Hotels in Kaikoura (South Island, New Zealand)

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414 hotels in Kaikoura

    Sudima Kaikoura

    5 Stars
    Heated outdoor swimming pool, Hiku restaurant and bar
    See prices from 14 sites
    from  $195

  2. The Anchor Inn Beachfront Motel

    5 Stars
    Oceanfront location with mountain views, Proximity to marine wildlife encounters
    See prices from 3 sites
    from  $243

    Kaikōura TOP 10 Holiday Park

    3 Stars
    Heated swimming pool, Private hot tubs with mountain views
    See prices from 15 sites
    from  $70

    Kaikoura Quality Suites

    4 Stars
    Scenic mountain and ocean balconies, Modern coastal mountain retreat
    See prices from 15 sites
    from  $104

    Kaikoura Gateway Motor Lodge

    5 Stars
    Private mountain view balconies, Seasonal heated outdoor pool
    See prices from 11 sites
    from  $128

    Kaikoura Waterfront Apartments

    3 Stars
    Oceanfront apartment living, Sun terrace with scenic views
    See prices from 13 sites
    from  $127

  7. Kaikoura Boutique Hotel

    5 Stars
    Historic 1880s building, Ocean view rooms with balconies
    See prices from 16 sites
    from  $196

  8. Kaikoura Seaside Lodge

    2 Stars
    Panoramic ocean and mountain views, On-site water sports equipment hire
    See prices from 7 sites
    from  $77

    Dusky Lodge

    2 Stars
    Resort-style outdoor pool complex, Adventure and relaxation hub
    See prices from 9 sites
    from  $83

  10. Sierra Beachfront Motel

    3 Stars
    Oceanfront location on Kaikoura Esplanade, Walking distance to Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway
    See prices from 13 sites
    from  $98

    Kaikoura Beach Motel

    Beachfront location with mountain views, Renovated, spacious accommodations
    See prices from 9 sites
    from  $124

    The White Morph

    5 Stars
    Oceanfront Esplanade location, Hydrotherapy spa baths
    See prices from 12 sites
    from  $207

  13. Kaikoura Motor Inn

    3 Stars
    Easy access to Kaikoura attractions, Children's playground
    See prices from 13 sites
    from  $114

    The Fairways Accommodation Kaikoura

    5 Stars
    Rooms with mountain or golf course views, Spa and wellness treatments
    See prices from 16 sites
    from  $144

  15. The Peninsula Kaikoura

    4 Stars
    Panoramic sea and mountain views, Charge-back dining at Green Dolphin Restaurant
    Select dates to see exact prices

  16. Donegal House

    3 Stars
    Expansive gardens and lakes, Local activity booking desk
    Select dates to see exact prices

  17. Koura Bay Golf Resort

    4 Stars
    Peaceful, course-side accommodation, Graze Restaurant with seasonal menus
    See prices from 14 sites
    from  $132

  18. Bella Vista Motel Kaikoura

    4 Stars
    Panoramic mountain and sea views, Walkable to town center attractions
    See prices from 11 sites
    from  $149

  19. Alpine View Motel

    3 Stars
    Panoramic mountain and ocean views, Award-winning garden setting
    See prices from 13 sites
    from  $111

  20. A1 Kaikoura Motels & Holiday Park

    3 Stars
    Pet-friendly accommodation options, Central Kaikoura location
    See prices from 3 sites
    from  $95

  21. Willowbank Motel

    3 Stars
    On-site dining convenience, Family-friendly outdoor facilities
    See prices from 14 sites
    from  $113

  22. Mediterranean Motel Kaikoura

    3 Stars
    Mountain range backdrop, Pet-friendly accommodation
    See prices from 7 sites
    from  $112

  23. The Lazy Shag Lodge

    Affordable self-catering accommodation, Access to mountain biking trails
    Select dates to see exact prices

