Whales Back

Whales Back: crowds and conditions

Typical pattern: moderate; weekends busier. Been there recently? Post today’s status and it shows here for the next traveller.

Status options for this viewpoint: Open, good conditions · Very crowded · Approach road bad · Closed / not accessible.

Best time to visit Whales Back

Season: October to February for cool, clear air; July to September for mist and greenery.

Busiest days: Weekends and long holidays.

Crowd: Moderate; weekends busier.

Typical week: Mon light · Tue light · Wed light · Thu light · Fri light · Sat busy · Sun busy.

How to reach Whales Back — distance from nearby cities

Coordinates: -42.46843, 173.23459. Road distances are estimates; the road-trip planner uses real routes and adds stops worth the detour.

Places to visit near Whales Back

• Mount Lyford · viewpoint · Hurunui · ~9 km · Must-see
• Dillon Cone · viewpoint · Marlborough · ~27 km · Must-see
• Haumuri Bluffs · viewpoint · Kaikōura · ~30 km · Must-see
• Old Queen Mary Hospital · sanctuary · Hurunui · ~42 km · Must-see
• Hikurangi Marine Reserve · sanctuary · Canterbury · ~44 km · Must-see
• Mount Fyffe · viewpoint · Kaikōura · ~45 km · Must-see
• Hanmer Conservation Park · sanctuary · Hurunui · ~49 km · Must-see
• Ka Whata Tu O Rakihouia Conservation Park · sanctuary · Kaikōura · ~51 km · Must-see
• Manakau · viewpoint · Kaikōura · ~52 km · Must-see
• Wards Pass · viewpoint · Tasman · ~53 km · Must-see
• Mount Woolley · viewpoint · Hurunui · ~56 km · Must-see
• Mānuka Bay · beach · Canterbury · ~59 km · Must-see
• Island Saddle · viewpoint · Tasman · ~61 km · Must-see
• Mount Symons · viewpoint · Marlborough · ~70 km · Must-see
• Mount Peter · viewpoint · Hurunui · ~7 km
• Conway Spur · viewpoint · Hurunui · ~8 km
• Mount Terako · viewpoint · Marlborough · ~9 km
• Lake Stella · lake · Hurunui · ~10 km

See everything within a day’s drive of Whales Back

Other hill stations & viewpoints near Whales Back

• Mount Lyford · viewpoint · Hurunui · ~9 km · Must-see
• Dillon Cone · viewpoint · Marlborough · ~27 km · Must-see
• Haumuri Bluffs · viewpoint · Kaikōura · ~30 km · Must-see
• Mount Fyffe · viewpoint · Kaikōura · ~45 km · Must-see
• Manakau · viewpoint · Kaikōura · ~52 km · Must-see
• Wards Pass · viewpoint · Tasman · ~53 km · Must-see
• Mount Woolley · viewpoint · Hurunui · ~56 km · Must-see
• Island Saddle · viewpoint · Tasman · ~61 km · Must-see
• Mount Symons · viewpoint · Marlborough · ~70 km · Must-see
• Mitre Peak · viewpoint · Marlborough · ~75 km · Must-see

All hill stations & viewpoints in Canterbury

Frequently asked