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Blenheim to Kaikoura isn't a huge drive (well under two hours without stops), but it hugs the coast and is very pleasant. The road is squeezed between the Pacific Ocean and the ranges that come down to the sea. However, in November, 2016, there was a magnitude 7.8 earthquake with an epicentre about half-way between Kaikoura and Christchurch. This was the second largest earthquake since European settlement which resulted in 2 deaths and 57 injured. The major problem in this area was that the earthquake caused significant landslides that cut off Kaikoura completely from the outside world. Also, the movement of the earth meant that a huge part of the coastline was raised by up to 3.7m (12').
A poster in a local shop showing how the coast was lifted.
These two fur seal pups now have a lot more rocks to play on.
We came across a colony of Fur Seals and their pups having a ball in the tidal pools. I'd love to say that I scrambled over rocks and boulders for hours to get these shots, but I'd be telling fibs. There's a car park alongside the highway, and I took the shots and the video (link here) within about 5m of the car.
Best watched on YouTube.
While we were in Kaikoura, there were hundreds of reports of the Aurora Australis (Southern Lights) being seen a lot further north than usual. So we went out at dusk to a bay facing South that seemed to give us a good perspective to see this wonderful phenomena. Conditions were perfect with hardly any cloud, and no man-made light pollution. We sat for a couple of hours and guess what we saw?
<Left> The moon. Not a trace of the Aurora. Oh well, maybe next time.
<Below> Kaikoura. If you looks closely, snow on the higher peaks. Those rocks were underwater before the 'quake.
Not much happened on this leg. Just more delightful coastline scenery.
However, once we got to Christchurch (again), it was time to start preparations for the airshow we were going to see at Wanaka. As we were unable to obtain tickets with any kind of seating (they were sold out last year!), we drove over to the nearest Bunnings (think B&Q or Home Depot for our UK/US readers) and purchased two of the cheapest folding camping chairs they stocked (Hey, we weren't about to take them home with us - we already have about 4).
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