A clear sunny day in a magical place.
The only incongruity of Kaikoura is that there is no sand on the beaches – they are all the same pebbles found in the alpine lakes.
It’s apparently due to Kaikoura’s unique location.
The continental shelf is less than 2 kilometres from the shoreline where the ocean depth drops to more than 2 kilometres.
Combined with being where Antarctic currents meet the Pacific currents Kaikoura a great variety of ocean wildlife gather in the area year round.
I opted for an Albatross Encounter Tour – I think I remember our father having an Albatross beak and skull from childhood.
Within seconds of the skipper tossing a basket of “chum” over board,a hundred seabirds of all shapes and sizes appeared from nowhere. And the albatross started circling.
All the smaller birds made way.
Ultimately about 15 albatrosses (if that’s their plural noun) of 3 different varieties joined us, helped themselves, and then just floated around like big ducks on a pond.
12 different varieties of seabirds were identified within the hour spent above the trench.
The return trip in the grand scenery encountered other wildlife – eg. seals and Canadians in sea kayaks.
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