Wednesday, March 23, 2011
According to legend, Marokura, a young god, created this bountiful region. Two peninsulas and deep sea canyons mix the cold southern waters with the warm northern seas. The result is upwelling and an abundance of sea life. Frequent sightings of sperm and humpback whales, and orcas bring visitors to Maori boat trips. The seas are often rough, as they are today.
The Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway is our choice, an 11km out-and-back. We park by the fur seal colony and follow the path uphill along the cliffs. Then there are steps down to the beach, where we see terns, red- and black-billed gulls, black oystercatchers, shags, and rabbits. The scenery is breathtakingly expansive and dramatically wild. Off-shore where the water drops to its kilometer deep canyon the water changes from aqua to deep blue. There is a cool breeze, but we move along enjoying the air in our faces.
In an abalone shell factory shells are polished to iridescent loveliness. The Fyffe House whaler cottage rests on its whalebone foundation since 1842. The best food is from a trailer on the beach where we order abalone.
Thank you for posting these lovely memories of what you saw and did in New Zealand. Your pictures are wonderful, and the trip seems unforgettable, especially the birds. Did you go on a Maori boat trip???
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