Welcome to the stunning Kaikoura coastline – home to colonies of fur seals, large sheep herds, salt flats, rich Maori heritage, whaling history, and crayfish. Abundant around the rocky Kaikoura coast, we stopped at Nin’s Bin roadside caravan, about 20 miles before reaching the town of Kaikoura, for some tasty fresh-caught crayfish (rock lobster). We also saw our first colony of seals sunbathing and resting along the rocks and frolicking in the water. There were many baby seals (pups; adult males are called bulls and females cows).

Besides searching out the local craft brewery, Emporium, we hiked the Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway to another large seal colony. These large groups of seals were quite talkative and odorous. We also checked out Fyffe’s House, a cottage built on piles of whalebones in the 1840’s and is Kaikoura’s oldest building. Whaling was a big industry here in the early 1800’s. Killed for their blubber, the oil was considered the best oil for lamps and was used to lubricate fine machinery. In 1842 Robert Fyffe built a whaling station here. Whaling is now illegal in most countries – Iceland, Norway and Japan still allow it. Their oil, blubber and cartilage are mostly used in pharmaceuticals and health supplements.

XOXOXOXO
Gma & Gpa

HA HA!
What did the mermaid send to her sick friend? A get whale card.