Kaikoura Visitor Centre

15/09/2026

NEW ZEALAND STRING QUARTET – ANTHOLOGY

Experience an evening of exceptional chamber music as the New Zealand String Quartet presents ANTHOLOGY, part of their 2026 season STORYTELLERS.

Featuring music by Purcell, Anthony Ritchie, F***y Mendelssohn, Britten, Dvořák & The Danish Quartet, this special programme brings together a rich collection of musical stories and traditions.

Mayfair Arts and Culture Centre
80 Esplanade, Kaikōura
Friday 18 September 2026
7:00pm
Tickets: $15–$40 + booking fee

Book online: www.themayfair.org.nz

Come along and enjoy an unforgettable night of world-class string quartet music in the beautiful surroundings of Kaikōura.

Book your tickets and be part of the story!

15/09/2026

Get yourself to the Kaikoura Hop!

15/09/2026

See ya when you get here!!!

14/09/2026

EATERY OF THE WEEK!
This week we’re shining our spotlight on Craypot Kitchen and Bar.

Conveniently located right in the heart of town, the Craypot Kitchen and Bar is a spacious restaurant offering fresh, seasonal cuisine with something to tempt every taste bud.

Fancy a little crayfish deliciousness? You’re in the right place! From fresh seafood to a menu designed to appeal to all tastes, there’s plenty to get excited about. Special dietary options are also available.
You’ll find a warm atmosphere with friendly welcoming conversation from Amy, Tumai and their team, ready to help make your visit a truly fabulous dining experience.
Pair your meal with a selection of local beers, wines and spirits, and you’ve got all the ingredients for a great time.

Perhaps you’re simply after a delicious barista-made coffee or a cold beverage while you sit back and watch the world go by in their lovely street-front dining area. It’s a great spot to relax and soak up a little of the Kaikōura atmosphere.

So, whether you’re stopping in for a coffee, settling in for lunch or joining them for an evening meal, the Craypot Kitchen and Bar is ready to welcome you.

Open 7 days
Winter hours:
Lunch: 11.30am – 2.30pm
Evening dining: 5pm – 7pm

12/09/2026

A big thank you to Justin, a local community member who spotted a White-fronted Tern that appeared to have a broken wing. He carefully managed to uplift the bird and brought it into the Kaikōura Visitor Centre. Our centre manager Vicki then took the injured bird down to the vets for assessment.
Sadly, it was determined that this poor bird was not only injured, but severely emaciated and had most likely become weak through starvation. This would have made it vulnerable to predation. Once injured, it had also been picked on by other shorebirds, which was witnessed. The kindest option for it for this injury was euthanasia.

If you are visiting Kaikōura, what can you do if you find sick or injured wildlife?

If a sea mammal, take photos and note the area where it was seen.
Contact Department of Conservation (DOC) hotline: 0800 362 468

If a sea or shore bird, uplift is possible, and take to the nearest veterinary clinic: Vetcare Kaikōura, during business hours. Or contact DOC on the above number.

If you are unsure what to do, give DOC a call for advice. Keeping our wildlife safe is something we can all play a part in.

For more info on what to do for specific marine life that are seen injured, starving or sick, look here: https://www.kaikourawildlifetrust.org/report-wildlife

12/09/2026

08/09/2026

UNDER THE STARS!

Can you believe it’s been TWO YEARS since Kaikōura became a Dark Sky Sanctuary?

Come along this Saturday, 7pm–9pm, as Kaikoura Dark Sky Trust and Fyffe House host a wonderful celebration of our incredible night skies and the community that makes Kaikōura so special.

Telescopes
Binoculars
Laser pointers to explore the night sky
A warm fire to gather around, share stories and enjoy some good old-fashioned togetherness.

Best of all… it’s FREE!

Bring the family, wrap up warm, look up and come celebrate two years of protecting and enjoying the spectacular night sky above us.

Kaikōura under the stars — there’s nowhere quite like it.

Fyffe House
This Saturday
7pm–9pm
Free community event

Come along, bring a blanket, and look up!

08/09/2026

EATERY OF THE WEEK – DONEGAL HOUSE!

This week is all about Donegal House, a traditional Irish Hotel — and if you’re hungry, you’d better pull up a chair!

This is the kind of place where you come to a great meal, a good yarn, enjoy a drink and stay awhile. Loved by the locals and a great spot to bring the kids, Donegal House has that relaxed, welcoming, home-away-from-home feel, with a cool Irish history to go with it.

Good hearty cooking — the sort that fills your belly and leaves you wondering if you’ve got room for their delicious desserts!

We’re talking steak, ribs, delicious chicken schnitzel, beautiful seafood chowder and plenty more to keep those hunger pangs well and truly sorted.

Then there’s the setting… enjoy a cold beverage and a good feed looking out at the beautiful gardens, with Mt Fyffe and the Seaward Kaikōura Ranges towering above you.

Beautiful gardens
Hearty food
Good drinks
Great for the kids
An awesome accommodation and camper park
A pretty spectacular backyard view!

So, if your tummy is rumbling and you’re wondering where to go and stay… get yourself to Donegal House! You'll never be disappointed.

258 Schoolhouse Rd, Kaikōura.

Meals from 11:30am – 8.30pm

Drinks & Snacks 11.30pm - Late

Open 7 Days

06/09/2026

Even on a grotty drizzly day, there is still something that draws us to the Esplanade for a stroll.

Get the Jacket and umbrella out, grab a hot drink from a local cafe, and head out for some of that fresh Kaikoura sea air.

05/09/2026

Update: FOUND

Yesterday a lovely couple lost a black shoulder bag including their passports around the Indian Restaurant area, if anybody has seen this or can help please contact 02102883547 Mary