Male sperm whales feed year-round along the deep Kaikōura Canyon, which plunges from 30 m to over 2,000 m only one kilometre from shore. Whale Watch Kaikōura reports a 95 % sighting success rate with an 80 % refund if no whales are seen. Aerial tours are also available. Watching only — no swim-with.

Best Months

Discover where and when to observe Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus) in the wild. 6 observation spots worldwide: Kaikōura (South Island, New Zealand), Dominica (Caribbean), Azores (Portugal), Andenes / Vesterålen (Norway), Trincomalee / Kalpitiya (Sri Lanka). Interactive migration map and travel tips.

January: 95%
February: 95%
March: 95%
April: 95%
May: 95%
October: 95%

6 Observation Spots Worldwide

Kaikōura (South Island, New Zealand) - 95% (Jan, Feb, Mar)
Dominica (Caribbean) - 90% (Jan, Feb, Mar)
Azores (Portugal) - 90% (Jun, Jul, Aug)
Andenes / Vesterålen (Norway) - 90% (Jun, Jul, Aug)
Trincomalee / Kalpitiya (Sri Lanka) - 80% (Mar, Feb, Apr)
Mauritius (west coast) - 70% (Jan, Feb, Mar)