From the depths of the deep green of the ocean comes a long call: "Eeeeeeee." It's an ancient song – a long, haunting whistle announcing the arrival of company, a fast-moving grey shape beneath the water's surface.
A moment of panic is soon replaced by excitement as the rarest dolphin of all, the Hector's dolphin, swims alongside scrutinising the odd human figures in their rubbery suits.
Swimming with dolphins is a life-changing experience for many and the Hector's dolphin, the smallest dolphin of them all is extremely friendly. Unlike their cousins, the Dusky dolphins, they approach humans easily.
However the Dusky dolphins, which inhabit the waters off Kaikoura year round, are one of the most playful and acrobatic of all the species, and their mad antics are best viewed from a boat.
Within moments of locating a pod they leap out of the water and flash their luminous white bellies. As they become more excited their tricks increase – there's side-slapping and spins, and somersaults both forwards and back.
They put on such an amazing display and seem to enjoy it so much that it's hard to believe that they’re wild... and just wait until you see them surf!
The Kaikoura coastline offers a wealth of other wildlife. Eco-tourism activities are abound from albatross spotting to seal snorkelling and whale watching.
And while the whales feast in Kaikoura's nutrient-rich waters, human visitors to the region gorge upon freshly harvested crayfish on the seashore at Rakautara, where Nin’s Bin sells this delicious seafood from a caravan on the rocks.