Kaikoura

Trip Start Nov 09, 2005
1
20
37
Trip End Mar 01, 2006


Loading Map
Map your own trip!
Map Options
Show trip route
Hide lines
shadow

Flag of New Zealand  ,
Wednesday, January 4, 2006

We actually ended up making two trips here as we came up on New Years on a slightly impromptue night out! New years eve, never fails to throw up some surprises does it! We were invited up to Kaikoura by my cousin David and his friends as they were planning a night by the beach with a bonfire and camping overnight! When we got there we got into the spirit and started drinking to celebrate the new year festivities. Then at about half eleven we decided to head into town for midnight and to have a few more bevvies! All great fun, then a bit later we headed back and laid on the beach with a bonfire and looking up at the stars-wonderful!
Next day we headed back to Christchurch, then on the 3rd we headed back up to Kaikoura to do our whale watching. But you know us, nothing ever quite goes to plan does it! We got there and the weather looked perfect, nice and sunny with calm seas. Unfortunately we weren't going out in the same bay and the weather took a nasty turn for the worst 01 - New Years Eve!
01 - New Years Eve!
 ! when we got to the marina we were told that every other operator had cancelled their tours as the conditions were too bad, but that we were going to give it go and come back if it got any worse. Well when we got out to sea the swells were about two metres high and they sky was a menacing shade of black! The captain could hear a whale beneath us and then he stopped 'talking' which can mean two things-either he's about to surface or he's going to sleep! We stuck around for about 5 mins and then we decided to cut our losses and head back before anyone was actually sick! I have never been happier to be back on dry land! We took a photo of the weather, but i'm not sure if it really conveys how bad it actually was!! But to be fair, we got over $200 back because of the conditions etc, so it was ok in the end!
Once we got back to the car we decided there wasn't much reason to stay in Kaikoura, as we'd only gone to see the whales and the weather was supposed to be rubbish for the next few days, so we decided to head up to Hamner Springs which is a little mountain town with thermal spring pools that you can bathe in-a little bit of relaxation that we thought we deserved so off we went!!!
Slideshow Print this entry Kaikoura hotels