South Island Canterbury Region 2021 Kaikoura to Timaru

Kaikoura to Timaru

Canterbury Region South Island

New Zealand

2021

Marlborough Region

Blenheim

Here we are back in Blenheim feeling like we never left hard to believe it has been 3 months in the North Island.

Since we left Waiouru we parked up at NZMCA Marton and Plimmerton before catching the 1pm ferry today. We decided on Waterlea Racecourse Blenheim because of the long weekend so we can lay low for a few days.

Marlborough Region

Blenheim

We walked into town this morning to have a look at the river such clear water last time we were here we biked along the river to the dam, this time we walked only doing 7kms return.

After lunch and a rest for me while Frog wiped the Motorhome down. We walked to Pollard Park and the rose garden was very pretty at this time of year.

Moving on tomorrow with washing and grocery shopping to do on the way, it's race day Monday here at the Racecourse so probably busy.

Kaikoura

We arrived at the Kaikoura NZMCA yesterday, the wind was up and the sea was high.

Thankfully it's pleasant today as we are booked on the 12.45 pm Whale watch boat trip, they still have a high sea sick watch for today.

Whales

The whale watch trip was fantastic we saw 7 tails of Sperm Whales. Their names are Holey Moley, Tiaki, Marama, Aioraki.

Dolphins

We were lucky to see three different species of dolphins Dusky, Common, and Hectors

on the way back we saw fur seals.

Kaikoura Trail

Yesterday we walked to town 7km return from camp and enjoyed the shops finally finding some full-size microfiber towels been looking everywhere for them.

Today we waited for the weather to settle and got halfway around the 48 km cycle trail and came unhinged because we couldn't find the correct way other than state highway 1 to get back to town, there must have been some missing signs anyway all wasn't lost we enjoyed the half we did do then into town via the highway and out to the point instead, all up 43 km return from camp.

Kaikoura Peninsula Walk

We did the walk this morning and then headed down to Parnassus NZMCA for the night, apparently Seymour the Magpie has a broken leg and is being nursed 😢 we were looking forward to playing with him again. A bit about the walk it was just under 9km and took us 2-1/2 hours coming back we walked some of the shoreline trying to avoid the seals, and we came up the steps about halfway along that was a good workout. We met an amazing couple that has been in the NZMCA for many years doing the walk what an inspiration they are. Not as many fur seals around as last year the tide was out so they may have been feeding. All in all a spectacular walk with amazing views.

Christchurch

We moved on from Parnassus NZMCA to Weedons and The Willows NZMCA parks for one night at each. That gave us time to call into Jayco and buy the pedestal table leg that I found on Trade me absolute bargain although not new does everything we want it to do at a fraction of the price of a new one.

Then off to good old Bunnings to buy a new tabletop for $40 lol that's when we decided to go to The Willows to cut it to size and varnish.

Although this isn't the intended final top we thought it a good idea to try the size for comfort since we have made it a lot smaller than our old one. I must say it came out pretty good considering the hand tools Frog had to work with.

We drop the old table off to my sister's friend who can make use of it in her caravan, heading south we stopped in Ashburton to have a walk around the Domain and to see the highland pipe bands having their competition.

Tonight's stay is at Ealing NZMCA where I put another coat of varnish on the table, the size seems to work giving us heaps more room around the table and I don't feel jammed in with my feet up now.