It turns out i was quite wrong about the species of whale hanging around the shelf. Sperm whales can be found here all year round whilst the humpback tends to swan in for the winter, orcas (killer whales), dolphins and many species of shark are also common to the waters of Kaikoura due to its massive depths close off shore and the complex currents that bring rich nutrients to the waters.

The whale watching was excellent. Not the spectacular jumping that some might expect. More surface feeding and breathing. We managed to get close to 4 large sperm whales and saw two of the classic tale flips, not bad for only 2 hours on the water. Impressive and beautiful.