Alarm went off horribly early (at 6am) , but we were leaving the Holiday Park 15 mins later. Drove straight to the boarding area, bought a ticket, and were boarding an hour later. Chocolate chip & macadamia cookies and muffins for breakfast, once on board, as we left cloudy & windy Wellington, for the sunny South Island! Saw a dusky dolphin & 3 fairy penguins as we entered Queen Charlotte Sound - and snow capped mountains!

Quick drive around Picton, to find the Jugglers Rest!, then on the main road to Blenheim - very quiet town, but it might be local bank holiday, today. Bought groceries, and continued a few km south to a picnic/rest area just north of Ward, on the banks of a small lake. Very hot - shame the picnic table was so close to the "hole in the floor" toilet! Ate lunch, then followed the coast, south, towards Kaikoura.

Pulled over to look at the beach & views, & J thought that he had found dinosaur bones! Turned out to be an articulated rib & thoracic vertebra! Found a number of bones - probably a seal - including a lumbar vertebra, part of the pelvis, & a forearm / flipper! Kids, as ever, intrigued by the remains - "how did it get onto the beach? How did it die? How long ago did it die? Where is the rest of it?" etc, etc.

Eventually got them back in the car for the final few kms to Kaikoura. Stopped at Ohau Point to watch the seal colony. Then into town and drove around, to see if we remembered any of it. Bought tickets for a whale watching cruise tomorrow. Eventually found where we stayed last time (Dolphin Lodge), but they were full (and don't take kids under 12 years old!), so went to the Albatross - really nice BPs, with a very helpful Aussie couple (Ben & Katie). $99 for a family room, nice large kitchen and communal area with lots of books, games, instruments, and a painting area (and no TV!!).

Baked potatoes for tea, and an early night for the kids! D&L stayed up late, chatting & playing guitar, & polishing off a couple of bottles of wine! Nice chat to owners, & a couple of younger Brit backpackers! Great evening!