After packing up the van, we set off for Kaikoura, driving through the mountains and along the coast. We arrived in time to be impressed by the town's setting - awesome coastline backed by steep snow-capped mountains, and to organise a whale watching trip the next day.

We turned up at the 'Whaleway Station' the next morning to be told our boat was going to sail but there were severe sea sickness warnings. After changing his mind a few times, Andrew decided to risk it anyway and was lucky to get the last seat on the boat. The trip out was interesting with presentations about the local whales played on a big screen. The whales we saw were giant sperm whales, which tend to float on the surface for about 10 minutes, before they dive back down for about 40 minutes. We were unlucky to arrive at our first whale, and as we were rushing out onto the viewing deck we missed it diving back down (which is the most spectacular part, as it shows it's tail - see video!) However we were lucky to find two more whales as well, before heading back inland to see a huge pod of dusky dolphins, which were smaller and had different marking to what we were used to, but were very playful and fun to watch. It was amazing how big the whales were, and how gracefully they dove back down again. Although Andrew looked pretty green for the rest of the day, he was pleased to avoid actually being sick, woop!

That afternoon we did a clifftop walk of the Kaikoura peninsula, getting really close to seal and gull colonies, and great views of the mountains in the background.

The next day we hoped to do a seal swim, but after a wind battered night in the van we weren't surprised to hear the swimming had been cancelled for at least the next two days, so we drove on up the coast to Blenheim.