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Ron Laughlin & Paula Martin
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Kaikoura Whale Watch
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........................Along the kaikoura coastline.............

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...................The bay at Kaikoura........................
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(click on photo for closer look)

Details of the drive from Blenheim to Kaikoura area for your use to find where to go, what to do, etc.

The drive from Blenheim to Kaikoura begins in the wine region then turns into barren hills before reaching the East Coast. Along the way you will pass New Zealand's salt works at Lake Grassmere. 1800 hectares of lakes where salt water is pumped in and evaporation takes place. Nearly 40,000 tons are treated. Visitors can stop by on Tuesdays and Fridays at 1:30pm for a guided tour. Marfells Beach is just off the road 8kms past the salt flats. Great place to stop overnight. Not to many kms along is the slmall town of Ward. The Cafe on the left is recommended for coffee and a look at the lobsters on display.

Continuing south on Route One you will find The Store (45 minutes south of Blenheim) judged the best cafe in Marlborough. Great place to stop and enjoy the scenery and also a place to stay overnight with your camper down by the sea. Don't drink the coffee though.

On to Kaikoura along one of the most spectacular coastal scenes on the East Coast. Stop just north of Kaikoura to have close encounter with the many seals lying about during the day. Several good overnight stopping places also along the ocean.
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 The only place to have good coffee in Kaikoura is on the right as you enter town  at the Beach House with Gravity coffee.
The town of Kaikoura is on a peninsula overlooked by majestic mountains. Very deep and plankton rich sea at its doorstep provides the habitat for marine mammals and sea birds. The area is reknowned for whale, dolphin and albatross watching.
The town of Kaikoura offers great cafes and art galleries:

Gallery of artist Brett Pettit).

Just before getting into the main downtown area you can turn left toward the whale watch building where a large parking area is good for camper vans and easy access to the main town. If you go on and turn left in the downtown area not too far on the left is also a large car park and the Information Centre. Be sure to go on past the main segment of town and explore all the way to the turn around. Along the way you pass the main docks where you can purchase some very fresh seafood.

Kaikoura's early whaling history is featured at the Muesum. One of the country's top festivals is held here, the Kaikoura Seafest. Have a look at one of the Kaikoura Information sites for the particulars. Don't miss going up the hill south of town to the Kaikoura Winery claimed to be the most scenic winery in New Zealand on the way south out of town on the right.

South of Kaikoura there are some of the greatest camps along the sea where there are four camps under the direction of John & Liz Mahoney  at Goose Bay. Fabulous spots to enjoy the wild coast lines of this area. if you stay in the Kaikoura area these are the places I recommend without question. Just a few minutes from  Kaikoura but you actually get to enjoy the area by being on the sea and out of all the noise and confusion of the town of Kaikoura. Check out the information on these parks:
Peketa Beach Kaikoura

Kaikoura Coastal Campgrounds

If you would lke to meet one great person and get a real personable insight to the long established world of the Maori in this area check in with Maurice at the Maori Tours. he and Heather have created an experience that is truly enjoyable.

Plenty of things to do, places to stay, photos to take. This is a major attraction area for New Zealand. Be sure to mark this on your map.



Websites for more information on the area:

Kaikoura Information
Kaikoura Information
Whale Watch
Scuba Dive Kaikoura
Kaikoura Information


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(or Sylvester and Chocolate):

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© Copyright 2005 Ron Laughlin - All rights reserved

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