Kaikoura

 

Saturday 20 January 2024

We farewelled Ashburton and hit the road north, heading for Kaikoura. Our intention was to bypass Christchurch but we made a quick stop and spotted five American Hercules on the tarmac. They are probably part of the ice programme and support the American base in Antarctica. I wouldn't want to face the 12 hour trip in these boneshakers. 

On the drive into Kaikoura we were fortunate to spot some whales off shore well south of the actual Kaikoura township.   

Kaikoura appears to have bounced back from the devastating earthquake and it was good to see so many visitors  walking about and supporting the local restaurants and shops. We took a walk to the lookout point and looking down to the shore it was easy to see just how much the seabed had risen and changed the rocky foreshore. 

The crayfishing industry has recovered and there are so many restaurants offering crayfish and fresh caught blue cod and chips. The old original Ninns Binns crayfish shack/caravan is still operating on the state highway north of Kaikoura so they made it through Covid. 

The compressed limestone rock which has been pushed up from the ocean floor through various earthquakes is great to look at. We watched as a heron hopped about on the rocks catching small insects. 

The spectacular Kaikoura ranges that line the town are free of snow at the moment, they must look stunning in the middle of winter but boy it would be freezing cold. 

After a very noisy night the previous night in Ashburton where every truck passing  seemed to have their airbrakes on full throttle, it was a relief to be staying a little bit out of town on the edge of a golf course with a view of the ocean - bliss.