Hi everyone,

Monday was a full on driving day, we drove from Kapitea Ridge Lodge which was on the west coast all the way across the island to Kaikora on the east coast. We left the lodge at about 10am and didn't get to the Hapuka lodge until 4pm.

Dad and I shared the drive over. We stopped in Hammer Springs for lunch, which was very plesant and the weather was warm and sunny. The drive across country wasn't as stunning as some of the other drives we have done.

Hapuku lodge was another boutique hotel set in a deer park, it was lovely. We ate there in the evening. The food was good and the king size beds even better!

Tuesday had breakfast at 8am and then made our way down to the whale watching place. Dad and I checked in and then we had a bit of a wait before the bus took us down to the boat. We were out for the whole morning, we saw 2 sperm whales, one of which was sleeping and we saw 2 tails! We also saw a pod of dusky dolphins that were playing infront of the boat and several wandering albatross. It was a good trip but very rough!

Met Mum back on firm ground and went down to have a quick look at the seal colony. Had a quick lunck in Kaikora and then drove down to Blenheim, which was only a 2 hour drive, along windy hills!

Love Hayley x