Ohau Point Seal Colony
Off SH1 - Nth of Kaikoura
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Ohau Point Seal Colony
Watch NZ Fur Seals play - right next to State Highway 1.
Ohau Point Seal Colony might be New Zealand's most accessible Seal Watching experience. And it's free! The carpark is directly off State highway 1 and as a traveller put it 'the seals are right there, waiting for you!'
A glorious spot on a nice day with the backdrop of the mighty Pacific Ocean. Enjoy!
Details
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Location |
South Island ▷ Kaikoura Region ▷ Kaikoura |
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Coordinates |
Seal Watching
Nearby
Reviews
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5.0/5
28Apr24.
Since the earthquake spoiled the situation by destroying the previous walk up to the seal pups pool, the roadside facility has been hugely improved.
Good parking area with a 300m walkway looking over where the pups play in the sheltered water or sunbathe on the rocks.
Not to be missed
MF![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(95,55,203)" /><path d="m 150 733 Q 149 151 -433 150 Q 149 149 150 -433 Q 151 149 733 150 Q 151 151 150 733 z" fill="rgb(241,212,123)" /><path d="m 150 530 Q 255 45 -230 150 Q 255 255 150 -230 Q 45 255 530 150 Q 45 45 150 530 z" fill="rgb(14,43,132)" /><path d="m 150 207 Q 244 56 93 150 Q 244 244 150 93 Q 56 244 207 150 Q 56 56 150 207 z" fill="rgb(160,200,52)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
Left Kaikoura after a day of whale watching with “Whale Watch Kaikoura” who were excellent in their own right then we headed north.
We make plans when organising our trip but we’re so lucky we did. We watched the seals for at least half and hour but honestly could have spent an entire day. Got some great pictures of the pups feeding, playing swimming and sleeping. Can’t recommend high enough.
L![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(128,202,182)" /><path d="m 150 746 Q 171 129 -446 150 Q 171 171 150 -446 Q 129 171 746 150 Q 129 129 150 746 z" fill="rgb(8,110,122)" /><path d="m 150 338 Q 105 195 -38 150 Q 105 105 150 -38 Q 195 105 338 150 Q 195 195 150 338 z" fill="rgb(247,145,133)" /><path d="m 150 180 Q 177 123 120 150 Q 177 177 150 120 Q 123 177 180 150 Q 123 123 150 180 z" fill="rgb(127,53,73)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
There must have bern hundreds of seals (mostly being lazy) and it was honour to just watch them for as long as I wanted.
Wonderful
YF![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(158,211,81)" /><path d="m 150 526 Q 66 234 -226 150 Q 66 66 150 -226 Q 234 66 526 150 Q 234 234 150 526 z" fill="rgb(192,2,198)" /><path d="m 150 520 Q 297 3 -220 150 Q 297 297 150 -220 Q 3 297 520 150 Q 3 3 150 520 z" fill="rgb(63,253,57)" /><path d="m 150 125 Q 70 230 175 150 Q 70 70 150 175 Q 230 70 125 150 Q 230 230 150 125 z" fill="rgb(97,44,174)" /></svg>)
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2.5/5
Sooo many seals!!
But due to roadworks at the moment (April 2018) it is very difficult to park and to get out of the car there.
-
4.5/5
Short walk through bush - waterfall and at the end - seal pups.
The beach across the road is good for views too.
-
3.5/5
A small walkway next to the coast with a lot of seals there.
Easy to access with the car and the seals are lovely. Just chilling in the sun.
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4.0/5
Just up the main road to a waterfall where little baby seal pups hang out and play.
As long as you are quiet, what amazing creatures.
RR![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(224,51,68)" /><path d="m 150 648 Q 50 250 -348 150 Q 50 50 150 -348 Q 250 50 648 150 Q 250 250 150 648 z" fill="rgb(31,138,89)" /><path d="m 150 338 Q 233 67 -38 150 Q 233 233 150 -38 Q 67 233 338 150 Q 67 67 150 338 z" fill="rgb(224,117,166)" /><path d="m 150 205 Q 104 196 95 150 Q 104 104 150 95 Q 196 104 205 150 Q 196 196 150 205 z" fill="rgb(31,204,187)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
Great experience, seal pups playing in a waterfall and climbing rocks.
