Getting there

You know you're definitely on holiday when greeted at the airport by the pilot wearing shorts and sporting a fully fledged suntan.

To reiterate the holiday feel are the big fluffy dice hanging down from the cockpit compass. Yhup, it's Holiday season indeed... !

Kaikoura NZ, blog

SoundsAir, Wellington-Kaikoura-Wellington

Flying direct to Kaikoura from Wellington was a welcome relief from previous trips we have made. One option is to take the InterIsland ferry to Picton (a three hour sailing) and then drive down to Kaikoura.

Another option was to fly to Christchurch on Qantas, Origin Pacific or Air New
Zealand and drive up to Kaikoura. Sadly, Origin Pacific Airways no longer exists and as of March 2007, Qantas (NZ) no longer flies between Wellington and Christchurch.

So how nice to now be able to fly directly to our destination - and be there in 45minutes...All thanks to SoundsAir. Good on these small business guys to be able to offer what we the real consumer wants...

Some of my favourite Kaikoura scenes

this photo was taken at the end of the Esplanade of Kaikoura.
Fishing boats.

kaikoura NZ, blog

Looking for seals - this photo was taken at the Kaikoura Seal Colony. The day we ventured out on the rocks at the Kaikoura peninsula seemed to be the same day the seals did a runner...

Pohutukawa (NZ Christmas tree) Kaikoura

Pohutukawa (NZ Christmas tree) at our favourite beach spot in Kaikoura.

An icon and symbol that typifies summer in New Zealand

kaikoura NZ, blogspot

Kaikoura - fishing boats

Fishing against a great backdrop

Native NZ Flax

On the path up the hill from the seal colony

View from the Kaikoura lighthouse

View from the Kaikoura lighthouse looking north

Kaikoura yellow Lighthouse

Yellow lighthouse Kaikoura

As far as lighthouses go, this is probably the smallest one I have come across - but certainly the most vivid... I haven't been able to get any history or information on it, so would be happy for anyone to comment on where to find more info...

Somewhere near "Middle Earth"

Who says it's a dog's life? These seals have it made...


kaikoura NZ, blog

A stroll on the beach north of Kaikoura at Kekerengu.

Seagulls - they're everywhere. All I wanted was a scene of the clouds, then this glided into my frame...fortunate me...

seagull in flight - Kaikoura

famous Kaikoura Icons

what Kaikoura is famous for

What Kaikoura is mostly famous for - Mountain views, Birdlife, Whales, Pounamu (Jade) carvings, Paua (NZ abalone) and its jewelery, Seals, Whalebone carving in Maori design - as depicted on this store wall...

But probably the most famous thing of all about Kaikoura ... _ _ _ ... are the whales

---- Oh! ---- and I forgot one more thing -: Crayfish


Icons of Kaikoura

Self explanatory

It's not all ocean and sealife... Mount Fyffe is a great walk for those with a little fitness/stamina...

Hop. skip and jump - you can be anywhere...

Flying back to Wellington - the scene of Kaikoura below... Seal colony at the top left