I must say I wasn't too overly enthusiastic about spending my new years in kaikoura, but on closer inspection this place really is actually pretty awesome 😍, lovely weather and a long beach ⛱️ with far to many stones but this can definitely be over looked as the bike tracks 👣 the town and the beach all the way to the peninsula to see the seals 🦭 is definitely worth a visit, so on reflection I'm not just going to keep on driving when coming up the east coast as kaikoura rocks 💯😊🐋

Kaikōura is stunning, a great little town and a fabulous beach with wonderful views.

This back is black volcanic sand. The colour gives a total different feel from white sand beaches. The length of the beach gives so much expense of the sea and skies. Seal colonies can be found here. We saw 1 lone seal lazing around.

What a remarkable place to see on an unscripted first visit from the north on our way to Christchurch. I definitely want to return to Kaikoura with plenty of time to spare . Stunning looking beach & town and our drive also coincided with the annual street machine gathering . Totally awesome 👏

A picturesque walk along the ocean, with a touch of hazy air adding to the ethereal ambiance. The captivating beauty of the ocean and the majestic mountains as a backdrop create a visual masterpiece.

Beautiful sunrise and sunset over here, you can see seal and whales highly recommend it this lovely place

Nice beach but most of the shoreline is filled with stones. The is a good walking track.

Beautiful black beach.! Calm and nice 😊 place to be

Beautiful beach to view sun rise ⛅🌤️☀️

Lovely exhibit. Wheel chair friendly. Informative Step into a captivating journey through time at our museum. Immerse yourself in rich history, diverse cultures, and remarkable artifacts. Engaging exhibits, interactive displays, and knowledgeable guides bring stories to life. Explore, learn, and be inspired by the wonders of human achievement. A must-visit destination for curious minds and lovers of culture.

Small collection of local history. $12 per adult. Earthquake presentation was the highlight with detailed info on where and how it played out across the area, causing so much damage. Nice building. Staff are friendly and helpful. Library is upstairs and lift available.

Amazing! cute local history of Kaikoura. The display on the 2016 Earthquake was comprehensive and touching, while the other displays were also in depth and very interesting to see. The staff were friendly and keen for a chat. They also have a reading area and archive for doing research which i found very cool. We came back the next morning to complete the puzzle (which was missing 3 pieces as we found out) because we’d had such a lovely experience. Thanks!!

Definitely a neat little museum that you shouldn't miss. The fare isn't all that high and there's much on display with books to browse through regarding local history etc. The front desk was a lovely lady that showed enthusiasm of the museum's history and events that took place of which had great impact on the town and surrounding areas.

What a Cool place, Lots of interesting things I loved it .Take your Time but you get all day ticket So you can go back through the day . Brought back memories of my younger days ..The staff are lovely happy to have a chat . The earthquake room is So informative ,knowing what really happened that day. This town of yesteryear is Amazing as is it's History A must see Enjoy

It is not free as in CHC. They charge 12$ per adult, 10$ per student ID and like wise.. as it is a self funded museum. So if u expect it is free, u need not to visit. It is inside Kaikoura district council. On the left hand side it is the museum which recalls the earth quake. On the right hand side, it is the general museum. The museum spreads along the ground floor only. It would not take more than 30-40mins to finish it all. The place it kept nice and tidy. You have a visitos' toilet too. My honest opinion is , I am doubtful whether it worth the price u pay.

Well laid out and informative musuem for all ages. ESPECIALLY, the earthquake exhibition

Great experience. Lots of things from my childhood here. Great depiction of kaikoura earthquakes.

We arrived at 10am on a weekday as soon as the museum opened and we had the place to ourselves for about 30 minutes. It's well worth a visit, small but interesting. Information is provided about a few different topics concerning the local area (immigration, whaling, dairy industry, sea creatures etc.). We spent about an hour there in total, but the entry fee includes an all day ticket so you can come and go if you wish to. It is located on the ground floor of the building below the library. There is a pay and display carpark ($1 per hour) directly across the road.

A small but packed with information and displays. Great exhibits and collection of local and NZ history. Interesting quake exhibit and some fun and quirky items as well. This spot is worth a visit!

Firstly beautiful building. Lovely place to wander around. I really appreciate learning more about the town when the earth quacks happened and how everyone came together. What a beautiful community.

Kaikoura had a good museum pre-earthquake. As good exhibits and curation as you would find in any museum, anywhere. Now they've got one with REAL heart, and it's worth a trip for the pop-up exhibition on the earthquake and its effects, physical, social, and psychological, on this iconic seaside community. Kaikoura has always been on the edge, and a little bit isolated. The mountains surrounding it on the land side, and the sea bashing up on the front porch, have made sure of that. And that's how the locals like it. They love their place, its wild weather, its wild whaling and fishing history, its small community, its being on the edge of things. This is reflected in the community feel of the museum, and the warmth of the whole place. The exhibits are of very high quality, and give you a real insight into the history of the town and area. The quake exhibit is moving and very personal. Highly recommended.

