Kaikoura

Earlier we thought we might end our 7 weeks on the South Island with another tramp, the Queen Charlotte track, a scenic ridge-walk in the Sounds. Another chance to drop a few pounds, see some sights, add more notches to our hiking sticks. Besides, we figured, on the northeast side of the island, the sand flies wouldn't be so onerous. As it turned out, we encountered sand flies all over the Sounds area and even on the east coast, and hiking on the North Island started looking more and more attractive. So we eschewed Queen Charlotte, drove across some dry California-like grassy hills, and then down the beautiful east coast--not as dramatic as the west, but with no less charm--as far as Kaikoura and environs. When we were in Christchurch in January, we eschewed Kaikoura. Too touristy-sounding, and we weren't interested in the whale-watching voyages there. As it is turned out, Kaikoura turned out to be quite nice, we thought, and watching other animal activities, seals and porpoises, turned out to be some of the more memorable activities. I'll have videos of these in due course.

Just north of Kaikoura is the Ohau Point Seal Colony; most
we have seen anywhere, and active too, not just crashing on
the rocks

Pup pool

Coast around Kaikoura

You've got to like a place that lines its beach boulevard with
Norfolk Island pines; big, mature, beautiful ones

A bit of Art Deco, too

15-20k down the coast, looking at the scenery

Back toward Kaikoura, a porpoise run...I video'd 3 or so
minutes, soon to appear on my YouTube channel

Our campsite at the Alpine Pacific Holiday Park

Backyard view

Kaikoura pebble beach