Spa Days and Fishing Trips
Trip Start
Jan 16, 2008
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Trip End
Nov 2008
Kaikoura, South Island, New Zealand
Thursday, October 23, 2008
We spent a day getting massages, soaking our bodies in sulphur and thermal pools and generally getting spoiled.
The owners of the Alpine Lodge where we stayed were originally from Wales and gave us the welcome of the trip in New Zealand so far. Bob and his wife made us so at home with welcome baskets, excellent facilites and by providing anything a travelling group could need. The place even backed onto the local golf course and I took the opportunity to get in a round and sharpen up my game so I don't end up losing my shirt when I get back to the friendly!? games and sidewagers back home!
We have nearly completed the trip of the South Island and passed near to Christchurch as we travelled up the northeast coast of New Zealand to the picture perfect seaside town of Kaikoura.
In Maori "Kai" means town and "Koura" means crayfish so literally this is the place to go fishing for lobster; and fish we did as we took an early morning charter off the coast with a local fisherman who provided deep sea reels, bait and all gear necessary to probe the depths and catch some decent fish. We had a superb time as we caught a mountain of red sea perch and blue cod which were duly filleted for us by Justin the captain.
On the way back we checked the crayfish pots and luckily enough there was enough for us to take home and have a royal BBQ lunch.
Off to catch the car ferry tomorrow to the North Island and the town of Wellington.
