Kaikoura is located on a rocky peninsula, protruding from lush farmland beneath the mountains. In Maori legend, Maui placed his foot on this peninsula to steady himself while he 'fished-up' the North Island and the name Kaikoura translates to 'meal of crayfish' (Kai - food, koura - crayfish), and it is crayfish for which the region has traditionally been famous. In the waters off the peninsula, a complex marine system provides an abundantly rich habitat for marine mammals and seabirds making it an ideal place for getting 'close to nature'. Our plan for today!.
In 1770 Captain Cook first discovered the Kaikoura peninsula, believing it to be an island. The first shore whaling station was established in 1843, located near where Fyffe House still stands today. Other whaling stations soon followed, and at one stage the industry employed over one hundred men in the Kaikoura district alone. Whale numbers steadily declined after 1850 and the exportation of them became un-economic, leading whalers to turn to alternative means of existence, such as farming. Whaling continued sporadically until as recently as 1964 when the last of NZ' s whaling operations ceased.
Today, the emphasis in Kaikoura is the conservation of marine life, working with a sustainable tourist industry which allows visitors from all over the world to appreciate life in the ocean. In 1978, the Marine Mammal Protection Act was finally passed, providing total protection to New Zealand' s whales, dolphins and seals. Kaikoura lies within the Southern Hemisphere Whale Sanctuary.
We meet at the "Whaleway Station" before boarding the bus for the 8 minute drive to the boat which will take us out to the deep water and the marine life we have come to see. Several different species of whale can be seen off Kaikoura at different times of the year, but almost always the huge Sperm Whales.
The captain of the boat lowers a hydrophone into the water to trace any whales in the area
We are amazed by the truly awesome spectacle of sperm whales breaching and blowing plumes of water before diving down again to the icy depths. We get very close - and see two whales on our trip. However the highlight was the pods of spinner dolphins we encounter while waiting for our sperm whale to resurface. Literally hundreds of dolphins, leaping, splashing, diving and playing all within touching distance of our craft and it leaves all four of us with a feeling of wanting more and quite emotional. We promise ourselves that at the next opportunity we will swim with dolphins. Another remarkable day - finished with fish and chips in the evening sunshine of Kaikoura.
Tomorrow we head for North Island.
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