After defrosting the car we started our journey to Kaikoura. First stop was just out of Blenheim at the Omake Aviation Heritage Centre which is where Sir Peter Jackson houses his own WW1 aircraft collection. The background scenes were produced by the Weta Workshop so you can say it was very impressive. Some of the plans are reproductions and some are restored originals. There are also planes that are airworthy, the restorations are that good.
There is a large amount of memorabilia to go along with the full scale aircraft. Cases and cases of airmen's uniforms, letters, trophies and medals. They even have one of the crosses an Australian cut off the wing of Baron von Richtofen's plane when it crashed. Interesting fact that his two sheepskin boots, which were also taken as war trophies by the Australians, have only recently been reunited when they were both independently donated to the Australian War Museum in Canberra.
After this we continued on the road to have lunch at The Store which was very pleasant being right on the coast and with lovely views as we are lucky to have a blue, sunny day with barely a cloud in the sky. Continued along the coast and stopped for our first seal photo opportunity. We then ventured a bit further on and pulled into a parking bay area and went "up the creek" so to speak and found a few baby seals that gather there whilst the mother is hunting fish. There can be up to 200 there during winter playing in the creek but there were only a few there today and they were more interested in sleeping or watching tourists. They didn't seem particularly bothered by all the attention. There was an impressive small waterfall and the end of the creek and it was a lovely sheltered spot but quite dark in the shadow of the mountains and trees. A few more stops to photograph seals along the coast and then onto Kaikoura. A very impressive back drop of snow covered mountains next to the town will hopefully make for good photo's in the morning when the sun is in a good position.
We had a bit of a look around the town and drove to the end of the scenic road and there were more seals just lazing around in the sun. They have no respect for staying in the 'seal sanctuary' areas and you had to be careful where you put your feet as they lay all over the boardwalks and even along the paths to the toilets!
Next stop was our farm stay accomodation in a Yurt. After arriving we spent about 30 mins looking at the animals as there was a car in our parking spot and we preferred that car to leave so less distance to lug our bags. Various animals including very piggish pigs (it was feed time). We have the run of the place tomorrow morning before official opening time at 10am so can help out with the animal feeding at 08:15 as we are guests. Not sure how tempting that will be in the morning when it's a choice between warm cosy beds in our camel hair covered yurt or standing around in the mud with the temperature hovering around 0 degrees! We moved our 'stuff' into the Yurt and turned both heaters on and it has become quite pleasant inside. It is getting very cold outside as Larry writes this blog, another G&T and will not be bothered by what temp it is outside. One small drawback is the bathroom is a separate building next to the Yurt so the midnight loo run will be a challenge if it is -5 as that is the forecast for Kaikoura tonight.
A nice seafood dinner at a pub in town (had quite an English pub vibe to it) and now we are back in our Yurt. We had to turn off one of the heaters when we went out so it is a bit cool but it will warm up shortly. As we parked the car when we got home there was frost already on the Yurt and wooden hand rails. Hmmmm - going to be cold outside tonight.
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