We left Nelson under clear blue skies and wound our way through the mountains for the last time; after today we would be back on the Canterbury plains and the mountains would recede to the horizon.
We were now in the region of Marlborough, the wine centre of the country that is particularly famed in wine circles for the quality of its Sauvignon Blanc. Our drive through the lower mountain slopes took us through acre after acre of vineyard and into the town of Blenheim, which is the centre for many wine tours.
Sadly, we didn't have the time for a full-on wine tour, but we did stop at the local tourist information centre to get a recommendation for somewhere to stop to get a good bottle of wine for the evening.
We were pointed to the Brancott Estate, a large winery that produces many good wines. After a brief tasting, we selected a bottle to take away with us.
We set off again towards Kaikoura, stopping along the way at the Ohau seal colony, which sits just off the highway and along with pleasant coastal views, boasts a colony of dozens, perhaps hundreds of seals basking on the rocks or playing in tidal pools. Breeding season was back in November and as a result, there were many seal pups to be seen playing on the shore.
After taking a few photos, we continued on our way and eventually arrived in Kaikoura. The town used to be a very small fishing village, but has grown in recent years as it is a popular stop for backpackers and also boasts a reputation for the finest crayfish in the country. It also has stunning views of the mountains descending into the sea.
We checked into our accommodation and immediately asked where we could find the best crayfish in the town, and were pointed to a small group of food stalls on the beach just outside the town. We grabbed some food and spirited it away in our motel fridge before heading out to explore the town and have a couple of drinks.
Come early evening, we returned to our accommodation and enjoyed our food and wine and also headed out to the beach to watch the sun set.
Tomorrow we set out for our last stop in New Zealand - the town of Hanmer.
TTFN
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