Christchurch to Kaikoura

After getting a few essentials in Christchurch we head off up the east coast with a view to reaching Kaikoura and the chance of some whale spotting.

Initially the scenery is very reminiscent of Scotland until we pull off onto the scenic route and head along the coast for a bit. It's here that we get our first taste of the diversity of the south island. We stop at a beach and from here you have the green waters of the pacific pounding against the volcanic beaches. The beaches then rise up to forested cliffs and worn limestone formations, which back up onto the snow capped southern alps.

After a few more miles inland the road heads back to the coast, I briefly consider parking up at one of the camping spots right next to the sea, but it looks like it's getting a bit rough so we head onwards to Kaikoura and we take a break to wander along one of the ashen beaches.



About 20km further we hit the town and head up to the lookout point nestled between the north and south shores.

It's about 3 in the afternoon so the mist and sea spray vignettes into the mountains and it looks very ethereal. This is how I imagined New Zealand to look, especially through Lord of the Rings tinted eyes.

Mandy recalls that there is a fur seal colony at the end of the town and we drive down there to peer at them from remarkably close.

We grab our camping spot and head into town for refreshments and food. At this point the Lonely Planet guide lets us down quite badly. They recommend the Strawberry Tree as a good place for nosh at a reasonable price and quite honestly the food sucks. We have microwave defrosted and re-heated chowder and fish and chips which they couldn't even have paid me to eat. Mandy feels a Ramsay moment coming on but we're both too tired and disappointed to bother complaining.