Arrived at the youth hostel in the whalewatching town Kaikoura. The trip was lovely, especially the crossing to Picton on the Interislander ferry, with the sun shining beautifully as we left Wellington, crossed the open water between the islands and passed through the beautiful Charlotte and Marlborough Sounds. In Picton the weather changed – it rained and even hailed, a sign of the nearby Southern Alps, invisible in the clouds.
I just enjoyed a lovely break here in the hostel, having a tea and some of the chocolate I got for Christmas while a Maori lady showed a little girl how to use the poi (cotton balls the Maori use to tell stories/accompany songs). Now it’s dry again and I might head out for a stroll along the coast. Tomorrow morning I’ve booked a whalewatching tour, a very exciting prospect. If only the weather holds…