Even though we would have loved to spend an extra day in Hanmer Springs soaking our road weary bones in the hot pools, we got up bright and early, washed the Spaceship, and then headed down the Alpine Pacific Triangle Highway to Kaikoura.
Kaikoura is home to all sorts of cool wildlife and nature activities. You can watch whales & seals, swim with dolphins, or check out albatross and bird colonies. Since we were only here for a day, we decided to walk part of the Kaikoura walkway.
The Kaikoura peninsula is just breathtaking, with mountains and high cliffs dropping right into the ocean. The largest colony of red billed seagulls in the world is here…and it is nesting season, which means all sorts of prattling gulls, and the occasional dive bomb by an overprotective parent. And for once, neither of us were dive-bombed. But we did get loads of enjoyment from watching other unsuspecting hikers get their warnings.
We followed the walkway along the top of the cliff to Whaler’s Bay and then dropped down to the water and walked back along the tidal flats.
On our way back into town, we stopped off at Kaikoura Seafood BBQ, a well known food truck that has set up permanent residence alongside the road out to the peninsula walk. They are known for their super fresh seafood, caught that day.
We decided to try the grilled scallops and a whitebait fritter. They both came with rice and a salad and were cooked on the grill with butter, garlic, and lemon. Sooooo good!
After lunch, we headed back to our campground to enjoy our final night on the road. We soaked in the hot tub and then had one final cookout. Tomorrow we head to Christchurch and move into a rental flat for the holidays.
Met you at Beqa Lagoon, Fiji. Just logged on, glad you are still out and about.
Hi Pam! Thanks for stopping by! We are still out and about. We’re just starting our adventures in Australia now as we wrap up the writings on our time in New Zealand.