So much to see. A real trip down memory lane in some displays. The earthquake display and the details of it are very interesting.

Small and very informative place. It made you feel about how the Kaikoura community and it's surrounding residents were able to rise up and get back to normal and promote it to be one of the most nature friendly tourist spot of the south island

I have spent months here renovating Fyffe House Whaling Station after it was damaged by the 2016 earthquake. I can say it's my favorite spot in New Zealand. Beautiful views of the sea and snow-capped mountains. It's a very interesting museum with a lot of historical information and value. The staff are very friendly and informative.

This is a wonderful historical building well preserved and the stories given by Ann bring to life the history of whaling and Robert Fyffe who had this built on whale vertebrae. A must visit to hear the story of early life and whaling in Kaikoura.

Its history is more interesting than the physical building. It was built by a Scottish whaler who used whale vertebrae as its foundation.

Such a wee gem! I have driven past to the seafood caravan many times, and wish I had popped in earlier! I spent about an hour going through from the foundations made of whale vertebrae, the beautiful wildflower garden, to the original Coopers Cottage. There was a fantastic overview of the history of local Maori from Maui to just pre-European times; alongside the Fyfe cousins and additional European families who have occupied the site. The grounds are worth a little look around - take time to see the Pou, the “dinghy”, original foundations from the Pier Hotel and chat to the knowledgeable friendly staff.

Beautiful place The view of the mountain in the morning is an absolute stunner ! The light there is perfect.

Quirky old residence, detailing hard life of early white man in area. They had it hard then, indeed. Lots of house of amazingly original. Right near a seal watching spot so worth a visit.

The jaggered rock formations in this area and the view of the mountains across the water were very spectacular and easily accessible parking. There was a rolling wispy sea mist above the water which further enhanced the serenity and mystique to bring a kind of magical feeling to the place.

Loved it. So different and unique. The lady running the place was fantastic.

What an unexpected gem! Brought my elderly friend to visit. So interesting, and well laid out so you can read as much or as little as you like. Staff were super helpful and the gift shop has some nice and unusual finds. Well worth popping in.

This is one of the hidden gems of New Zealand. I must warn that it is not a location for somebody who is looking for a cookie cutter experience. This is a genuine whale hunter house. Though the hunting has stopped in 1964, the house still feels as if the owners has never left it. You will learn an abundance of fascinating stories, such as the foundation being made of actual whale bones, which you can see and touch! As if the house itself wasn’t a great reason to visit it, the lady who runs the place has THE best souvenir shop in the region. Everything is ocean themed, great quality and unbeatable price. We sometimes stop at Kaikoura just to get souvenirs from that shop.

It was an amazing piece of history. It was just a look back at the wee towns past and where it came from. Make time to go and have a look around at the Fyffe House.

Generally a easy hike with good scenic views in good weather conditions, a round trip would take no more then 3hrs. Was able to sight seals sunbathing along the coast. However it does get extremely muddy and slippery at certain sections after rain, especially at sections where the trail takes you across cow pastures.

Gorgeous! Clear blue sea color even under this cloudy day. Wild animals all around, fur seals sometimes pop up in the bush! Definitely worth to come and have a visit. Walk along the seashore and climb up the hill to enjoy the whole picturesque view.

Take a right at the carpark, down the stairs and around the coastline to see the Seal Colony. Once you hit the white stone path, then you know you are on the right track. Beautiful spot for photos, the rocks look out of this world and the colours are amazing. There is also the lookout track, which is a lot longer

One of the more popular attractions in Kaikoura and one should cater about 2hrs to complete the tracks. The view is even better on top, however the path was quite steep and the tracks were muddy after the rain. Ample free parking with a toilet at the start of the track. Great driving view on the way to the walkway. We got to see seals too and be mindful that they may venture inwards away from the beach, as we saw one at the walkway like in the photo.

The Kaikoura Peninsula is truly stunning. Its breathtaking landscapes, with majestic mountains meeting the deep blue ocean, create a picture-perfect setting. The rich marine life and the opportunity for seal watching makes it even more special. Parking is easy.

This is a fabulous walk, provided you skip most of it. Much of the full circuit is a concrete footpath, or boardwalk, alongside the road, with nothing to see apart from the ocean (which is lovely, but doesn’t change until the very end of the road). The best way to do this is drive to the very end of the road, park in the car park, walk along the rocks below the cliff until Whalers Bay, then follow the path and steps up to the headland and access the proper walk all the way back to the car park. This will take you a couple of hours at most, and bring you right up close to the seals, and then give you the wonderful views all the way back. (Or vice versa, cliff then reef is fine). Stop off at the crayfish van on the way there or back for lunch, and you’ve done the best of Kaikōura without the 2 hour slog along the road.

Well managed place but it would be nice if there was some shelter for resting. Tracks are marked well and finding a car can be challenging. This is a popular spot to park your vehicle and for your hike. This snow one free activity you can do in Kaikoura.

