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From the moment you disembark from the inter-island ferry in Picton after cruising
through breathtaking Queen Charlotte Sound, there’s no doubt in any visitor’s mind
that the South Island is very special. SH1 takes us south to Blenheim, NZ’s premier
wine growing region, then follows a rocky, kelp-strewn shoreline to Kaikoura, where
snowy mountains plunge dramatically into the sea. Amid this stunning coastal alpine
scenery, a wealth of ecotourism oriented activities are on offer, from whale watching
to seal snorkelling and much more! We take three days to travel from Picton to Christchurch.
We sample the award-winning wines of the region, dine with our jolly kiwi-Italian
hosts, join an awe-inspiring whale watch tour, relish the flavour of succulent Kaikoura
crayfish, visit a lavender distillery and swim with dolphins that are so playful
and friendly, Bob can’t believe that they’re wild!
day two: blenheim to kaikoura
Key
- Destinations
- Apex Locations
After a hearty breakfast of deliciously light crepes served with blueberries, cream
and maple syrup, we somewhat sadly bid Gino farewell and drive south on SH1 through
a thirsty landscape to Seddon, where lush, regimented rows of vines cover its slopes.
We’ve had our fill of wine – and the boot is crammed with bottles – so we continue
on past the salt works at Lake Grassmere to Wharanui, where the road meets the Pacific
Ocean and follows the railway line south to The Store at Kekerengu. It’s midway
between Kaikoura and Blenheim and here we pause for refreshment, sipping flat whites
on the terrace just metres from the shore.
Revived, we continue on the road that hugs the rocky, kelp-lined coastline to the
tiny township of Rakautara, where Nin’s Bin, a caravan embedded in the rocks by
the sea, sells freshly harvested and cooked crayfish to passersby.
Further on at Ohau Point NZ fur seals bask on the rocks. “Look,” says Bob, pointing
to a seal flapping its flipper at a fly, “he’s waving to me!” “Pace yourself,” I
say, as he snaps merrily away, “there’s loads more to see yet…sperm whales, Dusky
dolphins, Royal albatross and even the endangered Hector’s dolphin if we’re lucky.”
“Why do they congregate here?,” asks Bob as we return to the car, and I explain
about the Hikurangi Trough, a huge, submarine chasm complete with plains, ancient
volcanoes and gorges just off the coast near Kaikoura. Here warm northern waters
mix with a nutrient-rich Antarctic flow and its upwellings provide a rich source
of food, attracting a wealth of marine life.
To read the full story
Please click the link to download the full
picton to christchurch scenic drive, courtesy of apex car rentals new
zealand... the kiwi way
to read more extracts from our driving holiday's guidebook please click on any of
the following links:
north island scenic drives
south island scenic drives
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