The Kaikōura Ranges are two parallel ranges of mountains located in the northeast of the South Island of New Zealand. The two ranges are visible from a great distance, including from the southern coast of the North Island.

Formed along New Zealand's Marlborough Fault System, they can be seen as the northernmost extension of the Southern Alps in the South Island. Named the Looker-on mountains, by Captain James Cook, they take their name from the town of Kaikōura at the southern extreme of the more eastern range, the Seaward Kaikōuras. This range rises straight from (and dominates) the coast to the north of the town, and reaches its highest point with the 2,608-metre (8,556 ft) Mount Manakau.

The long straight river valley of the Waiau Toa / Clarence River separate the Seaward Kaikōuras from the longer and loftier Inland Kaikōuras. This latter range contains the highest peak in the ranges, the 2,885-metre (9,465 ft) Tapuae-o-Uenuku, the translation from the Māori of which is the poetic "Footprint of the rainbow." Beyond the Inland Kaikōuras is the valley of the Awatere River, which runs parallel to that of the Waiau Toa / Clarence. The climate is characterised by a dry cold winter.

The statistical area of Kaikōura Ranges includes Clarence and covers 2,037.57 km (786.71 sq mi). It had an estimated population of 1,950 as of June 2024, with a population density of 1.0 people per km.

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	1,419	—
2013	1,545	+1.22%
2018	1,689	+1.80%
Source:

Kaikōura Ranges had a population of 1,689 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 144 people (9.3%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 270 people (19.0%) since the 2006 census. There were 585 households, comprising 894 males and 795 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.12 males per female. The median age was 44.6 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 315 people (18.7%) aged under 15 years, 246 (14.6%) aged 15 to 29, 870 (51.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 261 (15.5%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 89.5% European/Pākehā, 17.1% Māori, 0.7% Pasifika, 3.0% Asian, and 2.3% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 12.4, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 51.3% had no religion, 36.6% were Christian, 0.9% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.4% were Hindu, 0.9% were Muslim, 0.5% were Buddhist and 1.6% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 186 (13.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 291 (21.2%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $35,600, compared with $31,800 nationally. 213 people (15.5%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 834 (60.7%) people were employed full-time, 246 (17.9%) were part-time, and 15 (1.1%) were unemployed.

These mountains are characterised by tussock land, fellfields, and large areas of open scree, while lowland forests have largely been cleared. The Spencer range to the south meanwhile has a more intact beech forest covering.

The ranges contain the Kowhai Valley and Shearwater Stream Important Bird Area, some 15 km (9.3 mi) inland from the coastal town of Kaikōura.

42°00′S 173°40′E / 42.000°S 173.667°E / -42.000; 173.667