Recently updated on February 7th, 2024 at 08:54 pm
When we read that Kaikoura is where the mountains meet the sea, we thought it was just a nice way of saying you get the best of both worlds. We were wrong. The mountains actually pour into the sea in this small town. This was our first time back on the Pacific Coast since the Catlins, so we were excited to see sunrises instead of sunsets.
We got to town after a long drive day. Strolling the Main Street provided plenty of entertainment. Before checking into our hotel, we wandered in and out of the stores and found a good, hearty meal. It was the first time we canceled our stay and picked somewhere different. We just wanted a comfortable bed and an easily accessible bathroom.
I am glad we sat on the beach for a while and took in the scenery because the clouds rolled in that night and we didn’t see those mountains again until we were leaving town 2 days later.
Everything I read recommended the Peninsula Walk. We only had one full day in this cool town, so we set off the next morning for the walk. The rain held off all day and just hung above us in the low clouds, so we lucked out.
We spent about three hours from the time we left town to walk out and around the peninsula and then back. It was beautiful and quiet. A huge seal colony hangs out on the rocks, which you can see in one of the pictures above. This area is famous for its whale & dolphin residents. Unfortunately, we did not see any on our walk.
We returned to Main Street Kaikoura hungry and found a giant plate of cheap nachos at the Groper Garage. After our late lunch, we visited the Strawberry Tree for an early happy hour. The roaring fire and cheap beers were a treat. We were too tired and cheap to stay for the live music.
We woke up to low-hanging clouds again the morning we left, but they didn’t cover the mountains completely. It was the most beautiful view. I love sunrise and was very excited to see the sun come up over the water. Even though that didn’t work out for me, I would say that this was one of my favorite mornings.
We loved Kaikoura and the surrounding area. Everything is walkable. Two nights is a good amount of time unless you plan to do a lot of activities like whale watching and fishing. Our next stop was wine country, so we were anxious to get on the road.
Pin this spot for your New Zealand South Island itinerary:
