Kaikoura

Kaikoura's oldest building. The earliest part, built in the 1842, sits on whale vertebrae foundations.

It has exhibitions about the 2016 earthquake, natural history and social history. The distinctive outside of the building is built to resemble a crayfish pot made of supplejack.

At the tip of the peninsula you can see fur seals sunbathing and seagulls sitting around in their nests. You can walk quite close, but please keep enough distance to avoid making them angry! The seals can be found a short walk from the carpark at the Viewpoint.

The Mt Fyffe Track starts at Mt Fyffe carpark, 15 km from Kaikoura. You can hike up Mt Fyffe (8 hours loop), or return earlier (5 hours loop to Mt Fyffe Hut, or 2-3 hours loop if you turn around at the viewpoint inbetween on 600 m height). All these options offer beautiful views over the Kaikoura Plains onto the sea. The roads to the carpark are partly gravel roads, but can still be used with bicycles or normal cars. The Hinau Track is a short 45-min loop track starting at Mt Fyffe carpark that leads through an unusual native forest with a number of large hinau trees, where you can hear and see native birds.

This beautiful well-prepared walkway starts at Point Kean Viewpoint and runs along the top of the cliffs. It's 5 km one-way to South Bay Beach, and can be extended to a 12-km loop if you include a few streets and a way through the forest.

5 Star PADI Dive Centre. You can dive the kelp forests and limestone reefs on guided scuba diving tours with them.

Swimming with dolphins or just watching them. Mainly the dusky dolphin species, though other species may be about. Café Encounter is open 7AM–5PM in summer and 7:30AM–4:30PM in winter and gets good reviews.

Kayak with seals and dolphins.