Easy access, short walk. Rewarding and fun for all ages.
WP![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(186,4,118)" /><path d="m 150 566 Q 114 186 -266 150 Q 114 114 150 -266 Q 186 114 566 150 Q 186 186 150 566 z" fill="rgb(172,220,40)" /><path d="m 150 504 Q 247 53 -204 150 Q 247 247 150 -204 Q 53 247 504 150 Q 53 53 150 504 z" fill="rgb(83,35,215)" /><path d="m 150 350 Q 88 212 -50 150 Q 88 88 150 -50 Q 212 88 350 150 Q 212 212 150 350 z" fill="rgb(69,251,137)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
You can see dolphins, whales and other kinds of animals just from the coast!!
If you are lucky!
-
3.5/5
Very nice walk to a stunning waterfall and sit on the rocks by the ocean - tons of seals!
-
5.0/5
Seals everywhere we stopped.
Pups at the waterfall. Beautiful freedom camping beachside at the Meatworks.
BM![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(137,172,247)" /><path d="m 150 689 Q 184 116 -389 150 Q 184 184 150 -389 Q 116 184 689 150 Q 116 116 150 689 z" fill="rgb(145,132,176)" /><path d="m 150 373 Q 178 122 -73 150 Q 178 178 150 -73 Q 122 178 373 150 Q 122 122 150 373 z" fill="rgb(110,123,79)" /><path d="m 150 215 Q 262 38 85 150 Q 262 262 150 85 Q 38 262 215 150 Q 38 38 150 215 z" fill="rgb(118,83,8)" /></svg>)
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4.0/5
We went during sunset.
The view from the lookout was absolutely breathtaking. Worth a quick stop.
-
5.0/5
Best spot to see lots of seals, including new borns playing around.
Spent more than an hour just watching these amazing creatures.,
-
4.5/5
Sweet, loads of seals on the beach and in the forest.
A shame that some tourists were running after them trying to take pictures.
RL![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(128,155,162)" /><path d="m 150 729 Q 297 3 -429 150 Q 297 297 150 -429 Q 3 297 729 150 Q 3 3 150 729 z" fill="rgb(10,113,61)" /><path d="m 150 382 Q 92 208 -82 150 Q 92 92 150 -82 Q 208 92 382 150 Q 208 208 150 382 z" fill="rgb(245,142,194)" /><path d="m 150 233 Q 58 242 67 150 Q 58 58 150 67 Q 242 58 233 150 Q 242 242 150 233 z" fill="rgb(127,100,93)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
Stunning views of seal pups swimming in shallow rock pools at close quarters.
Like a natural history video - but in real life!
IG![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(47,133,48)" /><path d="m 150 629 Q 59 241 -329 150 Q 59 59 150 -329 Q 241 59 629 150 Q 241 241 150 629 z" fill="rgb(156,99,60)" /><path d="m 150 494 Q 83 217 -194 150 Q 83 83 150 -194 Q 217 83 494 150 Q 217 217 150 494 z" fill="rgb(99,156,195)" /><path d="m 150 330 Q 204 96 -30 150 Q 204 204 150 -30 Q 96 204 330 150 Q 96 96 150 330 z" fill="rgb(208,122,207)" /></svg>)
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![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(54,207,154)" /><path d="m 150 747 Q 144 156 -447 150 Q 144 144 150 -447 Q 156 144 747 150 Q 156 156 150 747 z" fill="rgb(4,71,131)" /><path d="m 150 441 Q 77 223 -141 150 Q 77 77 150 -141 Q 223 77 441 150 Q 223 223 150 441 z" fill="rgb(251,184,124)" /><path d="m 150 112 Q 214 86 188 150 Q 214 214 150 188 Q 86 214 112 150 Q 86 86 150 112 z" fill="rgb(201,48,101)" /></svg>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(175,42,59)" /><path d="m 150 674 Q 289 11 -374 150 Q 289 289 150 -374 Q 11 289 674 150 Q 11 11 150 674 z" fill="rgb(62,33,228)" /><path d="m 150 378 Q 79 221 -78 150 Q 79 79 150 -78 Q 221 79 378 150 Q 221 221 150 378 z" fill="rgb(193,222,27)" /><path d="m 150 