Kaikoura has a year round Sperm Whale and dolphin population, as well as other frequently visiting whale species.

We have a long history of operation and a fantastic success rate. Our pilots are trained to spot whales and are familiar with their surfacing and breathing habits. We ask our customers to understand that these whales are wild animals, free to roam in their natural environment. Because we have no control over their movements, whale sightings cannot be guaranteed.

We welcome babies and children of all ages on Wings Over Whales flights. Each child will be fitted with a protective head set and life jackets if necessary. Infants aged 0 to 3 years of age fly free of charge, provided they are seated on a parent or caregiver’s lap. We also have toys and colouring in to keep little ones occupied.

We recommend phoning ahead if you foresee weather being an issue or would like to check the weather conditions before your flight. Rain isn’t normally an issue for our pilots, however if on the odd occasion we are unable to fly due to high winds and poor visibility, we can reschedule your flight. Alternatively if rescheduling your flight is not an option, we are happy to refund your ticket price.

We run flights every hour from 9 am until 4pm and are open every day of the year, with the exception of Christmas Day. We can on occasion extend our hours of operation to cater for specific individuals or groups.

Whale watching flights and scenic air tours are typically 30 minutes in duration. We ask that passengers allow 1 hour to complete their experience as this includes a pre-flight safety and information briefing and enough time to take photographs should you wish.