Thursday, 10th June 2010 - Whale Watching

After my little drama I still make it fr the whale watching. We board a bus to the dock and then get on our high speed catermirange. We head out and within a few minutes of looking we see a whale. It is absolutely amazing. It was great to get so close to them. Tries to get some really good pictures. Managed to get a few snaps of the whale diving.


The sea was pretty choppy with swells getting fairly high. I sat at the front f the boat which was the bumpiest part. I loved it. Unfortunately pretty much everyone one else was throwing up into the sick bags provided. Yuck.



After the whale watching i grab a bite to eat at the open air road side grilled seafood resteraunt before setting off for the West cost.

Thursday, 10th June 2010 - Crash!!!!

So I due to go on the whale watching boat. I ring them to confirm they are still running, they are. So off I head. As I go through town some guy pulls out of his parking space without indiciating or looking and crashed into my rear passenger door. No harm done. To me anyway. The car has a bit of a dint. But I have no worries insurance. So not worried.

Wednesday, 9th June 2010 - Seal Colony

Just at Kaikoura Penninsula there us another seal colony. Loads of really cute seals. Young and old. They seem oblivious to all the visitors. Lazing in the sun on the path and in the car parking slots. It was really kewl and I just wanted to go up and pet one. But there are loads of signs botted around warning against that.

Wednesday, 9th June 2010 - Plane over Whales

It is a really short drive from Kaikoura to the airfield. Where I board a little Cessna. I'm lucky eboughto ge to ride shot gun with the pilot. There is only me and two other passengers.


It is really great. Straight away I spot a Sperm whale. We circle it for a while until we see it dive. Next we fly straight to another sperm whale. This one is bigger. Again we circle it till it dives. It was amazing.



Then we go ad fly off into the mountains and get a tour of the snow topped mountains. Was such a kewl experience.



I hope the boat it going out again tomorrow. Because the only thing you lack from the plane is the sheer size of them. As there is nothbg around to compare them too. Fingers crossed.

Wednesday, 9th June 2010 - Kaikoura

After waking up and fueling up with some coffee I head down to Kaikoura. It's about a 2 hour drive. On the way I stop of at a scenic look out. Low and behold what do I find. seals. Loads of big and baby seals.


Kaikoura is the whale spotting Capitol of NZ. I am so keen to see some whales. I love them. There are a few options to are whales, from sea or air in either a helicopter or plane.



The boat is not going out today becase the swell is too high. The helicopter is flying today but they have a minimum number of passengers before flying so they are not going out at mo. So I'm a little disheartened. My last chance is the plane. Bingo. They are flying out and have no minimum passengers. Well just one.

Tuesday, 8th June 2010 - Interislander Ferry

It is a three hour ferry crossing to Picton on the South Island. I could see the hugh ferry as I was waiting to board. I love going on a ferry. Reminds me of being a kid. It looked like there was going to be loads to do.


So as I drove closer to the ferry, we drove past it! My ferry was behind it. Ferry? More like a barge. It was cold and very choppy on the three hour crossing. It had to be the dullest ferry in the history of the world I was not happy.

Tuesday, 8th June 2010 - Cape Palliser

It's a 150 Km out of Wellington and home to a lighthouse and seal colony. So off I went. When on the first mountain driving down I, for brief second lost control of car. I over steered. All was good. No harm done.


Also on the road I was faced with a couple of hundred sheep racing towards me. Lol.



With just 10km to go I hit a snag. The road turned into a gravel road. It was chucking it down and hailing as well. The car was sliding all over the place. So I had to admit defeat and without seeing the seals I headed back.