Kaikoura
Best known for its whale watching, Kaikoura (pop 4,000) is still rebuilding after a devastating 2016 earthquake.
Located 129km southeast of Blenheim and 180km north of Christchurch, this is a great spot to stay if you’re into marine wildlife. An abundance of nutrients have made the seas off Kaikoura a popular feeding area for whales, dolphins, seals, penguins and seabirds.
Services & transport
There are plenty of places to stay, eat and drink in the township, which sits on a peninsula, stretching southeast into the Pacific Ocean.
For those without their own wheels, the Coastal Pacific scenic train links Kaikoura with Picton and Christchurch. InterCity buses also come through, heading both north and south.