Crossing the Cook Street to the South Island & Kaikoura [January 5 - 7]

On January 5th I traveled from the North Island to the South Island by ferry, the Interislander.


First glimpses of the South Island.


The boat trip took 3 and a half hours. And I spend most of the time on deck, being mesmerised by the views...


One of the many bays of the Marlborough Sounds.


Then I took the train - the Tranzcoastal - to Kaikoura. A trip of just over 2 and a half hours. They had a carriage with no window panes. Perfect to take snapshots of the coastline.


And the weather also looked really promising.


Me on the train. A lot of wind!


The beach near Kaikoura. Black volcanic sand, like most New Zealand beaches.


The girls at the hostel where I stayed in Kaikoura. Fun, fun, fun!


The next day I went whale watching. This is a 15 meter Sperm Whale - blowing out his air.


The Royal Albatross - the biggest albatross in New Zealand.


Dusky Dolphins. Trust me - once you see them, you keep taking pictures. They were so much fun to watch. They are called the acrobats of the sea.


Isn't (s)he adorable?


There were at least 150 dolphins nearby, stunting in the water.


A furry seal that is way off-shore.


The tale of a Sperm Whale. Quite impressive and almost magical...


One of the signs in Kaikoura and on the street there was an image of a whale...

... and this was its tale. .

I am in Christchurch now. More about that later on!

I would love to know who views my blog - so if you do, could you post a comment to let me know? I would really appreciate that, and would know if I actually have to continue with this photo blog. :)