This is arguably the best walk we’ve done in New Zealand. Varied landscape: from low down near water level, to high up on the cliffs. Well-maintained pathways, both man-made and organic. Viewing platforms and information boards. Toilets at beginning and end. About an hour and a half to two hours depending on how many stops. A further thirty minutes back to Kaikoura. Or longer if you stop for sustenance at the road-side BBQ and drinks stall.

Loved this walkway. Amazing views from the top of the cliffs & you can watch the seals below or walk back on the bottom & see them up close & personal! There's a small yellow lighthouse at the start of the walk at the top of the hill & after that, theres rural views & a grassy track on the cliff top with seats placed strategically for the views.

📍 Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway You can Google the location here for parking. In fact, you can see many seals here, and on a clear day, you can even glimpse distant snow-capped mountains. Capture stunning shots as you like!

Crazy beautiful walk and the seals were awesome 🤩 Wear sensible shoes 👞 cause of rocks on the path.

One of the best walkways in New Zealand, if not the world! Seeing seals up close and in their natural habitat was spectacular. The walk up to the top gives unreal views all around. Take your time here, lots of exploring to do and a decent sized car park with washrooms. I'd say 2-3 hours is good. The trail is a loop if you keep going.

Not a difficult walk. Amazing views south over the Pacific Ocean and stunning rock formations. Recommend doing the walk towards the end of the day as the sun is setting.

Some interesting rock formations and patterns to see just a 5 minute walk from the car park. Plus you should spot a few seals around as well.

A nice trail to see ocean, mountain, and many wildlife like seals, really enjoy all of the amazing scenes here.

We saw so many seals, and some were very young. The walk is beautiful and easy.

This is an amazing experience. We were meant to do a boat trip but it got cancelled and this was so much better! The plane on its own is an experience, the pilot was great and so friendly. She spent time making sure everyone was happy with what they saw and we had a great time. I would just recommend a travel sickness tablet before because I felt quite nauseous with the tight turns.

The best experience we've had in a long time! My partner and I took the flight today and it was a perfect clear day. The booking and check in process was super simple and the staff were so friendly. Small plane, small group and my partner even had the joy of sitting in the front next to the pilot. Sam our pilot was great and was super informative about the whales in the area. We were lucky enough to see dolphins, a humpback whale and two sperm whales! Can't recommend this tour enough, thank you guys again for such an amazing experience!

I booked the plane experience for a reasonable price with my children, aged 2, 14 and 18. From the moment we walked through the door, every person was friendly, helpful and it didn't phase them that my 2 year old was being a 2 year old. It is obvious that they are passionate about what they do, and we loved that! We were told that they cannot guarantee a sighting, however they definitely tried their best and we saw several dolphins and a beautiful sperm whale! Highly recommended, all of the kids raved about the experience 👍

Everyone at Wings over Whales was so friendly and helpful. Monique was lovely and picked me up and dropped me off before and after the flight. Emily was a great pilot and answered all my whale questions. I would definitely fly with them again.

Amazing experience thoroughly enjoyed the entire process. We were lucky to get a beautiful day with a lot of whales out and about. The team are friendly, and super cool! Thanks again

The whole experience was very educational and the instructions were clear. Safety briefing was reassuring. We were lucky enough to see a large pod of dolphins; unfortunately no whales while we were up there, but that couldn't be helped. Seeing the southern right whale jawbone in the foyer area was an unexpected bonus.

Amazing experience! We didn't see sperm whales but orcas and dolphins and another kind of whale (I forgot the name). When the boarding started I realised I forgot my sunglasses so I went back to the office and got them and when I came back to the plane all passenger seats were already occupied so I was allowed to sit next to the pilot! I would definitely recommend it. The only thing you have to know is that the headphones are a little bit uncomfortable if your ears are a little bit bigger.

We had such an amazing experience, thanks to Mike! We was so helpful and knowledgeable. Being in a plane in Kaikoura is incredible with the mountains and the ocean and dozens of dolphins, but we were worried we wouldn’t get to see a whale as the minutes ticked by. But Mike didn’t turn back after 30 minutes had expired- he kept on trying to find one for us. At last, we found a sperm whale, with some dolphins for size comparison! It was an unforgettable experience- thank you so much!!!

Wow, every aspect was so well planned and executed. From the check in, introduction and safety briefing to the flight experience. We felt so welcomed and safe and a lot excited. The pilots ensured every passenger had a perfect view of the whale who made an appearance and the dolphins too. Such an amazing perspective of these majestic animals.

We had such good customer service!! Louise at the office was so awesome. Apparently it was her first day but she had us sorted for our trip in minutes and gave us the best recommendations around town!! Really appreciated her helping us so last minute to plan a whale watch. Our pilot Kurt was also great. Knew where to find the whales immediately after takeoff. Such a nice experience seeing them in the wild and even got the see dolphins. The winter special was so worth it. We will be back and book with y’all again soon. Thanks so much.

Well, that was an incredible experience! Our pilot was well versed and a fun captain. We apparently got extremely lucky, the weather was sweet as Barely any wind, smooth seas and a sperm whale spotted in the first minutes of the flight that is believed to be extremely rare. Afterwards we saw many pods of dolphins and also albatross. What a thing!

