February 6
Today is Waitangi Day, a public holiday in NZ that celebrates the first signing of New Zealand’s founding document, the Treaty of Waitangi, in 1840. The signing secured British sovereignty over New Zealand, which has caused some controversy within the Māori community in recent years.
Our first stop of the day was Ward Beach, an isolated spot a few miles down a gravel road. It was our first glimpse of the South Pacific Ocean since we arrived.
On the way out of Ward Beach, we came upon this adorable little fruit stand and bought some produce on the honor system. Just pick up what you want and put money in the box.
There were also some really cool cows that I nicknamed the Oreo cow. I thought it was a fitting name. And I had to take the obligatory sheep photo.
The drive to Kaikōura from Ward Beach was beautiful. We pulled over several times to take pictures.
Ohau Point is a massive fur seal colony just outside Kaikōura. We enjoyed watching thousands of seals lounge in the sun, frolick in the water and saw adorable babies nursing on their exhausted moms who were too tired to move. The seals are protected from people by a barrier above them and so are free to carry on without being bothered.
Kaikōura means “to eat crayfish” in Māori. Tama ki te Raki was an early explorer of the South Island who stopped in Kaikoura for a meal of crayfish in pursuit of his three runaway wives. Crayfish are rock lobsters, sort of a cross between lobster and shrimp, and are found in restaurants and roadside shacks all over town.
Kaikōura kayaks provided our water activity for the day. We paddled in the Kaikōura Peninsula out to the Pacific, and got up close to several fur seals lounging on the rocks. We also saw a few miniature blue penguins, lots of jellyfish and many birds. It was beautiful and relaxing despite our valiant kayaking efforts.
Kaikōura is an internationally known whale watching destination. Tomorrow is our Whale Watch Kaikoura tour. Correction: Mitch’s whale watching tour. After talking with many people who went out on the tour in the past few days, I chickened out. Rough seas, no whales seen and many people getting seasick. Thanks but no thanks! Hopefully Mitch will have a good experience and get to see lots of sea life.