See sleeping cachalotsin Kaikoura, New Zealand

In the Pacific Ocean near the South Island of New Zealand, you can watch 50 tons in weight cachalots all year round.

Cachalots - 50 tons in weight and 20-meter-long toothed whales. They live in ocean waters all around the world, but the coast of the South Island in New Zealand is a true paradise for them. Here, not far from the shore, in the deep oceanic hollow of Hikurangi, there is a lot of plankton, the best food for the giants - so you can meet them here all year round.


Photo © Franco Banfi

You can set out on a search for cachalots taking an excursion, but since you're on Oddviser, we will tell you how to do it yourself.

1. On the South Island you do not have to wait for the season to see cachalots, because they drift along the coast all year round. Here in Kaikoura you can rent a boat or catamaran and go to the Hikurangi hollow for a search.
2. Your captain with the help of the sonar station will help you to find the cachalots' site.
3. Sleeping cachalots is a rare phenomenon (they sleep from 6 to 20 minutes a day) and it is not easy to see them sleeping. Just a few people were lucky to capture this stunning spectacle, but you must try it anyway, because swimming with the awake sprat is also a terrific adventure ;-)


Photo © Franco Banfi

The best time for adventure is from October to March.

A boat trip costs NZD 150. Scuba diving costs another NZD 150, or you can rent a snorkeling mask for NZD 20 directly from the captain.