North Canterbury
Talk to a Local Annika Dahlberg
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My top five must-do’s for visitors would have to be… • Take a scenic walk around the Kaikōura Peninsula. Not only are the views great but you have chances of spotting wildlife, too. • Go whale watching. Kaikōura is a feeding ground for the male sperm whales which can be found all year around. • Watch the sunset. There is often a thin layer of cloud over the seaward Kaikōura Mountain Range which makes the sunsets (and sunrises for the early birds) amazing. • Swim with the Dusky dolphins. Do not let the cool temperatures put you off; get a thick wetsuit and plunge in. • Go for a hike. For a strenuous day, hike up Mount Fyffe and take in the views from 1602m above sea level. For a shorter track, take the Hinau Track, which is a beautiful forest walk at the base of Mount Fyffe.
See Map Section - pages 109 to 122
Sea Crew/Guide, Whale Watch Kaikōura Here’s another tip: If you sit along the beach by the Hāpuku river mouth, you have a great chance of spotting Hector’s dolphins. I’m starting to feel hungry just thinking about a sandwich from the Slamclub. If you are after something different for dinner, check out the Kaikōura Indian Restaurant. For a delightful day trip, I’d suggest heading for The Store at Kēkerengū for lunch and stopping on the way at Ōhau Point where you are guaranteed to see plenty of New Zealand fur seals! Living in North Canterbury is awesome. With a view of where the mountains meet the sea, it does not get much better than this.
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LEFT: Humpback whale, Kaikōura BELOW: Kaikōura Peninsula BOTH: © Adobe Stock
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