We loved what Lauren Bath, a recent visitor to Kaikoura, recalls from her visit:

The main thing that makes Kaikoura so unique is the Kaikoura Canyon just off shore. It's so deep that it attracts many deep water species that in turn attracts whales!

The Kaikoura Canyon is a part of the Hikurangi Trench and is just 500 meters off the coast and up to 3.75 km deep (12,300ft)! Imagine a drop off in the ocean that is so sudden and so deep? It’s like having the deepest parts of the ocean at your doorstep!

Because of this underwater canyon system Kaikoura attracts SO. MANY. ANIMALS!

And that includes this Sperm Whale, shot from a light plane with Wings Over Whales. Sperm whales are the largest of the toothed whales in the world and very rare and special to see.

As they feed in really deep water you have to be patient to see them on the surface breathing, which they do for roughly 10 minutes before taking a massive dive back down.

During the warmer months between November and March orca can be found around the coast of New Zealand and are being seen off the Kaikoura Coastline.