Our trip from Wellington to Kaikoura was an example of the good, the bad, and the almost ugly.
The good: Marlborough wine tastings. We were only in the region for maybe 90 mins and managed to swing stops at 3 wineries (one of which ONLY does fizz – my kind of place!) that cost us a grand total of $5 for an estimated 16 tastings. The scenery on the drive was, as we’ve come to expect, exceptional.
The bad: Ferry cost twice as much as anticipated. Poor researching. Arrived in Kaikoura, prepared to take the advice of Kylie and Scubs, and pick up a crayfish (rock lobster) to go with our Marlborough wine for dinner. Crayfish sheds are closed.
The almost ugly: With no back up plan in mind, a pocketbook still stinging from the ferry, and the feeling that you can’t NOT have seafood in Kaikoura, I was more-than-typically indecisive about what to do next, meaning that Husband was none too happy either. 30-minute wait for fish and chips, eaten by the beach, that neither of us wanted very badly. Seagulls started gathering like something out of a Hitchcock film. Rich hates birds.
A quiet evening of reading and picture taking at a free campsite meant we both got out bearings back and got to enjoy one of the most spectacular sunsets in recent memory. Before calling it a night right next to the sea. All is right once again.
A walk around another seal colony (we camped right near one the night before) and through a bird nesting ground (okay, not through – beside, but it felt like they were everywhere and we couldn’t get away from them) the next morning meant we were desperate for showers, particularly given that we hadn’t taken one since leaving New Plymouth 2 full days ago. Cold showers in beach bathrooms. Spirits perked up with the promise of mussels and crayfish at the shed next door for an early lunch. While our evening with wine and crayfish by the beach didn’t pan out, we were able to leave a crayfish town having had crayfish. Spent the rest of the drive to Christchurch alternately reading and napping, but mostly napping. :)
Total sunburns: holding strong at 2.25 (although thought we’d been about to firmly hit 3.25 because of glaring sun during our 2 hr hike)
Grateful for: Garlic butter, sunsets, tea before bed
