Whale Watch Kaikōura is back in the water for the first time since the devastating magnitude 7.8 earthquake on 14 November.
One of five whales spotted off the Kaikōura coast a week after the earthquakes. Photo: Supplied / Whale Watch
The company halted all operations after the quake, which seriously disturbed the seafloor and made it impossible for visitors to access the town until recently.
"It's been a lot of hard work and effort over the last seven weeks to get us to this position" - Kauahi Ngapora on Summer Report
Whale Watch Kaikōura chief executive Kauahi Ngapora said they would start with three tours a day due to limitations around low tide.
"With some of the remedial work that's been done on the commercial slipway, our window of opportunity has gone from three hours out to eight hours, so that gives us that chance to do up to three tours per day.
"Normally at this time of year we'd be doing up to 16 trips per day, so we're nowhere near where we want to be, but at least it's a start."
Interest had been encouraging, as campervans, travellers and Christchurch holidaymakers started to arrive, he said.
The key for Kaikōura businesses was to focus on getting fully back up and running so they were in a better position next summer, Mr Ngapora said.