Swimming with seals in Kaikōura

5 min read Updated October 2026 Compare all tours

New Zealand fur seals live all around the Kaikōura Peninsula, on the rocks at the water's edge and in the shallows between them. They are fast, curious swimmers, and a guided snorkel lets you watch them under water. Before you book, it helps to know that this tour runs only part of the year and depends on clear water.

The seal snorkel at the peninsula

The snorkel tour in our selection is run by Seal Swim Kaikoura, a small family business that has been taking people into the water since 1987. Its base is on the Esplanade, next to the Gooches Beach playground. You change into a warm wetsuit there and head out with a guide to the shallows of the peninsula. The company runs trips from the shore and by boat, and recommends the boat when you book ahead, because it can reach the seals in a wider range of conditions. Reviewers describe driving to South Bay and taking the boat out from there.

Plan on about two and a half hours in total. Groups are small, with up to ten swimmers. You must be at least 12 years old and confident in the water. The tour is not suitable for non-swimmers or for people with heart problems, and touching the seals is not allowed. Bring swimwear, a towel and warm clothes for afterwards. The operator asks you to call back the day before to confirm.

One reviewer who had never snorkelled before says they felt safe with the skipper and guide close by. On good days other animals turn up too; another group swam with seals and also saw dolphins. Reviewers also describe the experience as respectful towards the animals.

Season, visibility and cancellations

The seal swim closes in winter. For the coming season the company takes bookings from 1 November 2026, and the operator notes that the weather in this season is changeable, so tours can be cancelled. The water is the main factor. Reviewers from March 2026 report that tours the day before had been called off because of poor visibility, and that the guides kept them updated about whether their own trip would go ahead.

Seals do not perform on cue. On some days they keep away from swimmers, and one reviewer describes the guide moving the group to a second spot where the animals were more playful. Keep your expectations open and leave a spare day in your plans if this is the main reason for your trip. Average daytime highs in Kaikōura are about 20 °C in January and February and about 16 °C in April, so the end of the day can feel cool once you are out of the water.

What the rules say

Under New Zealand's marine mammal regulations you may swim with seals and with dolphins, but not with dolphin groups that have very young calves, and never with whales. Commercial tours need a permit from the Department of Conservation, and the seal swim operator states that it holds one. Much of the coast here lies inside the Kaikōura marine management area, which runs from Clarence Point to the Conway River and 12 nautical miles out to sea.

Seeing seals without swimming

The other tours on this page show you the seals without getting in the water. The pedal kayak tour by Seal Kayak Kaikōura launches a few minutes from its base at 18 Beach Road and spends its time along the rocks of the peninsula, where seals rest on land and swim around the boats. Children can join from 3, and your hands stay free for photos. Transport to the launch, a dry bag for your camera and all kayak gear are included, and groups have up to 14 people. More kayak options are on our page on kayaking with seals.

The half-day llama trek starts at the small clock tower in the main car park on West End. Each guest leads a llama along the beaches and boardwalk around the bay and out to the peninsula, with about 20 minutes to watch the seals. You walk beside the llama rather than riding it. The beaches are mostly flat with a few rocky sections, and children under 4 are carried in a backpack. Tea, coffee and snacks are included, and groups have at most eight people.

You can also visit the seal colony at Point Kean on your own. The car park at the end of the peninsula is 4.4 kilometres from the town centre along the Peninsula Walkway, and seals often lie close to it. Stay at least 20 metres away: male seals near the car park can turn aggressive. North of town, Ōhau Point has the largest fur seal breeding colony on the east coast of the South Island. The shoreline there is a sanctuary closed to the public, and you watch the seals from the viewing area by the road. That stopping area was rebuilt after the 2016 earthquake and reopened in October 2018 with room for about 20 vehicles. The old path down to the waterfall pool was still closed at the time because of earthquake damage, so do not plan on it.