# Things to see in Kaikōura (New Zealand): 39 places and when to go

> Kaikōura is a town in New Zealand, and this site lists 39 places in and around it, mainly Nature (26), Mountains (19), Hiking (9). The best known are Manakau, Te Ana – The Caves and Mount Fyffe. The best time to come is October to April; also possible: May to September. In December there are 15 h 06 of daylight, and in June, 8 h 55. Here is what there is, when to go, how to get there and what else is nearby.

- Address: https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/kaikoura/
- Reviewed on: 2026-10-02
- Language: en

## In a nutshell

- **Where:** New Zealand · -42.4012, 173.6897
- **Places:** 39 places on this site, in the town and around it.
- **What people come for:** [Nature](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/naturaleza/) (26) · [Mountains](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/montana/) (19) · [Hiking](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/senderismo/) (9) · [History](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/historia/) (3) · [Museums and art](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/museos/) (2) · [Beaches](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/playa/) (1)
- **Best time:** October to April.
- **Also possible:** May to September.
- **Nearest airport:** WLG Wellington, 151 km as the crow flies
- **Highest point:** Manakau, at 2,608 m.

## What to see in Kaikōura

The places in and around Kaikōura, best known first, each with its own page: what it is, when to go and what is next to it. Distances are from the centre, as the crow flies.

- [Manakau](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/manakau/): Mountain in New Zealand · 20 km
- [Te Ana – The Caves](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/maori-leap-caves/): Cave in New Zealand · 2.8 km
- [Mount Fyffe](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/mount-fyffe/): Mountain in New Zealand · 12 km
- [Haumuri Bluff](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/haumuri-bluffs/): Cliff in New Zealand · 22 km
- [Te ao Whekere](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/te-ao-whekere/): Mountain in New Zealand · 24 km
- [Balance Rock](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/balance-rock/): Hill in New Zealand · 24 km
- [Big Hau](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/big-hau/): Hill in New Zealand · 13 km
- [Fyffe House](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/fyffe-house/): Kaikoura's oldest building · 2.2 km
- [Gooch Bay](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/gooch-bay/): Bay in New Zealand · 2.4 km
- [Goose Bay](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/goose-bay/): Bay in New Zealand · 16 km
- [Half Moon Bay](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/half-moon-bay/): Bay in New Zealand · 19 km
- [Ingles Bay](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/ingles-bay/): Bight in New Zealand · 934 m
- [Jacky Duffs Knob](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/jacky-duffs-knob/): Hill in New Zealand · 15 km
- [Jacobs Ladder](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/jacobs-ladder/): Hill in New Zealand · 23 km
- [Little Hau](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/little-hau/): Hill in New Zealand · 13 km
- [Mount Alexander](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/mount-alexander/): Hill in Kaikoura District, New Zealand · 24 km
- [Mount Guardian](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/mount-guardian/): Mountain in New Zealand · 29 km
- [Mount Saunders](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/mount-saunders/): Mountain in New Zealand · 19 km
- [Ōkiwi Bay](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/okiwi-bay/): Bay in Canterbury, New Zealand · 25 km
- [Patutu](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/patutu/): Mountain in New Zealand · 27 km
- [Peaked Hill](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/peaked-hill/): Mountain in New Zealand · 30 km
- [Red Hill](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/red-hill/): Summit · 29 km
- [Rileys Hill](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/rileys-hill/): Mountain in New Zealand · 11 km
- [Surveyor Peak](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/surveyor-peak/): Hill in New Zealand · 21 km

And the other 15, by what you come to do:

- **Nature**: [Swyncombe](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/swyncombe/), [Tarahaka](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/tarahaka/), [Uwerau](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/uwerau/)
- **Hiking**: [Alfred Hut](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/alfred-hut/), [Dubious Bivvy](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/dubious-bivvy/), [Fidgit Bivvy](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/fidgit-bivvy/), [Hapuku Hut](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/hapuku-hut/), [Kahutara Bivvy](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/kahutara-bivvy/), [Kowhai Hut](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/kowhai-hut/), [Limestone Hut](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/limestone-hut/), [Mt Fyffe Hut](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/mt-fyffe-hut/), [Warden Hut](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/warden-hut/)
- **Beaches**: [Cone Rock](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/cone-rock/)
- **Museums and art**: [Kaikoura Museum](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/kaikoura-museum/)
- **History**: [Takahanga Marae](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/takahanga/)

## When to go to Kaikōura

The best time to visit Kaikōura is **October to April**; also possible: May to September. This comes from its own places: a month counts as the town's best time when it is the best time for half of what there is to see.

| Mes | Época | Hours of daylight |
| --- | --- | --- |
| January | Best time | 14 h 46 |
| February | Best time | 13 h 40 |
| March | Best time | 12 h 21 |
| April | Best time | 10 h 50 |
| May | Possible | 9 h 35 |
| June | Possible | 8 h 55 |
| July | Possible | 9 h 11 |
| August | Possible | 10 h 16 |
| September | Possible | 11 h 44 |
| October | Best time | 13 h 11 |
| November | Best time | 14 h 28 |
| December | Best time | 15 h 06 |

In December there are 15 h 06 of daylight, and in June, 8 h 55. In January, 39 of the 39 places are at their best.

When to go to New Zealand in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/#cuando-ir).

## Getting to Kaikōura

The nearest main airport is Wellington International Airport (WLG, Wellington), 151 km as the crow flies. How to get around New Zealand (train, car, bus) is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/#moverse), and what to sort out before you leave is in [its checklist](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/#antes-de-salir).

- [Where it is](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=-42.4012%2C173.6897)
- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=-42.4012%2C173.6897)

## Other towns nearby

- [Hanmer Springs](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/hanmer-springs/): 16 places · 72 km
- [St. Arnaud](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/st-arnaud/): 20 places · 97 km
- [Blenheim, New Zealand](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/blenheim/): 32 places · 101 km
- [Waikari](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/waikari/): 10 places · 108 km
- [Amberley](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/amberley/): 6 places · 115 km
- [Wakefield](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/wakefield/): 6 places · 123 km

And all of New Zealand, in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is there to see in Kaikōura?

The best known: [Manakau](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/manakau/), [Te Ana – The Caves](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/maori-leap-caves/), [Mount Fyffe](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/mount-fyffe/), [Haumuri Bluff](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/haumuri-bluffs/), [Te ao Whekere](https://kokai.app/en/paises/oceania/nueva-zelanda/te-ao-whekere/). In all, 39 places in the town and around it, all on your trip map from day one.

### When is the best time to visit Kaikōura?

October to April; also possible: May to September. In December there are 15 h 06 of daylight, and in June, 8 h 55.

### How do you get to Kaikōura?

The nearest main airport is Wellington International Airport (WLG), 151 km away. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=-42.4012%2C173.6897) opens the route on the map.

### How do I add it to my trip?

Create a trip with Kaikōura as the destination and these 39 places are on your map, each with its category. The ones you like go into a day's plan with one tap, and Kokai reminds you when you pass nearby.

Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright), licensed under the ODbL, from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/), CC0, cities from [Natural Earth](https://www.naturalearthdata.com/) and airports from [OurAirports](https://ourairports.com/data/). Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).