New Zealand: South Island: Swimming with Dolphins, Glaziers, Blow Holes and Dramatic Scenery :)

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We arrived early morning in Picton and set off on a 3 hour journey to the Nelson area, home to our friend Ben Cameron. We stayed in Motueka the first night and drove up to Farewell Spit in the furthest reaches of the North West tip of the South Island.

We stopped on a site near the Able Tasman park right next to the beach. Whilst swimming we spotted some Dolphins jumping in the distance. I decided to go back to the van for a warm but curiosity grabbed Jess and sent her off to see if she could get a closer look at the Dolphins. She ventured into the water and the Dolphins swam up to her and around her, WILD DOLPHINS 😊 no touts trying to sell tickets, no cost!! just pure human and mammal amongst nature . . . Perfect 😊

We drove another 250 km and arrived on the West Coast. Westport provided us with views of wild seals. After that we drove down to Punakaiki to the Blow Holes and Pancake Rocks. The Blow holes, which are holes in the cliff where sea shoots up through the holes when the tide is in full swing, were amazing. Thousands of gallons of sea battering against rock and shooting up the side of the cliff and through the holes was breath taking and a little scary 😊

Next we were at both Franz Josef and Fox Glazier. You can easily see why film makers make their way to New Zealand when you see something as spectacular as the Glaziers and the scenery that surrounds them, it also shows you how small you are in the grand scheme of things when you see people walking on them, they are like ants in comparison.

With a hop, skip, a few hundred KMs and a swing of a Kilt we were in Dunedin on the East Coast. Before Dunedin we had been in the wilderness for days so it was funny to see things like supermarkets and people! again. From Dunedin we did another long drive up to Hanmer Springs and indulged in chilling out in their hot springs.

Last port of call before Christchurch and leaving New Zealand was KaiKoura. We found a quiet little spot next to the sea and whilst having a brew a seal climbed aboard some rocks about 10 meters away from us. The Seal was quick to take the chance to show off some poses as Jess took some pictures of him, she was literally 5 feet away from him. In the morning Jess shouted me to come and watch some wild Dolphins that were jumping out in front of us, there was 15 or 20 of them, a beautiful sight to wake up to.

New Zealand is the most picturesque country I have ever been to. The scenery is dramatic and being able to camp next to the beach, make a fire and cook food and wake up to such beauty is a privilege. New Zealand will definitely hold a place in my heart and I hope I will return there one day 😊

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