Introducing Kaikoura
Take SH1 132km southeast from Blenheim (or 183km north from Christchurch) and you’ll wind around the coast to Kaikoura, a picture-perfect peninsula town backed by the snowcapped 2610m peaks of the Seaward Kaikoura Range. There are few places in the world with such awesome mountains so close to the sea, and such a proliferation of wildlife so close at hand: whales, dolphins, seals, penguins, shearwaters, petrels and albatross.
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Marine animals are abundant here due to ocean-current and continental-shelf conditions: the sea bed gradually slopes away from the land to a depth of about 90m, then plunges to more than 800m – warm and cold water converges. When the southerly current hits the continental shelf it creates an upwelling, bringing nutrients up from the ocean floor into the feeding zone.
Until the 1980s, no-one wanted to know about Kaikoura: it was a sleepy crayfishing town (‘Kai’ meaning food, ‘koura’ meaning crayfish) with zero prospects. These days it’s a tourist mecca, with quality accommodation and eating options to match the natural splendour. Wildlife tour companies proliferate.
Last updated: Feb 17, 2009
Thorn Tree forum discussion
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Re: New Zealand
by LifeIsTheBubbles 03 September 2011
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Our favourite Kaikoura Blogs (beta)
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Kaikoura Beach,New Zealand
Blog: Mood to Travel - 12 June 2011
Kaikoura Beach,New Zealand, originally uploaded by Homdaum.A look back....This was the scene first thing in the morning on the way to get on the boat to see Whales. Feb 2010
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A Whale of a Time in Kaikoura
Blog: Canada's Adventure Couple - 12 April 2011
It is a glorious thing to see a whale in the wild. We were the last tour of the day to go out with the aptly named Whale Watch Kaikoura in New Zealand.A Whale of a Time in Kaikoura is a post from: The Planet D: Canada's Adventure Couple
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New Zealand Travel Wish List
Blog: Landlopers - 21 March 2011
Just to be clear from the outset, I have never been to New Zealand, even though it has long been a travel dream. There’s just something about the combination of shockingly gorgeous landscapes and a wide range of exciting experiences that has always captivated me....
