This is our last video about New Zealand: to conclude it is a wonderful country full of nature and amazing landscapes!
We left our hotel early enough in the morning, the sun was shining once again. We filled the tank and there we were, ready to hit the road. We witnessed a changing landscape as we were covering the extensive distance to our destination. We ended up discovering the vineyards of the Marlborough region. It was lovely with sun-burnt mountains and vegetations. Yet it was colorful. We tried to find cheap vineyards where we could have a taster of local wines but unfortunately, we didn't manage to find affordable places for our strict budget. Another reason to come back in the future when our budget allows it. We finally made it to the East coast of the South Island. The drive to Kaikoura was amazing. There we spent 2 full days, including Christmas Eve where we cooked a nice little dinner to celebrate far from home. Now what we need to tell you is the amazing experience we had there: swimming with hundreds of dolphins was perhaps our best memory from the whole month in New Zealand. We went onto a boat which took us to the place where dolphins were spending the day. Water temperature was a mere 15 degrees so we needed a wet suit to maintain a decent temperature. Equipped with a mask and snorkel, we were ready to embark for an unforgettable adventure. We were lucky enough to swim with the dolphins for one hour. We also learnt a lot about their life conditions and the environment of the Kaikoura bay. This is quite a unique place where you can also spot many seals and whales! We'll definitely have to come back for further discoveries. We went to the very north of the South Island to discover this world famous national park. It can either be discovered over a 3-4 day hike or one can see a glimpse in a long one day walk. The latter option was to be our preferred choice, mostly due to the lack of time... Unfortunately. Anyway, the sun was shining, it was a perfect day so we would make the most out of it and indulge with the natural beauty of the location. We purchased tickets to a taxi-boat company in order to reach a remote beach from where we would walk back to the main car park. Hence our day started with a quick sail along the coast shore. We witnessed lots of Jelly fishes in the water so we decided we would stick to the walk path during the day and avoid a swim in those threatening waters. After spotting multiples dream creeks, we were dropped off on a secluded beach. White sand, nature all around and crystal-clear water... The perfect postcard! We started our hike from there. All together we must have walked for 6 hours on that day. We took a break for lunch in a very quiet location, offering an amazing panorama of the coastline. Having a simple sandwich has never tasted that good - true story! Then after lunch, we had a quick stop on a beach which looked like heaven in earth. Pictures will make a better work than words to describe what we mean. We eventually made it to the car park and can only recommend anyone to visit this national park. Should the weather be sunny, once again you'll be in for a treat! We drove back to our hostel, where we enjoyed a beer and went to bed early. |