MATT: So it was lovely to see Pip and Peter in Christcurch, but we have to keep moving - next stop Kaikoura (with a bit of a hang over from Sol Square, Maori Hip hop bar and finishing the bottle of Tomatin in the camp kitchen).

Kaikoura was a nice drive up from Christchurch, mostly along very straight roads through the flat farmland of the west coast. The most memorable part of the drive was an amazing coffee shop where we stopped for savoury muffins, coffee and sausage rolls "the Old Stationhouse" if you ever happen to driving by...

We reached Kaikoura in "nice weather for ducks" and headed out to try an see some whales...which is Kaikoura´s main event. Unfortunately we learned pretty quickly that the whales were not coming out to play, so instead we wandered up and down trying to find a bakery and a coffee house, made our dinner and then settled down to watch "Whale Rider" in the campsite cinema...which was a great movie especially considering the location.

The next day we woke to more rain, still no whales and the sad decision that we had to move on regardless of the lack of sea life...oh well. At least the next stop is wine country again...so can´t really complain.