Seals Gone Wild in Kaikoura

As we drove the 140km or so down the coast, we began to get a taste of the insane, awe-inspiring beauty of the South Island. Lush green countryside, within the backdrop of alpine, snow-capped mountains on our right, with bright Emerald Ocean, beach cliffs to our left. Most of the conversation down to Kaikoura consisted of "wow," "holy-$&@!", and "please watch the road!" -Vivi (when my eyes strayed too far). Along the way, Vivi spotted seals to along the beach, so we pulled off to the side of the road and it turned out we had stumbled upon a seal breeding colony. We snapped a bunch of pictures of the New Zealand Fur Seals, before continuing along our way.

Finally we arrived in Kaikoura and settled into our hostel, the Albatross, which turned out to be quite close to a hippie commune - we walked into a guitar jam session and people twirling bow-staffs on the front lawn. We decided to go out on a highly-recommended walk of Kaikoura's peninsula track. The walk took us past the town Center, fishing villages and a giant Fur Seal colony where you could walk right up to the bathing seals.

The track continued along the peninsula, yielding some of the most unbelievable scenery I've ever seen in my life.

Gorgeous beach cliffs, on top of which were thick, high grass pastures dotted with violet wild flowers and limestone rock structures. All of this again, with the backdrop of snow-capped mountains. It was surreal, out of a movie, or the Garden of Eden, like it had been designed and painted. Around every corner, a Kodak moment.

Needless to say my camera battery died about 3/4ths through the walk. We returned to the town Center, had a meal of fish and chips (the town is big on fish/seafood), and crashed early for our swim with dolphins the next day.

Seals Gone Wild in Kaikoura

Kaikoura, New Zealand