The Kaikoura Seal Colony

Last updated on 25 March 2024

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The Kaikoura Seal Colony is an absolute treat to witness.

Living in New Zealand, I’m no stranger to the wonders of the Kaikoura Seal Colony. I have spent many an hour driving up and down that strip of the East Coast of the South Island, but I don’t think I’ve seen as many Kaikoura seals as I did on one particular trip.

It was about a week before Christmas one year, and we spent about 23 hours driving down to Canterbury from Auckland. Now, those of you who live in New Zealand know that it doesn’t actually take that long to get from Auckland down to Christchurch.

It’s about 8 hours to Wellington, about 3 on the ferry across Cook’s Straight, and then about 5 hours from Picton to Christchurch, down the coast and then inland. That only makes about 15ish hours, give or take. And normal people would stop for an overnighter in Wellington or in Picton even. But not us.

Nope. We had a 3:30am ferry crossing. So we left Auckland at about 9am on a Monday, got to Wellington in time for dinner (with a stop or two along the way), then sat around for hours until the ferry crossed at 3:30am. Straight off the ferry we headed for a classy McDonald’s brekky, then headed 5 hours to Canterbury.

And here we get to the point of this post.

New Zealand has some fantastic wildlife, and one of the more popular tourist (and local!) attractions is the Kaikoura seal colony. As you drive along the main route south, you’ll drive through lots of tunnels, see lots of birds and have the opportunity to stop along the way to grab some food, or simply enjoy the views.

But then the beach will change a little and you’ll start to see them. The seals in Kaikoura.

Stretching for what seems like miles, the seal colony along the coast spans along the rocks and the sand. And if you pull over at one of the designated viewing zones, you’ll be able to get a really good look at them as the lounge in the sun (or under the clouds, as it was for us this particular trip).

Seals can be vicious, so don’t get too close if you’re headed down there.