Beautiful day and we booked online for 2 people. We were contacted shortly afterwards and told our time was undoable and needed a minimum of 4 people to fly. Could we do it some other day or they would get back to us if they got a flight going. Someone else booked so we ended up getting one earlier. The plane windows are great for viewing out of. We spent some time circling a pod of dolphins that had a bait ball going which was cool to see but we missed the surfacing of the sperm whale which dived as we got close to where the other plane company had spotted it. The whale wouldn't resurface for 45 mins so with a 30 minute flight we unfortunately were one of the unlucky ones not to see a whale.

Loved the flight even if we missed seeing the whales. Lots of dolphin activities which were great to watch. One caveat, keep your valuables safe elsewhere - you can’t take bags on the plane. They give you an unlocked locker that isn’t monitored 100% of the time.

The flight and tour absolutely was amazing. Good commentary, weather could not have been better. Nature can never guarantee whales but we saw pods of dolphins which was just as good. Tania - YourNZDriver

We fell into this opportunity after our Whale Watching boat tour had been cancelled for the day, and we're very grateful for our alternative air experience! What a beautiful way to head out in the hopes of seeing some whales. Our pilot was super friendly and really knowledgable of the landscape and area. Highly recommend.

Had an amazing experience today and what a way to start the new year! I rocked up early and Sam was not only able to accommodate me on an earlier flight but also allowed me to sit up the front beside him during the flight! Sam’s knowledge of the area and explanation of things to look out for was great and he provided us with tonnes of knowledge on the whales and dolphins. I also liked the fact when we found the whales, he communicated with the boats below to help them navigate where they were. Sam was a delight to have as a pilot and i learnt alot from him. Would recommend this tour to everyone!

It was wonderful!! We have see a sperm whale and dolphins! One of my best memories in New Zealand! The pilot was super nice, telling us anecdotes, stories, the animals…

Wouldn't say it's overrated, but definitely not 5 star worthy. Some of the food is nice but a good seafood meal really depends on the freshness of the ingredients and how simple and well it is cooked. The crayfish was definitely a bit overcooked. Do note the crayfish is already boiled before going on the grill. Hence it may not be as 'fresh' as some people thinks.

Unique roadside spot serving hot BBQ Crayfish, with salad and rice. Pick your own sized crayfish from the chill bin, around $50 for 2 people. Roadside dining. The crayfish was fine, not super flavorful (needs salt/pepper/mayo/sauce).

We had seafood lunch at Kaikoura seafood kiosk. After reading all the reviews and we were very excited to taste the yummy food but I am sorry to say that we did not enjoy much. It is conveniently located by the sea on the roadside. We had seafood chowder, grilled whole cray fish, seafood platter and grilled salmon. The seafood chowder was below average. The cray fish was dry and not as tasty. All the other seafood were average. Sorry we won’t be back.

A quick comfort meal on our way completing the coastal walk, food tasted okay and served reasonably quick. Seafood chowder tasted the best amongst other food we ordered.

I feel ill about spending so much money here ($90!!!). The crayfish was okay but everything else was some of the most flavourless seafood I’ve ever eaten. Apparently it was fresh but I’ve had better frozen. Would usually have checked reviews but it was a friend recommendation…absolutely kicking myself.

This place has really tasty grilled seafood. You can select the crayfish you want from the tub and they grill it in garlic butter. Very fast service and super delicious.

The worst seafood chowder I ever ate. A little deep plate with thickened liquid containing a single mussel. The liquid must have been the water where a fish was cooked in. I stayed hungry and frustrated.

For all seafood lovers this is a must do in Kaikoura. We had the seafood platter and half a crayfish. Everything was so fresh and cooked to perfection, the scallops were enormous. Very well priced for the single meals, all around $11-13. Highly recommend.

This is a beautiful and convenient place to enjoy seafood by the sea. I am a seafood fan and my boyfriend seafood is not his favorite. But he did praise the fish caught of the day, which are simply cooked and served with steamed rice, salad and garlic butter bread. The fish dish retains the fresh and sweet taste of the fish. What I don't find is this in the city with frozen seafood. Let's focus on the main flavor is seafood. Because you are at sea. If you're Asian it might not be to your taste. Another thing is that New Zealand is an island country but not a good place to get the best seafood. You should come to Asia like Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore, Japan...where there is a unique way of cooking seafood with many flavors and fresh tastes.

The crayfish (lobster) was really good! I had the 1/2 crayfish meal (rice, garlic bread, salad). Just a very unique setting along the road and steps from the ocean! Only reason for 4 stars on atmosphere was someone was feeding the seagulls, feeding frenzy with so my flying pests overhead. This is in no way the owners fault because they have signs that tell you not to feed the birds! Loved this place!

