Kaikoura

Kaikoura, about two and half hours north of Christchurch, is set on the Kaikoura Plain between the mountains and the sea. The trip along the Kaikoura Coast to reach the town is a scenic treat in itself with waves breaking on the rocks out at sea or along the beach. Holidaying in the caravan park at Goose Bay on the road south of Kaikoura is particularly popular with fishing enthusiasts.

Kaikoura and the Mountains Credit- Peter Hunt

Kaikoura has grown rapidly in recent years because visitors are attracted by whale watching, swimming with the dolphins, swimming with seals, trout and salmon fishing, and local walks along the coast, around the Peninsula with its seal colony, or on Mt Fyffe. There is a wide choice of accommodation but it is all full over the holiday season.

If you want to go whale watching you need to book ahead as it is so popular. Boats take visitors out to sea to view sperm whales and sometimes orcas or humpback whales.