The north of the south

Another week has passed. We are now in the great city of Kaikoura (pop.: 4000, name translation: "delicious crayfish") and heading down to Christchurch later today. So, week III, here we go:

Wellington is a truely charming city. It's a shame we didn't have more time to spend there but in NZ you have to book everything in advance, so we had to rush to the ferry...

The Queen Charlotte trek in Marlborough Sounds. I'm trying to think of something funny to say but I guess you'll just have to be OK with the landscape.

Still on the Queen Charlotte. Not a bad spot for dinner, eh?

Kajsa and friends.

Still on the Queen Charlotte (it wasn't that grey, but even great cameras have their limitations)

Eventually we had to act like civilized people and take a wine tasting tour since Marlborough is one of the best wine regions in the world. In the picture is the funniest vineyard owner ever. We weren't really that impressed with the Sav Blanc, or in her words: "there's only so many times you want to be smacked in the face with a gooseberry branch". Our discovery: we love NZ's Pinot Gris.

This is Kaikoura, where I'm writing from. No, it's not the ugliest place in the world. Sort of what Switzerland would look like if it was sitting by the Pacific ocean.

Kaikoura is, more than anything else, for whale watching, swimming with dolphines and swimming with seals. The sea conditions didn't allow but we got pretty close anyway. Here I am with our favourite seal, Stewart, just chillin'.

And the reward for a good day's walk. This is Monteith's Celtic Red, the best Kiwi beer so far.

Kajsa is now taking another shot at the seal swim. I decided to pass as 15 degrees water are way past my insanity borderline. I bet she'll tell you all about it in the next post.