Marlborough Region & Kaikoura

Day 1- Surprising Seals

As we were going to travel south and not really have time to check out the northern coastline thoroughly,  we started the day doing a scenic drive from Picton to Havelock along the Queen Charlotte Drive, which ran alongside the Marlborough Sound.

The drive was pretty undulating with hair-pin bends, but it followed the coast and the views were quite stunning and we soon found ourselves getting out at a viewpoint. 

The viewpoint was a short, but uphill, walk to the top of a hill where you had some great views over the Marlborough Sound below.  Taking a few photo’s we then headed back to the car to continue our journey.

Arriving in Havelock we realised that there wasn’t that much there (apart from great scenery!) so we decided to head for Kaikoura, our bed for the night,  via the Marlborough Region.  The Marlborough region is famous for its vineyards and we soon found ourselves driving past acres of fields with grape vines,  we resisted the urge to visit a winery, honest…

We then hit the coast around Blenheim and despite the horrible weather the coastal drive we were now doing was very akin to the Great Ocean Road in Australia, which meant it was pretty cool.

Driving along and appreciating this drive for around 100km following the coastline and nearby rail line I suddenly slammed the brakes on, much to Shell’s alarm.  It wasn’t that I was going to collide with another vehicle, I was pretty sure I had seen a seal on the rocks.

Reversing into a nearby layby we then walked to the coast edge where we saw a couple of seals and then after looking a bit more we noticed there were quite a few.  Occasionally you would look down and there was another one very camouflaged against the rocks a few metres away from us.

Walking a bit further along we then saw more and more seals on the rocks, there must have been hundreds of them.  Also we almost walked into some as they were relaxing in the long grass just behind us! Apparently you have to be careful not to be between a seal and the sea as they could attack you (and I’d had enough animal attack events on this trip!).

Watching them and taking photo’s for a while, we then headed back to the car to collect our filled rolls (that Shell had prepared the night before) and decided it would be nice to eat them here whilst watching the seals, despite the smell!

After lunch we then continued the last few miles to Kaikoura and checked into another Motel type place, which again had cooking facilities for us. Kaikoura is a coastal town that is famous for its crayfish, but at $50 for half a crayfish I don’t think we will be indulging!  

As in was only early afternoon we decide to head off and do the 4 hour headland walk that had been recommended in our guide. The start of the walk was a pretty steep walk up to a look-out point that had views over the bay and the town.

Once we had taken in the view we were then heading along the headland before heading through some fields full of sheep (considering bagging a lamb for dinner!) before heading back down to the beach front.

We walked along the front and then came towards the end of the peninsula but our path on the boardwalk was blocked by a large male seal and we thought it would be better to give him a wide berth, taking a few photo’s as we went past.

At this point we then saw that yet again there were plenty of seals nearby so we settled on the side of the beach and had the rest of our picnic whilst we watched the seals.  Also we were amused by the seal on the boardwalk threatening to attack any tourists that got too close to him, suddenly charging at them.

Next we had to head back up the headland and then we walked along the top of it checking out view-points where there were very scenic views and yet more colonies of seals.

We are pretty good at walking now, despite the booze and fags, and after 3 hours we found ourselves back at the beginning of the loop and thankfully there was a pub at the exit where we quenched our thirst.

A couple of pints later we then headed back to our room and relaxed, which we thought we deserved after two walks today.  We then cooked ourselves some dinner before settling down to the last in the Lord of the Rings trilogy and then bed.