Benefits of Kayaking
So, you are thinking about trying kayaking. What are the benefits, what will I get out if it, you may be asking yourself?
Few activities give the outdoor enthusiast such a varied array of experiences as kayaking especially around the Kaikōura Coastline. Whether you are seeking the heart-stopping wildlife encounters, viewing birdlife, improving skills or simply would like to enjoy the serenity and peace, you can find your passion in a kayak. The Kaikōura coastline offers all the above!
Fun and relaxation
Kayaking is fun. Splashing about, exploring places inaccessible by land, and just generally mucking around, are great ways to enjoy yourself. It is also a great family interactive activity. Close encounters with the marine life are experience’s you will never forget.
Kayaking with others is social. Paddling alongside friends (or new acquaintances) allows conversation – or the peacefulness of quiet companionship.
The rhythm of the paddle stroke helps quiet the mind. With your body in the groove and your heart rate settled, your mind is free to relax.
Exercise
Correct kayaking technique emphasizes the use of your core muscles, with arms and legs providing added strength and power.
The steady rhythmic paddle, using many of the body’s major muscle groups, makes kayaking an ideal aerobic exercise (best for “fat burning”). For those wanting an extra boost into the anaerobic range, just increase your stroke rate.
Kayaking is a low impact aerobic workout, with the resistance of the water as you paddle building strength without the strain.
Your balancing skills will improve, as will your upper body flexibility and mobility of the joints. Kayaking with good technique can also help alleviate back pain, largely through the working of those core muscles.
Kayaking is a relatively easy skill to learn. Our guides have beginners paddling satisfactorily within a short time, this includes a paddle lesson even before you hit the water.
Being in the great outdoors
Enjoying the fun, relaxation, and exercise out in the open air provides added benefits. We need a certain level of sunshine to produce our needed levels of vitamin D – how better than to do this whilst enjoying ourselves.
Our guides have local knowledge of the area and will share interesting facts about the marine life and history of Kaikōura while you explore our big playground.
Challenge and confidence
Many of our customers are paddling for the first time, or perhaps the last time they paddled was as a youngster many years ago. They are a little nervous, some lacking in confidence. We enjoy seeing a nervous first timer finishing their tour with a big grin on their face and a huge boost to their confidence.
Paddling as part of a tour group on a guided tour provides support and safety for those challenging situations, as well as emphasizing the fun and social aspects, and providing tuition to master the exercise elements. We use stable enclosed double sea kayaks which are easily steered by a rudder, and foot pegs in the front for comfort.
Social responsibility
More and more of our customers are interested in the environment and our eco-tourism credentials. In a kayak you are not just close to, but part of the environment. As a person-powered activity, kayaking has a minimal impact on the environment. From our kayaks though, we can see the adverse effects of environmental harm – the most obvious one being plastics and other rubbish. Many of our guests help in cleaning our marine environment by removing what they can as they paddle. That sense of social responsibility to our environment is one benefit we particularly value
Kayaking with Kaikōura Kayaks– well worth having a go.
What our customers have to say
Wow wow wow! We'd done whale watching the day before but this beat that hands down. Miles was great, just enough instruction and safety chat and getting us involved in prep. He mentioned that he'd seen spouting and splashing over the other side of the bay so we decided to head that way. Within minutes we were seeing loads of leaping...
Lesley H, UK
We did the trip with a 6 and 8 year old. Parents in the back of each kayak, kids in the front. This worked really well. Saw a huge number of dolphins & Seals. They were playing & doing crazy tricks. Had a lovely time, the staff were really friendly, helpful & enthusiastic. Great value for money and would highly recommend this...
Steve, Nelson NZ
Marine mammal megamix Spent a truly incredible morning around the Kaikōura Peninsula with Matt and Emma, two fantastic local guides. The whole operation was very professional, with high quality kayaks, equipment and a detailed safety briefing. Spent a good amount of time observing the seals, tried our hand at some kayak surfing in the big...
Tom, Neverlands
I would have to say this is up there with one of my best experiences in New Zealand! The kayak tour was incredible and I would really recommend this to anyone. The staff are great, friendly and funny which made the tour even more enjoyable. My team included Emma, Cam and Sophie. As I was on my own, I had the pleasure of sharing a kayak with...
Giorgio Favarulo, UK / Ireland
Third time with Kaikōura Kayaks! Have been in guided tours and hired a double kayak; all experiences were incredible. Great staff and equipment. Kaikōura is one of the most amazing places to kayak - so much wild life and you're surrounded by epic scenery.
Kiana Saltarelli, North America
Great Trip - even the oldies loved it! Had a really great trip with Cowan out to the see the seals and the reef on a beautiful morning. I was a bit worried getting in a kayak with my mother (67) and father (70) but Cowan kept us going at a leisurely pace and even convinced us to have a go in the open ocean! What a great experience and...
John R, UK
"To Matt and the Kaikōura Kayaks team, Thank you very much for a fantastic day of kayaking. Both our trips were very well organised by your friendly team. We found your lessons enjoyable, helping us all to be confident, expert paddlers! We were so lucky to have a beautiful sunny day, and we enjoyed fantastic scenery and wildlife out...
Kowhai Class, Hurunui College NZ
The experience of a lifetime! Having intuitive and professional guides who allowed us the opportunity to experience an outstanding and very memorable day. They knew just where the incredible action was happening. We saw an amazing array of dolphins playing right near us and also saw blue penguins and seals. We travelled for two weeks around...
Paula Kirby, Wellinton NZ
Sunset magic 10/10 thanks to Emma and her crew. We had a magical day on the water and got to see feeding seals, dolphins and wildlife. Thanks so much would 100% recommend to anyone looking for a unforgettable experience in Kaikōura!!
DKG, Australia
We had a truly wonderful experience; my husband and I went as a stop on our honeymoon trip. Our guide, Ru, was knowledgeable and skillful, and checked in with us often to provide the experience that would help us feel challenged, excited, and also safe and comfortable. From start to finish the team was so thorough and made sure we had all of...
Laura James, USA