Wildlife encounters

---

After the dramatic, unspoilt, Milford Sound region we continued the road trip from Queenstown heading South east across the South Island to the beautiful Catlins national park. The South is just so unpopulated, we only passed through tiny settlements with just a pie shop/ dairy and garage if you were lucky, in our 5 hour journey. I was served the most disgusting cup of tea with cappacino style froth on the top! in the most 1980's looking pie shop ever! Which is in fact very unusual compared to the normal high standards here. In fact the coffee here is the best ive ever had, its so good im totally addicted!

We stayed by the beach in the Catlins, it felt almost like Wales combined with the best bits of Cornwall, strange given that we are on the other side of the world! From our hostel beach we walked a short distance and there were about 9 huge Sea Lions basking in the sun, with 2 babies all playing and fighting each other. We watched from about 10 metres away and they were not in the least distracted by us, they were covered in scars and blood from where they kept attacking one another! It was truely amazing to see them up close in their natural environment, I felt very privilaged. A little further along the beach two others lay opposit each other facing different directions, ocassionally waving thier fins in the air.

Later that day we drove down narrow pot holed dirt tracks (typical Kiwi style) to a cove where we waited patiently for an hour looking out to sea from a small shack, and then from the shallow waters appeared the worlds rarest, yellow eyed penguins that can only be found in New Zealand. It waddled from side to side hurrying across the beach towards us, then turned back to the sea and called out, minutes later another little penguin appeared playing in the waves then came over to its mate. In unison they hopped up a stone path in the hill towards us, carefully jumping from stone to stone waiting for each other. Then they dissapeared in to their nest. So cute! Another one came jumping out of the water and waited on the beach looking out to sea, it called out many times and waited about 10 minutes until finally another one came flying out of the water, reunited they headed to the nest, but one turned back to the sea about half way on route to the hill, once the other one realised his mate had gone back he also turned back, waddling back to the other one. They both played around in the waves then eventually went back up the path, taking their time. How amazing, better than David Attenborough!

We then had a dairy farm stay in the Canterbury plains with our friend Mike who we met when first travelling the west coast of New Zealand. He is working on the farm so introuduced us to the very friendly sheep, patted and even hugged them! A true Kiwi expereince! We learnt about how to milk cows too! That afternoon we drove to Mount Hutt and walked around the stunning turqious rivers at the base of the mighty moutain. Then we drovwe up the beast along more nasty dirt track roads with lots of fallen rocks across the road! We drove through and above the clouds, then they parted and the views across Canterbury plains were spectacluar like a multicoloured patchwork of flat fields. I just couldnt look at the drop from the roadside!

Next stop the Banks Peninsular, East of Christchurch on the east coast. Now this is where i want to retire! The peninsular was formed from two massive volcanic erruptions. Akaroa, the first French settlement in New Zealand, with gorgeous old wooden buildings is stretched across the harbour surrounded by lush gren hills and beautiful clear waters full of dolphins. What more could you want?! From Akaroa I had the pleasure of swimming in freezing waters with the worlds rarest dolphins, (the hector dolphin), it was kind of terrifying at first, they came so close to me I thought I was going to kick it by accident! Groupd of about 3 circled around me and as i span in circles they followed me! How amazing to be so close to them, they are such awesome, inquisitive, playful creatures!

---

Photos

Sea lions
Catlins national park, outside the hostel.

Sea lions
Catlins national park, outside the hostel.

Akaroa
Where I swam with the worlds smallest and rarest, hector dolphins.

Crazy sea weed
At the Catlins

Mt Hutt
Above the clouds, at ski-ing region- Mt Hutt. The roads were covered in bolders and big holes! A scary ride...