Heading South (17th Feb)

Although Wellington is very nice I am pleased to be moving on, if only to get a better night sleep.

Let me explain. The first night I was there I was in the top bunk which was fine except that there was a slat missing from underneath the mattress (although I didn’t know at the time) so there was this HUGE uncomfortable dip in the bed, because of this I was constantly moving about trying to get comfortable and each time I as much as breathed the whole bunk bed squeaked and groaned like a million tired but excited mice! The next morning when the person below me left I moved into their space (this was when I realised about the missing slat). By the time it came to going to bed I had received a bunk bed mate in the bed above who like me had noticed how uncomfortable the bed was and spent the whole of the night moving from one position to the next, not only did I think they were going to land on top of me through the missing slat but it was also pretty tough sleeping through the noise a million tired but wcxcited mice make!! Needless to say I’m pleased to be heading over to the South Island this morning.

The journey over to the South Island is the most picturesque I’ve ever travelled on. You are never out of site of land, once you cross the Cook Strait from Wellington you come up against the mountains and landscape of the Marlborough Sounds and then the next two hours of the trip is through the sounds, very beautiful.

The ferry journey to South Island

On arrival on to the South Island I still hadn’t really decided which way I was going to go, either along the coast, west to Abel Tasman National Park or South towards Kaikoura and swimming with dolphins, problem is I want to do all of it. In the end I decide on Kaikoura for a couple of days and then drive back up north to Abel Tasman, although of course that may all change!

The drive to Kaikoura was good with some great windy roads to tackle. There were some lovely little places that looked good for pulling off and investigating the

area down by the sea but as I hadn’t booked any accommodation I ploughed on and thought I would come back to them. One place I did stop at though was gorgeous. I don’t know what made me stop there, it must have been something to do with the wording

on the sign, but pull over I did and I was rewarded with the most glorious sight of New Zealand Fur Seals playing on the rocks and jumping in and out of the sea. There was one little rock pool that can only be described as the nursery, as there were around 18-20 baby seals all playing in the water being overlooked by 1 teenage size seal who was sitting on the sidelines. It was soooooo cute! There’s nothing quite like wildlife in the wild!

Fur seal nursery

Kaikoura is a small beach resort whose main attraction is the marine life, specialising in swimming with dolphins, yippee! Which unfortunately, by very popular demand is booked up way, way in advance until after I plan to leave this little town. I’m on the

waiting list though in case someone drops out (mmm, would you?) the i-site place was pretty hopeful that I would get on a trip so we’ll just have to wait and see. Fingers crossed huh?!

So in the meantime I investigated the little town and headed up to the lookout point to get a feel of where I was and the view out over the peninsula.

There’s some great little interesting shops here for me to brows around which is always nice!

Kaikoura