Kaikoura, the home of the whales
With a very indicative name of what we can find - Kaikoura means, in the Maori language, to eat crab - and with a much more poetic caption stating that The demigod Maui relied on this privileged peninsula to hunt the North Island of New Zealand, Kaikoura is a picturesque town comfortably anchored between the ramifications of the New Zealand Alps, specifically the Kaikoura Marines, and the Hikurangi trench.
It is precisely this ocean trench that gives Kaikoura its privilege. Whales, killer whales, sea lions, seals, dolphins, penguins, shearwaters or albatrosses, here the fauna is sometimes as easy to observe as taking a simple walk and, since the creation of this town, it has been a source of livelihood for the local population.
Kaikoura means, in the Maori language, to eat crab
First, with a settlement of moa hunters -a species of huge ostriches now extinct-, later with the whaling industry and, today, thanks to tourism committed to sustainability and respect for animals. Not surprisingly, Kaikoura was the first town in New Zealand and the second in the world to Obtain certification from the Earthcheck sustainable communities program. And since then they have made respect for nature their flag.
Although that same nature caused in 2016 an earthquake that experts considered "the rarest in the world" with the rupture of more than a dozen independent faults. In addition to leaving the city isolated by land for weeks, causing landslides and major breaches, it came to raise the coast several meters, changing it completely.
A DEVELOPED CITY SHELTERED BY WHALES
The most repeated activity in Kaikoura continues to have the omnipresent sea as its protagonist. It was in the late 1980s when A group from the Ngāti Kuri Maori tribe formed the first company dedicated to whale watching tours. At that time they used inflatable boats that barely fit eight people; today, catamarans equipped with engines that minimize noise and underwater microphones to capture the 'song' of the whales.
These waters are one of the few places in the world where you can see different types of whales close to shore throughout the year. Specifically, here you can usually find male sperm whales but also, depending on the time of year, you can see humpback whales, killer whales, southern right whales, minke whales, long-finned pilot whales, pygmy sperm whales, beaked whales, fin whales, sei whales and, of course, blue whales, the largest animal on Earth.
Different types of whales can be seen near the coast throughout the year
DOLPHINS, SEALS, SEA LIONS, BUT ALSO CRAYFISH AND LOBSTER
But, although they are its great attraction and one of the best excuses to visit it, Kaikoura does not live on whales alone. The black dolphins are another of its great claims, that join the minuscule -and endemic to the country- Hector's dolphins, the common dolphin and, on some occasions, the bottlenose dolphins. It is common to find large groups that accompany the boats that search for whales and, even, that they accompany us for a good distance if we have chosen to tour the coast by kayak. Although they might not be the only ones, since the area's playful colony of sea lions and seals may also make an appearance.
And if we want to see them rest on the ground as a true monument to laziness, there are several points where you can find them. In fact, if you get to Kaikoura by the undulating road that runs along the coast, it is easy to see them on the beaches that almost lick the asphalt, especially if the tide is out. Of course, it is advisable not to approach less than 10 meters and never stand between them and the sea because, although they seem friendly, they can bite and are much faster than might be supposed.
However, the best way to be moved, both by the landscape and by the wealth of animals, is to do** the Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway, a coastal walk of three or four hours** that starts at Point Kean -home to an important colony of seals- and runs through the peninsula by the sea allowing you to contemplate the overwhelming cliffs, hidden beaches and imposing viewpoints from which to have a complete overview of Kaikoura and its extraordinary surroundings. The remains of one of the whaling stations that operated in this area are also found here.
Dolphins often accompany boats that search for whales
And if the walk makes you hungry, you will have to check the wisdom of the Maori when settling in this area. Crayfish are undoubtedly Kaikoura's specialty and can easily be found on almost any menu in the city, although lobster gives them some serious competition. Especially the one served in Nin's Bin , a kind of trailer located in front of the sea, about 20 kilometers from the city, which boasts of being the number one place in quality-price, at least as far as lobsters are concerned.
Sitting there, with the Pacific in front, it is easy to understand why all these animals have chosen this corner of the world.
Do Not Disturb: Perches Here