We came across this place whilst walking back from the panoramic walk (highly recommended). Thirsty, we were delighted to find the drinks wagon sells non-alcoholic beer as well as all the usuals. We had booked lunch in town otherwise we’d have tried the BBQ crayfish. Lots of customers there, so that’s a recommendation. Though sited on the roadside the shoulder is broad and the traffic not too frequent to be irritating. If I were doing the walk again I’d schedule in a stop here for lunch in good weather.

Excellent food!!!! Everything was fresh and the butter sauce was D E L I C I O U S!!! Seafood platter is a must try - value for money! $58 for huge plate. Seafood chowder was cheap and good. Crayfish was delicious, bought the $154 NZD one which was huge!!! Tip: there is meat in the legs of the crayfish too so don’t just eat the body! Really dig in!!! The place closes before 5pm though so do come early!

Crayfish / Prawns were fresh and taste pretty good. Wait was long but it was ok as we had the sea view and seals to keep us occupied. Store was dishonest - ordered 1 full crayfish but was only given HALF. Went back to ask for the other half, which they seem to have misplaced and was replaced with a smaller half. The service crew looked very displeased despite it being a mistake of theirs.

The food is fresh and delicious. But their customer service is poor, staff is impolite. Only few tables but there are lots of ppl lining up. We have to wait for 20minutes only to have our meals.

Great place to try delicious seafood! If you would like crayfish I'd recommend getting there early.

Unbelievable! The best crayfish in my life. The rest as well. Simple, fresh and absolutely to die for. You must go there even if unplanned!

Their crayfish is awesome, fresh and taste really good! Just a simple crayfish and prawn will be enough for us to enjoy our day in Kaikoura. Unfortunately they're service is not as good as their seafood. Taken 30 minutes or so to wait, and it's pretty common that they forget our orders, so let's add another 10 to 15 minutes.

the crayfish is fresh. Personally didn’t enjoy the meal due to the service and atmosphere. The food takes awhile to be served even though it wasn’t too crowded when I went. They were keeping tables before their closing at 5pm even though there were more incoming customers. I guess they’ll pack up quickly at 5pm sharp. Hygiene is not the best, lots of spills over tablecloth and no one will bother to clean them. Clear your own plates, try to pile them into full bins. Seagulls hanging around for your food scraps.

Easy going and relaxing bbq seafood spot by the beach - an amazing selection of fresh fish at a good price. Service was slower than I was expecting (about 20 minutes wait for food) but it was worth it.

Park the car, order your fish and chip, select the crayfish from the cooler, wait 20 minutes and have a sensational lunch. Seating is all outdoors by the road, grab a chair, or a seat at the table and tuck into to really nice freshly cooked seafood. If the weather is bad you will need to eat in your car or drive somewhere as this is all outdoors. And beware the seagulls. They have no fear whatsoever and will swoop and steal your food even as you collect it. (One got my bread at the precise moment I picked up the tray).

Exceptional service, Great Pricing and Value for money. Fine dining on a budget. Thank you for making our lunch for us on our first destination of our holiday. We will be sure to be back when we come thorough next time!!

What an interesting wee cafe! The duck fat potatoes with rosemary totally deserve a comment all of their own. My elderflower cordial with a generous slice of lime on ice was tasty. Husband enjoyed his Hoisin duck breast and my pulled pork salad had a crunchy slaw and roast winter veges to add texture and flavour. Excellent background music, interesting decor, a very enjoyable experience.

The Dear Me was delicious! Such a great place to get lunch in Kaikoura. Would highly recommend for toasty lovers

Can't recommend this place highly enough!! Absolutely delicious meal, I had the meat plate and my partner the Brisket burger. Stunning meat and delicious sides to go with, a really well-balanced meal! Good range of beers on tap and bottled and fantastic atmosphere. The service was also exceptional, really friendly, attentive and informative waiter. Fantastic, will definitely be back on our next trip.

Loved this place. From the funky decor to the yummy coffee. But the stand out are their toasted sandwiches. Huge and perfect combinations. We had the pulled pork one and I’m definitely gonna crave that sandwich. The staff are very nice. Toasted sandwiches are a lunch offering so available only after 11.30

We went to the Slam club for dinner on Sunday night, labour weekend. We eat a lot of ribs and brisket from all over, The Slam club did not disappoint, super meaty ribs and brisket superbly cooked along with chicken wings (my mouth is watering just thinking about it). Good service and a funky cafe to go.

Nice place where you can have gluten free options. We had a really nice salad and yummy potatoes with a delicious ali oli sauce 👌

I had a salad which exceeded my expectations. I came here after my kids and I were just looking for a place to eat. We were pleasantly surprised with how much flavor everything had. The kids inhaled their pulled pork sandwich. The space is cozy with mismatched tables and chairs.

Just amazing. 🥰 Spectacular food, staff, and atmosphere.

Great food, great host and great environment. Highly recommend the meat platter for a main and the warmed goats cheese dip!

10/10 would 100% recommend 👌 Oh. My. Goodness. the flavours 🤤 This little cafe has the most delicious food. I was in absolute heaven with the rabbit rillette and the meat platter was divine. A wonderful dinner in Kaikoura before I fly back to Australia in 2 days.

