By 16.15 we were heading south towards Kaikora. We continued to drive alongside endless vineyards before nearing the coast where the landscape become more barren. We stopped for a break at Wharanui beach via a rough track which had black volcanic sand. As we continued we telephoned ahead and booked a site for the night and also for a whale watching trip the following morning which was our main reason for going to Kaikora. The road then followed the dramatic coastline most of the rest of the way and we were alerted by a warning sign 'seals for 4km' . Very soon after we saw a couple of seals and decided earlier we we oils stop at the next place we could and we were rewarded by a group of over twenty seals on rocks just below the road - it was magical! Finally arrived at site at 18.50.
Distance travelled - 181 km