  24. Austin Heights Scenic Bed & Breakfast

    5 Stars
    Panoramic mountain and ocean views, Relaxing hot tub and spa
    Select dates to see exact prices

    Waves Apartments

    5 Stars
    Prime beachfront location, Hot tub relaxation
    See prices from 6 sites
    from  $406

  26. Lobster Inn Motel

    3 Stars
    Mountain and coastal views, On-site pub and restaurant
    See prices from 12 sites
    from  $158

  27. The Pier And Restaurant

    2 Stars
    Select dates to see exact prices

    Dolphin Lodge Backpackers

    4 Stars
    Ocean and mountain view rooms, On-site massage services
    Select dates to see exact prices

  29. Barnacle Bills

    4 Stars
    Mountain and ocean view gardens, Unique porthole window design
    Select dates to see exact prices

  30. Bay Cottages

    3 Stars
    Oceanfront location in South Bay, Pōhutukawa Cottage with unique charm
    Select dates to see exact prices

  31. Futuna Rocks Motel

    Boutique motel experience, Prime beachfront location
    Select dates to see exact prices

  32. Kaikōura Peaks eMotel

    4 Stars
    Stunning mountain views, Boutique eMotel experience
    See prices from 4 sites
    from  $253

  33. The Factory Luxury Accomodation

    5 Stars
    Beachfront Hapuku location, Historic recycled material design
    See prices from 5 sites
    from  $369

  34. The Point B&B

    4 Stars
    Panoramic sea and mountain views, Historic 125-year-old farmhouse stay
    Select dates to see exact prices

  35. Alpine-Pacific Holiday Park

    Mountain view accommodation, Seasonal outdoor swimming pool
    See prices from 13 sites
    from  $84

The prices and availability we receive from booking sites change constantly. This means you may not always find the exact same offer you saw on trivago when you land on the booking site.

Other stays in Kaikoura

Popular hotel categories in Kaikoura

Discover where the whales are, in beautiful Kaikoura

Regarded among the world’s best places to watch sperm whales in their natural habitat, Kaikoura on the north-east coast of New Zealand’s spectacular South Island is also blessed with a beautiful setting overlooked by snow-capped mountains. Kaikoura teems with wildlife because just offshore a Pacific Ocean trench plummets sharply, making the surrounding waters an abundant feeding ground for marine animals. Indeed, seals, dolphins, penguins and other birds can be spotted relatively easily. With road and rail links to Christchurch and Picton plus hotels, restaurants and local attractions aplenty, Kaikoura doubles as an excellent base for exploring the great outdoors Kiwi-style.

Go whale-watching

The promise of seeing sperm whales and other cetaceans in the wild brings travellers to Kaikoura from far and wide. With the largest brain of any animal on earth and sometimes measuring more than 20 metres long, the sperm whale is an awesome sight and the population of these huge marine mammals living off the coast helps to keep Kaikoura’s hotels busy. A peculiar blend of Pacific Ocean currents and the shape of the continental shelf, which drops away steeply for about half-a-mile just off the Kaikoura Peninsula, make the surrounding waters into a nutrient-rich feeding hotspot for herds of sperm whales and pods of dolphins. Kaikoura even takes its name from the Maori expression for “a meal of crayfish” as the marine life is so abundant. Now that sustainable ecotourism has replaced outlawed whale hunting as the local breadwinner in this corner of the Canterbury region, visitors can enjoy organised whale-spotting boat tours, which are the commonest way to observe the creatures up close. Those with a bigger budget can also consider chartering a small plane and a pilot from Kaikoura Aerodrome for whale-spotting flights.

A host of local attractions to enjoy

Following a powerful earthquake in November 2016, Kaikoura is returning to normal, but some of the interesting local attractions and infrastructure like State Highway 1 were adversely affected. So, it’s advisable to check the status of local roads, railways and attractions before you visit. Nevertheless, the town still possesses plenty to see and do before or after your whale-watching experience. Whichever hotel you choose, you won’t be far from the Kaikoura Museum in the town centre, where there’s also a smattering of seafood restaurants. It chronicles Kaikoura’s social, cultural and natural history through a wealth of old photographs, Maori artefacts, whaling tools and even the fossilised remains of an extinct plesiosaur. Heading on to the Kaikoura Peninsula, the wood-panelled Fyffe House in Avoca Street harks back to mid 19th century when European settlers arrived by sea to found a whaling station. Built on foundations made of whalebones, this pretty cottage is the town’s oldest surviving building. It contains exhibits and historical objects lifting the lid on Kaikoura’s whaling days. Nearby, the Kaikoura Marine Centre and Aquarium features touch tanks and exhibits about local marine life such as sharks and seahorses.

