Today was technically a day off (because nobody would let us visit on a Sunday) but our bus drivers, Si and Jamie, volunteered to take us to Kaikoura! I got up early in the morning to attempt to video chat with my mom but the internet was so slow it would lose connection every 30 seconds. Not the best way to start the day but it only got better!
We left Blenheim at 10 AM and our first stop was along a portion of the beach where there were tons of seals lounging around on the rocks. They all just looked at us like we were a bunch of aliens. Some of the boys got really close and I was terrified that they would get attacked by one but luckily everything went smoothly.
We left Blenheim at 10 AM and our first stop was along a portion of the beach where there were tons of seals lounging around on the rocks. They all just looked at us like we were a bunch of aliens. Some of the boys got really close and I was terrified that they would get attacked by one but luckily everything went smoothly.
Next we stopped just a little further down the road and we were told that we were taking a hike down to a waterfall. However, there was a stipulation that we don't read the sign at the head of the trail and just walk straight into the forest. We all struck off into the rain forest and found the waterfall pool teeming with seal pups! They live in these pools during the winter months to stay safe and to learn seal socializing skills. They were all so cute and curious!
SEAL PUPS!!! I needed someone to pinch me because I'm pretty sure that it wasn't real life.
We kept driving along the coast towards the peninsula. At one point I got super excited and screamed out "Penguins!" from my seat on the bus because I swear I saw two sitting on some rocks. Jamie politely told me that they probably weren't though. Just a little later on I saw another group of black and white birds that also looked like penguins. When we stopped for lunch just down the road from these penguin-birds Marissa and I hiked back down the beach to find them! They definitely weren't penguins though.
My not-penguins are actually New Zealang Shags. In my defense they totally looked like penguins from far away, especially when they had there heads tucked down. Plus I was in a moving bus! I'm still holding out that those first two were penguins though...
The last thing we did was take an hour long hike around the peninsula. Jamie and Si dropped us off at one side and then met us on the other. The hike started out with a massive hill! A seal went up the pathway just before us but luckily had gotten off the path and gone down a side of the hill so we didn't run into him! We got to see tons of amazing viewpoints of the coast and we were able to look down at the town from the peak. We also found another giant hill that was technically just a cowpath. Our legs nearly fell off going up it but it made the hike that much better.
The last thing we did was take an hour long hike around the peninsula. Jamie and Si dropped us off at one side and then met us on the other. The hike started out with a massive hill! A seal went up the pathway just before us but luckily had gotten off the path and gone down a side of the hill so we didn't run into him! We got to see tons of amazing viewpoints of the coast and we were able to look down at the town from the peak. We also found another giant hill that was technically just a cowpath. Our legs nearly fell off going up it but it made the hike that much better.
We spent the night in Blenheim again and most of us just worked on our homework. Tomorrow we have some lectures to attend before traveling by ferry to the North Island!