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The coastal township of Kaikoura which is set against a
backdrop of snow-covered ranges, has an easy drive or train
journey north-east of Christchurch or two hours south of
Blenhem.
Kaikoura means "crayfish", has had a long association with
the sea and its inhabitants. It was once a popular whaling
town, it is now dedicated to the preservation and study
of whales and other well-loved sea creature which is the
dolphin.
Whales can be seen here virually all year round, the local
tour operators boast a 95% success rate in spotting whales
for the visitors who venture out to sea. A 15-minute boat
ride and you will soon meet up with sperm whales in the
deep water off the coast.
Besides that, there are also frequent sightings of mincke
and humpack.It will surely be a heart stopping thrill of
seeing the ocean surface shatter as these magnificent creatures
lift out of water, dive back and leave only a gentle ripple
to mark their appearance.
The beauty of Kaikoura is the ease of access, it offers
the best opportunity for viewing marine life. Very few other
places can rival this renzedous with nature.
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