The Kaikoura Coast Track

Just back from our first 3 day walking track. I read the blog of Robb, an American in the North Island, who writes a lot about tramping in this beautiful country. Tramping is in his blood and he writes about it in a poetic way. I am a bit of a wuzz so I haven't reached that state yet.
On Saturday my husband, my American friend Elizabeth and moi, left for Kaikoura to spend a day in one of my favourite places. It is 2 1/2 hours drive North of Christchurch.
Kaikoura is famous for whale watching. Whales can be seen about 20 km of shore. About 15 km of shore the sea floor dives to depths of over 1000 metres and also because of lots of plankton in the ocean, there is an abundance of sealife at the coast of Kaikoura.
We first walked along the cafe's and had a nice lunch and than we strolled along the Kaikoura Peninsula over the rocks where many seals bask in the sun. As you can see on the pictures below we had a marvellous sunny day so we basked a bit in the sun as well.

Hypnotised by the sun painting crystals on a turquoise sheet

Hypnotised by the lulleby of the waves crushing against the shore

I loose myself
I loose myself and become one with with the elements of a paradise called Aotearoa/ New Zealand

Loaded with energy we went of to the Staging post, a sheep station 50 km South of Kaikoura towards Christchurch again. We stayed the night there after we roamed around the buidings and collection of old farm machinery. We had our own room with bunk beds and in the little lounch we bumped into the others who were all experienced trampers.

The following morning we were dropped of by the van, 9 km from the staging post at the beginning of the track. The clouds started to open up and droplets were attracted to us as beas to honey. We went up through the forest to the top and raindrops multiplied like mad. The magnificent views were completely covered with clouds and we were happy to reach the shelter of the skull peak day hut. What I got out of it is that a warm cup of tea tasted here like heaven. We arrived at our second accomodation and learned that our jackets and shoes didn't pass the test of being weather proof.

Luckily we brought hats. Just before we left I noticed we didn't have any warm hats at home. I found an orange one my brother gave me,a Dutch iceskating hat and I bought one at the $2 dollar shop. That one was the best buy of the year. It was the only piece of clothing which kept dry inside.We were warmly welcomed at our accommodation with seaview, with a glas of selfmade lemonade and spend the rest of the afternoon around the fire playing games, reading and chatting. Oh and the warm shower was wonderful.

The second day was great. No rain. We started with a 2 hour walk along the beach (see right picture) in mull sand were your feet left deep inprints.  But I enjoyed it and laughed when William nearly stumbled into a seal. Than we cruised through a beautiful forest where we were followed for a long time by a black fantail who fluttered before our eyes. At the end of this great day we arrived at the farm were we spend the night in our own private gorgous little cottage. As you can see on the picture because of the pittoresk windows around half of the cottage, we could see the  paddock with fruit trees and sheep.

The third and last day we left at 8.30 am. I woke up being very dizzy and nasea. Very weird. It slowly dissappeared during the walk.

The first hour as we climbed up we stil had great views over the sea and than....yes rain again. We slowly conquered the sometimes steep slopes towards the peak at the 650 mtrs high mount Wilson. Drizzle turned into pouring rain but it wasn't as cold as on the first day. On arrival we took a Brtitish couple with us to Christchurch as they had to catch a plane to Auckland where they lived.

and after unpacking at home I stretched out like the sealion above. Again waking up a bit dizzy and unwell but I can relax and blog today.