WALKWAY SEAL COLONY”>
In my opinion, the Kean Point lookout and the Peninsula Walkway are the best places to see seals in Kaikoura. This is because it is more of a natural wildlife viewing experience where you truly have the privilege of observing and photographing seals in their natural environment.
alt=“KAIKOURA FUR THIEVES”>
alt="Seal Spotting in Kaikoura">
Tip: Keep an eye on the sea. Dolphins, whales and the occasional orca pass through the Kaikoura Peninsula walkway and Kean Point.

Where to stay in Kaikoura near the seals

• Dusky Lodge and Backpackers – Budget Ein großartiges Hostel für Rucksacktouristen, das in der Nähe des Strandes und der Stadt Kaikoura liegt. Es verfügt über einen beheizten Pool und einen Whirlpool zum Entspannen nach einem erlebnisreichen Tag. Die Zimmer sind groß und es gibt eine Küche, die zum Zubereiten und Kochen von Mahlzeiten genutzt werden kann. Für $30 pro Nacht ist dieses Hotel eine großartige Unterkunft.
• Brook House B&B & Cottages – Bed and BreakfastDas Brook House B&B & Cottages bietet bei jedem Aufenthalt ein kostenloses kontinentales Frühstück. Es gibt eine Gemeinschaftsküche und jedes Zimmer ist für die kälteren Nächte mit einer Heizung ausgestattet. Mit Blick auf ein wunderschönes Feld und nur 2 km von der Stadt entfernt, ist das Brook House B&B & Cottages eine großartige B&B-Option.
• Admiral Court Motel Kaikoura – MotelWenn Sie nach einer Unterkunft suchen, die sich noch innerhalb des Stadtradius befindet, aber ruhig ist, dann ist das Admiral Court Motel Kaikoura eine gute Wahl 10 Gehminuten von der Stadt entfernt.

NZ HIKING GUIDE: 6 BEST HIKES IN MOUNT COOK NATIONAL PARK

Ohau Point seal colony

One of the largest and best-known Kaikoura seal colonies lives on the rocky outcrops near Ohau Point.

Ohau Point Lookout is 30 minutes north of Kaikoura on State Highway 1 towards Blenheim.

alt=“KAIKOURA SEAL COLONY AT OHAU POINT”>

The Ohau Point Seals

Since this is a breeding colony, you cannot go down to see the seals. However, there is a newly constructed viewing platform directly above the colony to view it from a distance.
alt=“OHAU POINT SEALS KAIKOURA”>
We spent almost an hour watching the young fur seals playing in the water and the adults basking in the western sun.

Best time of year to see the seal pups

The New Zealand fur seal breeding season means seals are often born between December and February. Therefore, the best time of year to see seal pups in Kaikoura is between April and September.

Later the puppies would have grown quite large.
alt=“SEAL PUP AT KAIKOURA”>Fur seal pup at Ohau Point Lookout

Kaikoura seal swim

Swimming with the Kaikoura seals is one of the best up-close nature experiences you can have in New Zealand. There are tour groups that offer these guided swims, all taking a boat just off the coast of the Kaikoura Peninsula.

No experience is required. You just need to be a confident swimmer and be prepared to get a little cold (wetsuits are provided). I compared prices and reviews online and by far the best Kaikoura seal swimming tour is this one on Viator.

If you'd rather not go in the water, you can also take a cheaper kayak tour. While kayaking in Kaikoura, both wild seals and penguins came straight to the kayak! We also spotted humpback whales and dolphins breaching in the distance.
alt=“KAIKOURA DOLPHINS”>

Kaikoura Freedom Camping

Unfortunately, there are no freedom campsites for non-self-contained vehicles near Kaikoura.

However, if you are staying in a self-contained vehicle, there are many different locations along the boardwalk where you can pull up overnight for free. You can find these in the Campermate app.

The main stop for self-contained vehicles is the West End car park, located near the Kaikoura Museum. If you stay here, please be mindful of others and remember to take your trash with you.

More activities on New Zealand's South Island

I hope you enjoyed this quick guide to finding the best places to spot the Kaikoura seal colonies.

If you're looking for more adventures and travel inspiration on New Zealand's South Island, be sure to check out some of the free travel guides below. A good starting point for great hikes is this mega post of the 31 best hikes on New Zealand's South Island.

MY CAMERA AND PHOTO EQUIPMENT

• Spiegellose Kamera: Canon R5
• Drohne: DJI Mavic Pro 2
• 360-Grad-Action-Kamera: Insta360 One X2
• Landschaftsobjektiv: Canon RF 15-35 mm f/2.8L
• Allround-Objektiv: Canon RF 24–105 mm f/4L
• Teleobjektiv: Canon RF 100–500 mm f/f/4,5–7,1 L
• Lange Aktionsstange: Insta360 Invisible Pole (BulletTime)
• Landschaftslinsenfilter: Hoya Circular Polarizer
• Kamerarucksack: F-Stop Tilopa
• Lieblingsfotozubehör: Peak Design Capture Clip

For a list of my recommended photography gear (including what I use and why), check out my Travel Camera Gear Guide.

If you would like to use any of the photos on this website, please visit my licensing page to find out how. I also sell professional art prints, visit my Print Store or contact me directly for customs deductions of images on We Seek Travel.
alt="KAIKOURA SEAL COLONY">

On Pinterest?

Why not save this guide Where to see the Kaikoura seal colony for later? Follow We Seek Travel on Pinterest to stay up to date with all the new travel guides and blogs.

PIN IT FOLLOW ME

.