Next time I'll take a couple of days so I can soak up what the countryside has to offer. I'd really like to explore the Picton, Blenheim and Nelson areas next time I have the opportunity.
My favourite part of the drive was the area just north of Kaikoura and this is another place I'd like to spend a day or two, maybe more as it seems to have a lot to offer.
What I loved was rounding a bend and seeing the ocean on my left, then green pastures with animals grazing, rolling hills and snow capped mountains on my right. All in the one view! Absolutely spectacular. I'm so drawn to all of those things and to see them all at once was just beautiful.
There is a seal colony that stretches along a section of the coastline either side of Ohau Point. I went to pull into a roadside stop to take some photo's, however, there were seals laying everywhere on the road and grassy area so I decided it would be better to leave them to their lolling about and take pics further down the road.
They are quite happy to put on bit of a show for you, splashing and playing, chasing each other or just diving in and out of the water.
There is also a walk you can do at Ohau Point on the opposite side of the road to the ocean that will take you into some of the waterway area where the seals play. The day I walked in I think they were all playing in the ocean! However, someone earlier in the day had shown me some video footage on their phone of the seals in the rock pools there so perhaps I was walking in at the wrong time of day for them.
It's truly something special to be able to pull your car over and enjoy watching these sea animals playing in their natural habitat.
Kaikoura is an area known for it's unique marine wildlife that you can see all year round. Doing a cruise to see the whales, dolphins, seals and seabirds has been on my to do list for a little while now, so hopefully I'll be able to do that on my next trip!
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