We left Hanmer Springs early as we wanted to get to Kaikoura by lunchtime to give us enough time to walk around the peninsular in the afternoon and visit the seal colony. Kaikoura is on the east coast of the South Island and attracts thousands of visitors each year for its wildlife, especially marine wildlife. Mum and Dad had booked a whale watching trip the next day and I was going to head off mountain biking.

Coffee break on the drive to Kaikoura.

We spent the afternoon on a wonderful walk around the Kikoura Peninsular a total of about 12 miles in the end. Unfortunately due to the timing of the tides we were unable to get close to the seal colony but managed to get a good view through Dad’s most excellent binoculars.

Peninsular walk in Kaikoura.

If you look very very closely you might see a seal!

Peninsular walk in Kaikoura.

Peninsular walk in Kaikoura.

Peninsular walk in Kaikoura.

Peninsular walk in Kaikoura.

We were pretty shattered by the time we got back to the van and decided that we’d eat out in town. On our way into town we walked passed a fish and chip shop and randomly met two of Mum and Dad’s friends, Malcom and Mary, who they had been on a sailing holiday with a couple of years ago. Small world! After a quick catch up and an invitation for post dinner drinks in their van (they were staying in the same campsite) we headed off to the pub for dinner. We spent a lovely evening chatting to a Dutch couple who asked us to explain the rules of cricket and rugby to them. I don’t think we enlightened them that well especially after Dad tried to explain the ten ways a batsman can be out! The evening ended with drinks at Malcom and Mary’s very modern and new van which confirmed our suspicions that our van was the tattiest on the road!

Pre dinner gin and tonics.

Our adventures the next day were met with mixed success. Mum and Dad had a very enjoyable whale watching trip, successfully seeing a number of whales and dolphins as well as an albatross. My mountain biking trip was less successful due the fact that the main mountain bike rental shop was closed and the only other place that rented them didn’t have any left! A little disappointing, however I took the gentler option of a swim in a cute 25m art deco pool followed by a stroll on the beach.

Swim time in Kaikoura.

Kaikoura.

Kaikoura.

We left Kaikoura early the next day for our next destination, Blenheim in the Marlborough Region home to some of the best sauvignon blancs in the world – well in my opinion anyway!