One of the things you simply “Must do” on a trip to Kaikoura. Is make your way out to the Point Keane car park at the end of the peninsula. Even if you have been there before it is constantly changing – the colours of the sea and the mountains, the cloud formations and the wildlife. If you’re lucky there may be a seal asleep under a bush near the car park. If the tide is out you can walk out on the rocky platforms to peer into the rock pools and watch the fish dart amongst the waving kelp.
To me the best thing to do is take the zigzag pathway from the car park to the top of the peninsula. Up there is a lookout with seats to take in the truly spectacular view across the bay to the Seaward Kaikoura Mountain range. Then you can take the clearly defined clifftop walkway over undulating farmland to South Bay. If you don’t want to do the whole walk (approx 3 hours) you can walk approx 1 hour to Whalers Bay where there is a steep track down. Then make your way along the top of the beach past snoozing seals and fluttering seabirds back to the car park.
My favourite way to end the walk is with a Delicious seafood lunch at the World Famous (in Kaikoura) SEAFOOD BBQ. Hint – If its earlier in the day ( they open at 10.00am). I sometimes get them to pack up the food to take as a picinc on my walk.