From Kaikoura’s hotels, it’s easy to reach fun hinterland attractions like Kaikoura Farm Park, where travellers can encounter more than 100 cute free-range animals, including ponies, pigs, llamas, sheep and alpacas. The theme around New Zealand’s agricultural and farming traditions continues at the Point Sheep Shearing Show. Located out on the Kaikoura Peninsula, this daily display of live sheep-shearing is a fun and educational show. In springtime, visitors can even hold and feed a lamb.

Kaikoura brims with wildlife

Sperm whales may grab the biggest headlines when it comes to Kaikoura’s top wildlife attractions, but a host of other creatures have made their homes in the surrounding area too. A colony of New Zealand fur seals can be found on rock platforms at Point Kean on the Kaikoura Peninsula, where those with eagle eyes might also spot penguins and open ocean seabirds like albatrosses, petrels and Hutton’s shearwaters, which nest in the mountains of the nearby Seaward Kaikoura Range; a northern extension of the Southern Alps. An ever-popular draw for visitors, the beautiful seals spend their time relaxing on the rocks in between occasional dives below the water to feed on fish. Be careful not to get too close, however, as seals can show aggression if they feel threatened. To see even more seals, visit the Ohau Stream and Waterfall walking trail located about 15 miles north of Kaikoura and its hotels. This short scenic trail leads to picturesque waterfalls frequently visited by seal colonies. Lucky visitors might get to see playful seal pups making a splash in the waterfall pool.

Get active in the great outdoors

Those who like to leave their hotel and get active on holiday will love the range of outdoor pursuits on offer in and around Kaikoura. For walkers, there’s the Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway which gently wends its way past viewpoints of the town and mountains to Point Kean, where a colony of seals awaits. The main route takes about one hour, but there are optional legs walkers can add on for a longer stroll. Those tempted to explore the raw natural beauty of the Seaward Kaikoura Range can jump on their mountain bikes or lace up their hiking boots and head for tramping trails like the Mount Fyffe Track, which boasts rewarding coastline views. For those attracted by the lure of the ocean, Kaikoura also boasts numerous opportunities for scuba-diving, sea fishing and even snorkelling with seals on guided boat tours.

When to book a hotel in Kaikoura

  • Cheapest month: May
    $150 per night
  • Yearly typical price
    $170 per night
  • Peak month: February
    $226 per night

Frequently Asked Questions about Kaikoura

  • When is the cheapest time to book a hotel in Kaikoura?

    May is usually the cheapest month to book a hotel in Kaikoura, with typical prices around $150 per night based on 40 price comparisons.

  • When are hotel prices highest in Kaikoura?

    Hotel prices in Kaikoura are usually highest during February, with typical prices around $226 per night.

  • How much does a hotel in Kaikoura cost per night?

    Hotel prices in Kaikoura usually range from $107 per night to $344 per night, with typical prices around $170 per night.

  • How do hotel prices in Kaikoura change throughout the year?

    Hotel prices in Kaikoura are typically lowest in May at around $150 per night, rising to around $226 per night in February.

  • October

    2026

    $161
    $114 — $262

  • November

    2026

    $172
    $113 — $309

  • December

    2026

    $170
    $116 — $355

  • January

    2027

    $200
    $155 — $292

  • February

    2027

    $226
    $149 — $344

  • March

    2027

    $187
    $130 — $401

  • April

    2027

    $171
    $130 — $279

  • May

    2027

    $150
    $107 — $224

  • June

    2027

    $157
    $104 — $240

  • July

    2027

    $166
    $116 — $245

  • August

    2027

    $167
    $105 — $200

  • September

    2027

    Select dates to see exact prices

Frequently Asked Questions about Kaikoura

Hotels in Kaikoura

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