New Zealand - Kaikoura

Kaikoura is probably one of my favorite places in New Zealand. It’s located amongst the mountains on the east coast of New Zealand, but it’s probably best known for its coastal eco-tourism activities. It’s an ideal location for many marine mammal sightings because the continental shelf plunges about 1000 meters down after about 100 meters out. It’s the only place in the world where Sperm Whales (a deeper diving whale) can be seen so close to the shoreline. The warm and cold currents also converge in this location which causes nutrients to rise up from the seafloor. This creates an ideal feeding ground for many marine species, and nearly 200 species of marine life can be found off the coast of Kaikoura.

One of the most commonly seen marine mammals in Kaikoura is the New Zealand Fur Seal. And just to confuse you further, like Panda “Bears” or Koala “Bears,” the New Zealand Fur Seal isn’t actually a seal, it’s a sea lion. How do you tell them apart? The easiest way would be to note their protruding ear flaps and the use of their flippers to move (you think sea lions aren’t graceful on land, just watch true seals). While hunted extensively in the 19th century, this species has since been protected and recovered quite well. We visited a number of seal colonies along Kaikoura’s coastline.

Just off the freeway is a small little trail for the Ohau Waterfall. While it’s not the most spectacular waterfall I’ve ever seen, it was certainly one of the most memorable walks I’ve ever done. It’s amazing how dense the forest becomes just a few meters from the coast, and what’s more amazing are some of the things that the forest holds. The trek to the waterfall is fairly flat and short, which makes it easy for even young children to experience. However, it’s kind of tucked in off the freeway, so it would be easy to pass. For those that do find it, it’s an absolute treat. You follow the river passing vegetation at every corner and can hear the roar of the falls in the near distance. Because there are so many twists and turns to the waterfall, it’s hard to get your bearings to exactly how close you are. Suddenly, the forest will open up and in front of you will be the falls. Even more impressive, the seal pups seem to have made this area their own private playground. It’s like walking straight into a fantasy, or some sort of “secret garden,” which only you have been granted the privilege to see (and maybe whoever else has trekked the trail with you).