Amazing food, good coffee… One of the best toasted sandwiches I’ve had - Quaky Chan Hoisin Roast duck (sorry babe 😬) so tasty!!

Great food, great staff, and a great vibe. International staff and still the most kiwi experience ever. If you want some of the best food Kaikoura has to offer, Slam Club is a must visit. I had the meat platter for one and strudel, both were amazing; my partner and I loved it so much we had lunch their the next day. Highly recommend the Quacky Chan, quite filling while still feeling light too

What a wonderful place. Had a take away sandwich - was amazing. So we decided to come back for dinner the next night. Amazing food & great staff. Had to leave room for the apple strudel!

Highly recommended this place it’s a hidden treasure. Slam Club restaurant was a surprise with a great but simple menu. The food was by far the best we had in Kaikoura. I had the meat platter and it did not disappoint great flavours and perfect portion size the meat was cooked to perfection. Front of house staff were friendly and helpful with great recommendations.

Very nice place. Sandwich’s are very delicious but venison is little bit small if you are very hungry u can get duck sandwich is better 😋

I would recommend a visit if in town. My partner and I shared a mixed meat platter with salad. The host staff were lovely and the ambience was great! Of note they were extremely helpful at accommodating my egg allergy and subbed put the slaw for a salad at no charge. They were also helpful checking in the kitchen if anything else needed to be changed in the meal. We would visit again

We had a starter, Feta with honey and walnuts. Deelish! For mains we both had the special, lemon sole with fennel crisp and risotto with preserved lemon and it was something I would have paid for in a high end restaurant and been extremely happy. I’m often disappointed with risottos, but this was special. Basic surroundings but really pleasant and relaxing. I just loved it and will definitely return. Great service also. Great Friday night dinner. Thank you.

The entrees of bread and dips was amazing. Probably the best entrees I have tasted in awhile. Great tasty portion for the main meal. The staff were gracious.

Great friendly service. The food was excellent both in preparation and presentation. Good wine menu. Highly recommended - in a central location

This was our second visit in 2 weeks because the first was incredible. Hands down beats any meal I've eaten in any other restaurant in NZ and there have been alot! Venison was beautiful and my slightly picky partner who knows his meats had a grin from ear to ear eating the pork belly. Cheesecake again wonderful and the seafood chowder was packed with flavor. Weve also had the duck and the chicken, both delicious. Mustn't forget to mention the very professional and friendly front of house staff. Definitely going back again.

Great food , great service and great price. We were squeezed in on a rainy evening and were informed they were fully booked so we could eat but they would need the table back quite soon. The service and quality of food were excellent and we finished our meal just as the other guests arrived . Great place

Very nice food!! (The fish of the day backed with lemon and butter sauce) the desert and the wine… everything super tasty. Very nice customer service too.

Beautiful fine dining experience, excellent service and reasonably priced. Well worth giving this place a try.

Food was great and prices also good but lacks atmosphere. If that is not a worry it's a great place to eat just felt a little clinical

We went out for dinner with friends to Zephyr restaurant, and thoroughly enjoyed our meal. The food was absolutely delicious, cooked to perfection and presented beautifully on the plate. The staff offered a high level of service, and the restaurant has a lovely relaxing atmosphere. Highly recommend.

Excellent service from the moment we sat down. Lovely waiter, interesting, unhurried and very attentive. The meals were superb only the venison could have been a bit warmer. No specific kids menu but happy to serve a kids portion. Well catered gluten free. Beautiful side of vegetables.Timely service and wholesome interaction. A bit pricey but we did eat quality meals. Well done AAA

Called at 6:20 for a booking they moved things around for us to come in at 6:30. Rose’ was one of the best I’ve tasted in NZ. Food was incredible I had the stuffed chicken and my mum the beef ribeye. 100% recommend booking a table. Thank you

I would have liked to have awarded Zephyr five stars because when it arrived the food was very good. There were two waitresses on duty, with about a dozen diners, and we were the last sitting, so not too much pressure. So it was odd that we waited too long for our menus (why not have them as part of the table setting?), water, and the opportunity to order pre-dinner drinks. A couple who arrived after us were attended to before we were. Maybe they were locals known to the restaurant, and I understand the importance of repeat customers compared to one-off visitors. And no problem at all if it doesn’t affect us adversely. However it took 30 minutes from entering the restaurant at just after 8pm to getting our main courses - the stuffed chicken breast and the confit duck leg. I know this because the time clock on my photos of these dishes is 20.36. Both were of top quality, as were the vegetables, and amongst the best food we’ve had during our five week tour of both North and South Islands. Congratulations to the chef. We then ordered slices of the cheesecake of the day and of the chocolate tart. We also asked for our tea and coffee to arrive at the same time. The hot drinks arrived within a few minutes, but not the two puddings. After about ten minutes I wondered why two cold dishes were taking so long. (Why hadn’t our waitress noticed?) I had to raise my arm to wave a couple of times to get attention which is embarrassing. (A common fault is a waiter who doesn’t scan the tables constantly to spot a customer needing something.) Waitress was flagged down, arrived, apologised, checked, and reported back; the chef had turned off the electronic ordering system so hadn’t received our order… Another five minutes and our delicious desserts arrived. At NZ$145.50 or GB£74.58 for two (there was no non-alcoholic wine on the list) this was very good value. In Wellington you’d have paid double that. I appreciate that staffing is a problem being experienced across the industry, but in this case I think it was more a question of vigilance and communication. Zephyr deserves five stars and I hope they go from strength to strength. P.S. I’m not the sort of customer who goes looking for discounts or refunds, but it would have been good to have been offered one. In this case I’d have declined because the gesture would have meant acknowledgment of these glitches, and that’s part of a good recovery.

