This is the second long day drive we've done,we have spent longer on the South Island than we intended but it is so beautiful,we will have less than a week in the North Island but we will just have to come back and see it!

Kaikoura´s background is Whaling,what a horrible industry,I believe Japan and Norway are the only two countries in the world that still indulge in this obscene industry.

The campsite facilities are good but it is situated between the main road and the railway line,I am to discover during the night that the goods trains go overnight and they shunt things back and forward.Apart from the mountain passes the other thing I shall remember from driving in New Zealand is the train line, it has followed me all over,the track runs beside the road and across it, Alison is main "train lookouter" as the tracks are not all barriered .

We are booked to go on a Whale Watch trip, people who went yesterday didn´t see a thing, they had a refund and are booked to go again today, we cant do that as we are booked to go on the ferry north tomorrow.

Wow, how lucky are we, there are several pods of sperm whales passing through, the boat approached them from behind and they were content to have us alongside them.Some were sleeping,lots of others were blowing spouts, they do this several times before they dive and when they dive what a sight,I´ve managed to get a few photos will try and load them up for you to see.

A terrific day, one I shall remember always, now heading north to Picton.