Kaikoura

Jumping on the bus and driving along the east coast revealed the New Zealand I was expecting, when I left. Landscapes and vegetation that completely changes from one minute to another, from rolling fields and vinyards to green mountains and racked coastlines. You catch yourself just staring blankly out the window untill some 20 year old boy wakes up behind you, from his party infuced coma and points out that this is hardly anything special and you have much much to learn about this place... So I guess I have to get used to taking backpacking wisdom from "minors" if I want to catch up to speed anytime soon...

Just before entering the town of Kaikoura you pass the peninsula observation point looking back at the mainland you see the south and the north bay and the result is just breathtaking!

Kaikoura is known for its sealife attractions with whales, seals and dolphins staying close to the coastline due to the Kaikoura canyon lowering the seabed by more that 2.000 m. 

I booked a swimming with Dusky dolphins encounter in the very early morning and spent the rest of the day trekking around the penninsula and watching the sunset behind the mountains from the observation point. 

Getting up at 4.30 in the morning I strapped on my backpack and ventured into the starfilled night, sending a thought to the many nights spent almost like this in the terrain around Oksbøl. Sailing out with an almost calm sea and the sunrise on our left we went dolphins chasing and within 30 min we spotted the first fins in the water revealing that the dolphins were coming back from their nightly feeding to "socialize" along the coast. Wearing a full wetsuit and flippers we went snorkling, shouting and screaming to attract the dolphins that reacts strongly to sounds and eyecontact.. 

Being surrounded by curious dusky dolphins was fantastic and an experience long overdue! It all culminated with roughly 700 dolphins being gathered and playing around doing backflips and generally just showing off their awesomeness for the camera on the background of the rising sun and rainbows forming from the beginning showers.

The ride back was kinda rough with the sea showing how quickly things can change and all further sailing that day was cancelled. 

Now its on to Kaiteriteri and the famous Abel Tasman National Park