A reasonable restaurant with reasonable food set in a clean but bland environment. We arrived on time but unfortunately our table was right next to the entrance to the toilet so seeing a table opposite for two was vacant we asked our waitress who we thought was also the owner if we could be seated there. We were then told to take a seat at the lounge near the entrance while it was organised. The strange thing about this was that the table was already set and only just across the other side of the room. After nearly 15 minutes she came back and you guessed it? It was the same table that was vacant when we first came in and asked if could be reseated there. A word of caution. If you have been used to eating Black Mussels I suggest you don’t order the Green Lipped Mussels for an entree. There were a dozen of them and they were Huge!! and Unfortunately Over Cooked which made them Dry and Chewy!! A main dish just by themselves. Half a dozen would have been adequate for an Entree. Main meal was Fish of the Day which was Acceptable.

Wasn't terrible but definitely did not live up to expectations. We had polenta fries and warm bread with dips to start. Polenta fries were amazing but bread was definitely not fresh. Was almost very lightly toasted (which I assume was from reheating) and seemed slightly stale. For mains we had fish of the day and pork belly. The fish was unfortunately overcooked and both the fish and pork belly were exceedingly dry. Service was also very slow. For the relatively high prices we expected a lot more.

Lovely restaurant and enjoyed the food. Standout was the service we received from Penelope, who was not only attentive, efficient but super sweet. Incredible thank you 🙏 Penelope

Great food and service, a must visit if you're in Kaikoura!

It was a mixed review. Mussels & Fish were great. But unfortunately the steak lacked flavor, the jus was tasteless and disappointing. The roasted bone marrow was hardly anything to scrape off more just a bone on a plate. Service was good though

do not order the pizza here. Like cardboard and absolutely no sauce. The salad had huge chunks of red onions and barely any greens. Save your $$ and go across the street

Waited nearly an hour for a margarita pizza that was just very thinly layered mozzarella and tomato paste with a tiny bit of parsley. Base was tough and overcooked. The pizza, an RTD and a pint of tap cider cost me exactly $45.78 so on top of the holiday surcharge they overcharged me as well. Update: I should have let staff know but they were obviously extremely busy and I just wanted to eat and leave by this stage so I didn’t complain. It wasn’t until later I looked at the transaction amount. Maybe I’m wrong but I thought the pizza was $16, RTD $10 and cider $10 x 15% = $41.4

My seafood soup was great and my husband loved his stone cooked steak.

Chicken and bacon pizza was tasty. Place has friendly vibe and awesome outdoor area with plenty of heating. Little pricy & wouldn’t win “best ever pizza” in my book but it was solid.

We wanted fish & chips from other famous venue, but wanted beer with it, so we ended here. Absolutely no regret as their fish & chips were as good as at Coopers Catch, maybe even better – served with lettuce salad, tomatoes, carrot, etc with balsamic dressing. We also had supper yummy burgers and lots of pints of local beer. It was incredibly busy and waiting times were long, but staff kept smiling and was friendly as :)

Groper Garage is definitely one of the best go-to-pubs in town. Very friendly staff and good service. Karaoke nights are the best night for me. Pool tables and other board/card games are available too. Pizzas are topnotch and the tap cider is my favorite.

The music was quite loud. Service was good but you need to order at the bar. Food tastes great. I was here with teens and they were able to find items they liked. They have traditional Kiwi nachos with beef chilli on the highly recommend having them

The best cocktails in town! 👌🏼 Awesome atmosphere in front of the fire.

When coming to Kaikoura, a local highly recommended me to try fish & chips, as the city is known for it I searched online for restaurants serving so, and Groper Garage Bar & Restaurant looked to me like the best option Friendly staff, I was greeted outside by a young waiter big smile, and once inside got to befriend Neet Nair the manager, cool guy too I asked for a recommendation, and went for Battered cod & chips As a drink I had cranberry juice Oh, and as their name suggests it, it's more than a restaurant, a bar too, and features pool tables, TV screens, and rock music (that isn't loud, just enough for a nice background music), with lots of different seats and types of Highly recommended!

My friend and I stopped off in Kaikoura during our trip around the South Island and decided to have a bite to eat at the Groper. We had a great experience eating here. The food and cocktails were delicious, it had a lovely atmosphere, and the staff were all lovely and professional. We would highly recommend the Groper.

