Day 15 Kaikoura II

Clouds and fog hid the scenery for most of the day, but there was still plenty of opportunities to try to fulfil The Quest.

Having given up on the YHA Backpacker hostels after Queenstown, (there’s nothing wrong with them but they are not really conducive to privacy), my Kaikoura accommodation does not have an Internet hot spot.
Yesterday, after publishing the blog post from the Kaikoura YHA car park, a local on the rocks across the road put on a little show.

This NZ fur seal climbed up the rocks …

… and promptly went to sleep …

… right in front of my car!

After the “Albatross Encounter” of yesterday I took the chance of a great deal to join the “Dolphin Encounter” this morning.
This involved another boat trip out to “The Trench”.
A pod of 50 or more Dusky Dolphins (not the more common Bottlenose) were “encountered” 15 miles south of Kaikoura.

Those who had paid extra for the privilege were able to join in with the dolphins.

Almost as good was the show the dolphins put on for the watchers on the boat, although trying to take a clear photo at the right instant from a rocking boat was a challenge.

The afternoon was spent on the 3km Clifftop  scenic walk around the Kaikoura peninsula.
The dark slugs in this photo (from 250 yards away on the cliff) are all locals at rest:

The highlight? The proverbial “Shag on a Rock” !