A Chain of Tunnels
by Kakapo2
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Nowhere else in New Zealand the mountains run so closely parallel to the sea as along the Kaikoura coast. This made it necessary to carve an incredible lot of tunnels for the railway and the road into the cliffs along the sea.
Especially south of Kaikoura you find some exciting examples of this kind of infrastructure. In one of the curves you have a double road tunnel, with one lane each for each direction, whereas the railway tunnel runs a bit further inland through a third tunnel.
The Crayfish Trail
by fishandchips
This annual event will be run on 18 November this year. The course is south of Kaikoura and accessed from State highway 1 before the Hunderlees.
The full distance of the Kaikoura Coast Track is 43km with the Crayfish Trail being 25km of this. The run starts at Ngaroma and finishes at the Staging Post. The course is varied in its terrain including a stretch along the black sands of the southern coastline and a climb to a height of 642m.
Current cost is $45.00 which includes the track user fee.
You can also check out the main track at Kaikoura Track. As you will see from the website competitors have to carry polypropylene or equivalent top, hat and gloves, windproof jacket and survival blanket. You will also need your normal running gear.
For the Organic Foody
by fishandchips about Hislops Wholefoods Cafe
Hislops has a nice range of food and does a really good breakfast with organic coffee. The range of beer and wine is also really good. When here last (Nov 2006) I had a bowl of seafood chowder and Angie had Minestrone soup. Both were okay and rated at 6 out of 10. The bread that came with the soups was a real 10 out of 10!!
Service is initially slow as the place is very busy but, as Hislops have gone Hi-Tech with there ordering system once you have ordered & your waitress/waiter has got things into their PDA your food comes out very quickly. This system makes getting your bill easy as well - just the push of a button & you're done.
Hislops are down the busy end of Beach Rd so parking can be a little more tricky.
See the seals!
by Kate-Me
It's well worth a drive around the bay to the rocks where you can see the seals, at low or high tide, though at low tide you can get a lot closer to them.
Or, you can go sea kayaking at high tide and paddle around their rocks, admiring them from there.
You might also see a little blue penguin or two in the carpark, if you're lucky.
My friend Laurent had a hissing one under his hire car when he was there a few days after our visit.
Glenstrae Farm 4 Wheeler Adventures
by jag17
3 hours of great fun! After gearing up with helmet, boots, and waterproof jacket it's time for some short instruction. Your guide will have you take a few spins around the parking lot area to make sure you are comfortable with the equipment. You will soon be off to some incredible views around Kaikoura. Your ride will take you through the cows and sheep crazing (and their droppings), streams, a splash through a riverbed, and even to see some fur seals around the Kaikoura coastline. A break to have some coffee or tea, and then it's time for the return trip. No experience necessary, and an awesome adventure. Plenty of time for photo ops as well.
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Railway close to State Highway 1
Our boat, Whale Watching Experience, Kaikoura NZ
Clifftop Walk
Whale watch