Great atmosphere and amazing staff. Best place to get your late night drinks. Dasha made our drinks and tended our table, she has such a warm soul and fantastic service. Highly recommend her marguitas.

We had read some recent reviews and were a bit concerned. Our experience was not the same. The staff were friendly, helpful and open. They advised of the wait time which is well within standard wait times. The food was hot, delicious and the chef made alterations to suit a food allergy, without a second thought. The atmosphere was lovely and we all thoroughly enjoyed our dinner.

The food was delicious but we waited for a while. More than 20mins after ordering for entrée, then 30mins till mains and around 30-40mins for deserts. Restaurants might be a bit under staff for a saturday night.

It was a quiet evening on a really cloudy/almost rainy day - so not many people roaming around Kaikoura. We couldn't appreciate the bar and restaurant full, though we are certain the atmosphere would be great on busy occasions. A few big screens for sports lovers also helps the general entertainment. It is more of an almost self-service procedure, where you need to order food by the bar and take a number with you, after which a waiter will bring the food accordingly. Having said that, the team of waiters and waitresses were very nice and polite, and very welcoming. We ordered a plate of Calamari for starters (forgot to take the photo, sorry!) and ordered a Hawaiian Chicken Burger and Sticky BBQ Ribs for mains. Food was really nice, well seasoned and fresh. Walking from the caravan campsites, many will come across other restaurants which also seem good and inviting. It would be a pity if The Whaler misses out on patrons due to selection by convenience, as it really is a nice overall experience to dine here.

A solid Monteith's pub in Kaikoura. Loads of space, and a couple of pool tables. There's an upstairs deck which would be awesome on a sunny day. Didn't have any food while there, just drinks. Staff were OK, the ambience was ok too, would love to see some live music at a place like this! All in all, not a bad joint.

It's meant to be pub food but really it was outstanding. We stumbled upon this cos we wanted to see the rugby . Pleasantly surprised. The fish was so fresh and well oresented. Lovely atmosphere. Just all round good. Worth a visit

Porterhouse steak is good, nice sauce to pair with. Short ribs and seafood chowder are alright, it’s not bad but not the best I’ve had. Service was nice and friendly.

Friendly and prompt service. Nice food. Good place for a family meal in Kaikoura. Nice traditional bar/pub decor.

Very nice bar area to sit in and enjoy the sun at the window 😎 Had some nice beer and good Sauvignon Blanc. We enjoyed a lot. Unfortunately we needed to wait more than an hour for our fish of the day but we were told before. Lovely bar! But not if you are hungry.

Awesome food and causy place to be for a drink or eat while travelling from Picton to Christchurch

Popped in here on a quiet Sunday night. Staff friendly and left us to enjoy the space and view. Huge sized meals for a good price. Good history around the building.

I went in for a late lunch so it was almost empty. I sat on the veranda with good sea views. I had chowder with toast whi h was excellent

Was pretty worried about going after reading reviews as got we have small todler. but got to say food was top notch beer was good and the wait time was good. Recommend spicy chicken nipple was so good and the pizza

Not bad but it is expensive for what you get. Two soups, a bowl of chips and a couple of beers cost almost as much as a night in a four star inner city Christchurch hotel. If you’re not concerned about ‘value’ then the food is okay.

They have very good steak. Very delicious and nicely cook by the chef!

Starting off positive - Mains were excellent with good sized portions. The chicken was a little dry but the peppercorn sauce made up for it. The ribs were a winner and practically fell off the bone. Dessert was where things fell down. The dessert special was a mango, rhubarb and beetroot crumble which intrigued me, but in hindsight should have been a warning! Firstly, why the mango and beetroot? You couldn't taste either, so just do a really good rhubarb crumble! Secondly, a crumble should have a fruit base with crumb on top. This... thing... had a crumb base and then extra thick chunks of crumb on top, almost like it was trying to be a pie, but failed at the last moment. Thirdly, it was twice the size it needed to be. Unless your menu says otherwise, keep the different items to similar portion sizes! As for the creme brulee - the star of the dish is the layer of caramelized sugar on top. Putting icing sugar on top of that just ruins the point! It was a good dessert just trying to look too fancy. I've seen other restaurants use edible flowers to make it look great. On the other hand, I saw other patrons with seafood dishes and the brownies which all looked excellent, so maybe we were just unlucky with ours. Finally, service was fairly slow taking about two hours for mains and a dessert. It felt like we waited for our dessert for as long as we did for our mains. Overall I would recommend checking this place out for lunch, for their mains, or just for a great place to hang out for a few drinks. The bar itself and the atmosphere is pretty great and had a relaxed vibe going. Just expect to wait a bit for food.

Great wee spot and a nice roof top terrace on a warm evening. The portions were quite generous, fish & chips were delicious and the ribs melted off the bone. It is self order at the bar but friendly staff.

The best fish and chip meal I have ever eaten. The fish was so delicious and a very generous serving of chips and salad. Highly recommend the Whaler Bar and Restaurant. The staff were very friendly too.