335 Q 282 18 -35 150 Q 282 282 150 -35 Q 18 282 335 150 Q 18 18 150 335 z" fill="rgb(80,213,196)" /></svg>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(7,77,98)" /><path d="m 150 550 Q 215 85 -250 150 Q 215 215 150 -250 Q 85 215 550 150 Q 85 85 150 550 z" fill="rgb(61,33,48)" /><path d="m 150 351 Q 116 184 -51 150 Q 116 116 150 -51 Q 184 116 351 150 Q 184 184 150 351 z" fill="rgb(194,222,207)" /><path d="m 150 228 Q 132 168 72 150 Q 132 132 150 72 Q 168 132 228 150 Q 168 168 150 228 z" fill="rgb(248,178,157)" /></svg>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(138,60,94)" /><path d="m 150 659 Q 70 230 -359 150 Q 70 70 150 -359 Q 230 70 659 150 Q 230 230 150 659 z" fill="rgb(186,64,156)" /><path d="m 150 461 Q 288 12 -161 150 Q 288 288 150 -161 Q 12 288 461 150 Q 12 12 150 461 z" fill="rgb(69,191,99)" /><path d="m 150 192 Q 71 229 108 150 Q 71 71 150 108 Q 229 71 192 150 Q 229 229 150 192 z" fill="rgb(117,195,161)" /></svg>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(250,87,60)" /><path d="m 150 578 Q 163 137 -278 150 Q 163 163 150 -278 Q 137 163 578 150 Q 137 137 150 578 z" fill="rgb(213,24,40)" /><path d="m 150 407 Q 195 105 -107 150 Q 195 195 150 -107 Q 105 195 407 150 Q 105 105 150 407 z" fill="rgb(42,231,215)" /><path d="m 150 283 Q 145 155 17 150 Q 145 145 150 17 Q 155 145 283 150 Q 155 155 150 283 z" fill="rgb(5,168,195)" /></svg>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(163,179,32)" /><path d="m 150 618 Q 101 199 -318 150 Q 101 101 150 -318 Q 199 101 618 150 Q 199 199 150 618 z" fill="rgb(36,216,22)" /><path d="m 150 328 Q 295 5 -28 150 Q 295 295 150 -28 Q 5 295 328 150 Q 5 5 150 328 z" fill="rgb(219,39,233)" /><path d="m 150 284 Q 136 164 16 150 Q 136 136 150 16 Q 164 136 284 150 Q 164 164 150 284 z" fill="rgb(92,76,223)" /></svg>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(36,126,174)" /><path d="m 150 670 Q 264 36 -370 150 Q 264 264 150 -370 Q 36 264 670 150 Q 36 36 150 670 z" fill="rgb(202,158,11)" /><path d="m 150 405 Q 234 66 -105 150 Q 234 234 150 -105 Q 66 234 405 150 Q 66 66 150 405 z" fill="rgb(53,97,244)" /><path d="m 150 111 Q 225 75 189 150 Q 225 225 150 189 Q 75 225 111 150 Q 75 75 150 111 z" fill="rgb(219,129,81)" /></svg>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(58,68,5)" /><path d="m 150 735 Q 296 4 -435 150 Q 296 296 150 -435 Q 4 296 735 150 Q 4 4 150 735 z" fill="rgb(227,120,34)" /><path d="m 150 535 Q 105 195 -235 150 Q 105 105 150 -235 Q 195 105 535 150 Q 195 195 150 535 z" fill="rgb(28,135,221)" /><path d="m 150 140 Q 48 252 160 150 Q 48 48 150 160 Q 252 48 140 150 Q 252 252 150 140 z" fill="rgb(197,187,250)" /></svg>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(186,175,41)" /><path d="m 150 648 Q 271 29 -348 150 Q 271 271 150 -348 Q 29 271 648 150 Q 29 29 150 648 z" fill="rgb(188,32,182)" /><path d="m 150 391 Q 168 132 -91 150 Q 168 168 150 -91 Q 132 168 391 150 Q 132 132 150 391 z" fill="rgb(67,223,73)" /><path d="m 150 175 Q 102 198 125 150 Q 102 102 150 125 Q 198 102 175 150 Q 198 198 150 175 z" fill="rgb(69,80,214)" /></svg>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(14,36,24)" /><path d="m 150 544 Q 200 100 -244 150 Q 200 200 150 -244 Q 100 200 544 150 Q 100 100 150 544 z" fill="rgb(38,170,226)" /><path d="m 150 439 Q 105 195 -139 150 Q 105 105 150 -139 Q 195 105 439 150 Q 195 195 150 439 z" fill="rgb(217,85,29)" /><path d="m 150 318 Q 74 226 -18 150 Q 74 74 150 -18 Q 226 74 318 150 Q 226 226 150 318 z" fill="rgb(241,219,231)" /></svg>)
-
5.0/5
28Apr24.
