First item of the day, pick up the rental car. Unfortunately the staff at the rental place didn't get the memo as there was no one at the office when we arrived. After a few phone calls someone turned up, we left with an upgrade so not all was lost. About an hour later we were on the road heading to Blenheim. The drive was amazing, huge hills, just like the North Island but on steroids! Turns out Blenheim didn't really have too much going on and we didn't have anything planned there so we just drove on through and kept on going to Kaikoura. This is where the scenery stepped it up again. We got our first glimpse of the Southern Alps which did not disappoint. In one view we had the blue/green ocean, green paddocks, rolling hills, and snow capped mountains, AMAZING!!! On the way we even managed to see some Seals chilling in the sun. I got a little too close and one barked at me, luckily I wasn't close enough for it to bite me.
After a look around Kaikoura we checked in to our backpackers, Dusky Lodge. Emily made a good comment and that was the standard of accommodation gets better and better each time. We are situated on the main road of Kaikoura, but at the back of us is farmland and then mountains. Our backpackers even has a pool, spa and sauna, pretty neat alright!
Goody goody gum drops icecream on the rock covered beach, awesome way to finish the day!!!