Best Locations to See the Kaikoura Seal Colony, New Zealand

Spot spinner dolphins and hundreds of native fur seals along the rocks of Kaikoura on New Zealand’s South Island.

Kaikoura is famous for its diverse and numerous marine wildlife species. Even before we reached the Kaikoura township, we spotted hundreds of breaching dolphins and spouts of great humpbacks from the coastal road.

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

In this quick guide, I’ll detail the best locations for spotting seals in Kaikoura, as well as some useful tips to ensure sustainable and safe wildlife viewing.

Best Locations 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 for visiting; The Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway and the Ohau Point Colony.

1. 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 track located approximately 3 km from the main street.

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

Peninsula Walkway Seal Spotting

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

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

If you don't want to walk the loop, then the best bet is to visit Kean Point during low tide and walk out onto the rocky headland. Here, you'll often find many seals dozing in the afternoon sun. Just be mindful of a rising tide, which might result in wet legs crossing back to the car park.

While this seal colony area isn't typically an active breeding area, you should still maintain a safe distance of at least 20 m. These wild animals can pack a nasty bite if you get too close!

In my opinion, Kean Point Viewpoint and the Peninsula Walkway are the best locations for seal spotting in Kaikoura.

This is because it is more of a natural wildlife spotting experience, where you truly get the privilege of watching and photographing seals in their natural environment.

2. Ohau Point Seal Colony

One of the biggest and most well-known Kaikoura seal colonies lives on the rocky outcrops near Ohau Point.

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

The Ohau Point Seals

Since this is a breeding colony, you can't walk down to the seals. However, there is a newly-constructed viewing platform just above the colony to spot them from afar.

We spent close to an hour watching the baby fur seals playing in the water and the adults basking in the westering sun.

Best Time of Year to See the Seal Pups

The New Zealand fur seal breeding time means that 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 when they move around a little more.

Any later than this and the pups would have already grown quite large.

Best Tour: Kaikoura Seal Kayaking Adventures

Are you looking to take it up a notch and experience the seals up close?

Kayaking with the Kaikoura seals is one of the best up-close wildlife experiences you can have on New Zealand's South Island.

While kayaking in Kaikoura, both wild seals and penguins came right up to the kayak! We also spotted humpbacks and dolphins breaching in the distance.

More Things to Do in New Zealand's South Island

I hope you enjoyed this quick guide for finding the best locations for spotting the Kaikoura seal colonies.

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

Where to Stay in Kaikoura Near the Seals

Below are my top picks for where to stay if spotting seals is on your to-do list! All of these are located close to the seal viewpoints.

Kaikoura Freedom Camping

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

However, If you’re staying in a self-contained vehicle there are many different places along the beachfront where you can pull up overnight for free. These can be found on the CamperMate app.

The main self-contained vehicle stop is the West End car park which is situated near the Kaikoura Museum. If you do stay here please be mindful of others and remember to take your rubbish. 

I hope this guide helped you spot the seals in Kaikoura.

Check out my other articles below if you're still looking for epic things to do and see around the South Island of New Zealand.

• 36 Amazing Places to Visit in the South Island - my most comprehensive travel guide that is useful to help you find the best places to visit on your trip to the South Island
• Top Things to Do in Queenstown: Explore Queenstown's top hikes, epic adrenaline activities, and hidden gems.
• South Island's Best Hikes: I hiked over 50 trails in New Zealand. Here's my curated list of the most breathtaking hikes across New Zealand's South Island.
• Arthur's Pass Travel Guide: Dive into the heart of Arthur's Pass with my guide to the best places to visit.
• Best Mount Cook National Park Hikes: A hiking guide to the most scenic trails beneath Mount Cook.
• Best Views of Mount Cook: Discover the top spots to witness New Zealand's Aoraki peak in all its glory.
• Epic Things to do at Milford Sound: Explore 21 unique ideas get inspired to visit Milford Sound!
• Catlins' Hidden Gems: Uncover the Catlins' best-kept secrets, from waterfalls to wild coastlines.
• Accommodation Resources: Plan where to stay in Queenstown and discover the amazing Tekapo Lake Hotels.