Since the earthquake spoiled the situation by destroying the previous walk up to the seal pups pool, the roadside facility has been hugely improved.
Good parking area with a 300m walkway looking over where the pups play in the sheltered water or sunbathe on the rocks.
Not to be missed
MF -
5.0/5
Left Kaikoura after a day of whale watching with “Whale Watch Kaikoura” who were excellent in their own right then we headed north.
We make plans when organising our trip but we’re so lucky we did. We watched the seals for at least half and hour but honestly could have spent an entire day. Got some great pictures of the pups feeding, playing swimming and sleeping. Can’t recommend high enough.
L -
5.0/5
There must have bern hundreds of seals (mostly being lazy) and it was honour to just watch them for as long as I wanted.
Wonderful
YF -
2.5/5
Sooo many seals!!
But due to roadworks at the moment (April 2018) it is very difficult to park and to get out of the car there.
-
4.5/5
Short walk through bush - waterfall and at the end - seal pups.
The beach across the road is good for views too.
-
3.5/5
A small walkway next to the coast with a lot of seals there.
Easy to access with the car and the seals are lovely. Just chilling in the sun.
-
4.0/5
Just up the main road to a waterfall where little baby seal pups hang out and play.
As long as you are quiet, what amazing creatures.
RR -
5.0/5
Great experience, seal pups playing in a waterfall and climbing rocks.
Easy access, short walk. Rewarding and fun for all ages.
WP -
-
-
5.0/5
You can see dolphins, whales and other kinds of animals just from the coast!!
If you are lucky!
-
3.5/5
Very nice walk to a stunning waterfall and sit on the rocks by the ocean - tons of seals!
-
5.0/5
Seals everywhere we stopped.
Pups at the waterfall. Beautiful freedom camping beachside at the Meatworks.
BM -
-
4.0/5
We went during sunset.
The view from the lookout was absolutely breathtaking. Worth a quick stop.
-
5.0/5
Best spot to see lots of seals, including new borns playing around.
Spent more than an hour just watching these amazing creatures.,
-
4.5/5
Sweet, loads of seals on the beach and in the forest.
A shame that some tourists were running after them trying to take pictures.
RL -
5.0/5
Stunning views of seal pups swimming in shallow rock pools at close quarters.
Like a natural history video - but in real life!
IG -
-
![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(59,168,13)" /><path d="m 150 665 Q 264 36 -365 150 Q 264 264 150 -365 Q 36 264 665 150 Q 36 36 150 665 z" fill="rgb(210,44,76)" /><path d="m 150 398 Q 91 209 -98 150 Q 91 91 150 -98 Q 209 91 398 150 Q 209 209 150 398 z" fill="rgb(45,211,179)" /><path d="m 150 268 Q 256 44 32 150 Q 256 256 150 32 Q 44 256 268 150 Q 44 44 150 268 z" fill="rgb(196,87,242)" /></svg>)
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