Blogs from Kaikoura, South Island, New Zealand, Oceania - page 47

Why stay on land...Last adventures on the South Island

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Kaikoura December 11th 2005

Well, the rest of the drive from Oamaru to Christchurch was uneventful. I ended up sitting across from the English couple I met during the glacier hike. It was nice to catch up with them and hear about there experiences. No two stories are ever the same except..."well, we drank way too much in Queenstown" - boy I know about that! It was strange coming into Christchurch and then walking on the street. It is a large bustling city with lots of cars and people and noise. I have been spending all this time in very small towns with no noise and few people. It took a few moments of getting used to when I arrived. It was also odd at the hostel. I checked into a hostel that was an old 1800s hotel. Very cool ... read more

While Targetts talk

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Kaikoura December 3rd 2005

Targett

Chris is on the phone at the moment, talking to mummy and daddy Targett. As as we all know, once the Targetts start talking......., well lets just say I have some time to kill. Shopping is one option, but I am sat in an internet cafe (why they are called this I don't know, because there sure ain't no cafe, just lots of computers) babysitting a computer which chris has started to write e-mails on. Anyway... I am sorry that you are jealous, benny and l. It must be tough going to work in the grey wetness of home, receiving little blog updates saying how nice the weather is, what fun we are having, and what we have done whilst you have been at work. I am really really sorry. Petch, I couldn't smell the chocolate ... read more

Swimming with dolphins

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Kaikoura November 19th 2005

Ready to swim

musosf

This morning we asked at the hotel about where to get a good breakfast, and were told that actually the Dolphin Encounter café was the best place in town. Very convenient, as that’s where we were headed to swim with Dusky dolphins. Sure enough they had delicious food - Rich is getting into the habit of porridge for breakfast and the bacon here is thick and large, almost like ham slices. Rich wasn’t about to get in the water but his plan was to stay on the boat and take pictures while Gary, Ben and I swam. The three of us changed into the wetsuits provided (poor Gary had to help a big old hairy guy squeeze into his). Ben noticed that his hood was “mushing his face out like a Play-Doh extruder toy” so he ... read more

dolphins and endorphins...

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Kaikoura November 10th 2005

Nelson from geographic centre

Celine and Scott

We left Nelson yesterday after having been to the geographic centre of NZ. This involved scampering up a hill and watching lots of kids having their picture taken by a Glaswegian!!!!! Then we left Nelson for Kaikoura arriving in the afternoon and pitching the tent. This morning we got up at silly O-clock (5am, yes, all you students it does exist)to go see some dolphins. We were not disappointed! The Dusky dolphins were not shy and played with about a dozen humans squeezed into black skins and flapping about ineptly, making strange babbling noises. Honestly we are the most intelligent animal! Celine and I watched from the deck. Explanation - Celine had already swum with the dolphins, and I figured if I snorkelled I'd have a coughing fit and scare all the dolphins away or drown, ... read more

A Dolphin Named Ralph

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Kaikoura September 30th 2005

View from Kaikoura

brianandgeri

We have seven minutes before the internet cafe closes, so please forgive the rushed (and very late) update. The last couple of days have been very busy, full of new and fantastic experiences. A few moments ago, we walked along the cliffs of Kaikoura, overlooking the South Pacific, and said hello to a few friendly seals, watching us from the rocks while napping. Earlier today we were part of a group that boated way out into open water to swim with Dusky Dolphins, smallish dolphins native to this part of the world. The sea was extremely rough, and the ride out to the dolphins not exactly comfortable, even for water babies such as ourselves. Once we got to the pod of about 100, we jumped in (after some hesitation on Geri's part, due to flashbacks to ... read more

Kaikoura

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Kaikoura September 11th 2005

Hakuna_matata86

Very easy day today, short trip up to Kaikoura from Christchurch, stopped briefly to see a very close to seal colony. Following that out arrival in Kaikoura was disappointing as very very foggy, resulting in no dolphin or whale trips :( Off to Wellington tomorrow!... read more

Whale Watching

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Kaikoura September 9th 2005

Wandering Albatross

KerryandCraig

Well we arrived in Kaikoura which means "Food of the crayfish" in Maori with high hopes of spotting a whale or two! We hurried to the booking office to get tickets for the trip only to be advised that due to the unseasonally calm and warm weather the sightings of whales was becoming a little sporadic - but being "cup half full" types we decided to try our luck. When we arrived for the trip we were really disappointed to learn that the whale watching was cancelled as no sightings had been made; there was however, a coastal trip on offer, so we decided to do that instead. For over an hour we cruised the waters and hugged the coastline, and saw nothing more than a couple of Wandering Alabatross (massive birds, hadn't realised how big ... read more

Adventures on the Pacific-Photos!

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Kaikoura August 26th 2005

beach in Kaikoura

ShellyAbroad

Kaikoura: Land of Crayfish Food Kaikoura is a popular beachside town on the East Coast of New Zealand's South Island. It has strong roots in the Maori culture and is best known for its whale watching tours. Sitting on the South Pacific, the blue waters are surrounded by White capped Mountains that reach right up to the sea. it is a remarkable place. We checked into Cray Cottage, a cozy little hostel (the tiniest we stayed at!) owned by a transplanted middle aged british couple, Jacki and Don. Apparently, the two had a little bit of a mid life crisis and sold everything and bought the hostel on the beach just 'because'. Wow. what a story. if you saw what kind of views they wake up to every morning, you might decide to do it too. ... read more

Low sperm count!

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Kaikoura August 22nd 2005

I see no whales

PHYSIO DAVE

Firstly congratulations to Chee who won the Dunedin quiz- i dont know how , i think perhaps he has too much time on his hands but anyway - Edinburgh / yellow eyed and penguins was the right answer as seals and sealions have a better sense of smell -ahhhhhhhhh (although sealions do honk the most!). Welldone to Andy for mentioning the penguin wrapper gagg which i never saw coming and for mum for becoming an interacive blogger! Unfortunately brother Ray is apparently still having problems working out how to make general comments although has mastered the private comments - maybe Ray you can get some tips off Mum? (Gem) Well after that lovely long long long long long long trip to kaikoura to see some Sperm whales we slept really well. Up early to get to ... read more

Winter is slow...

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Kaikoura July 11th 2005

kaikoura

jtq_99

Still waiting for the NZ winter to kick into full gear. It's a little slow this year. Most ski areas have pushed opening days back, even though there is still some good snow. Stay tuned for pictures and report from out ski trip at the beginning of August. ... read more

Brief history of New Zealand

The Polynesian Maori reached New Zealand in about A.D. 800. In 1840, their chieftains entered into a compact with Britain, the Treaty of Waitangi, in which they ceded sovereignty to Queen Victoria while retaining territorial rights. In that same year...more history

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