Kaikōura - where the mountains meet the sea
Sperm whale
Diving into the depths of the Kaikōura canyon with a back drop of the seaward Kaikōura mountain range
Over the last 5 years I have moved to and from Kaikōura several times. There is always something pulling me back. Close to shore there is an underwater canyon which is extremely productive and a huge variety of marine life comes here in order to feed. Over 20 species of cetaceans can be encountered here and a great number of seabirds. When I first arrived in Kaikōura in 2016 I was amazed by the scenery of where the mountains meet the sea, I instantly decided that I had to live here at one point in my life. Little did I know that I would move there just a few weeks later and spend more than one summer season here which was what I first planned. I am still in awe with this place years later, having lived here for a couple of years.
I have learned a great deal about the South Pacific ocean and seeing the change of marine life throughout the seasons has been incredible to witness. In November 2016 there was a 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck in Kaikōura which made a significant change to the coastline and the underwater canyon that sits very close to shore. It also changed our lives here in town greatly and the town has been through a lot over the last couple of years.
As a naturalist I have worked 6 days a week and sometimes 12 hours a day, spending a lot of time out on the ocean. You get great opportunities to see amazing wildlife and species that you thought you would never see. Some of the rarer species of cetaceans are Southern right whale dolphins and Shepherd’s beaked whales. After COVID changed all of our lives we reduced our hours at work significantly and I now work only 4 days a week. This has given me a whole lot more time for myself, my partner and friends. It has also given me much more time to spend out at sea outside of work. I am hoping to share some of these experience with you all!
We are getting closer to the colder winter months down here. With those colder temperatures we are starting to see more Humpback whales! They embark on an annual migration which have already started. When the waters cool down in Antarctica where their main feeding grounds are, these whales move further north. As we get deeper into winter the numbers of them increase and I can’t wait to see more of them!
For some photos of the incredible marine life to be seen in Kaikōura, please check my portfolio New Zealand and stay tuned for my next blog post, Freediving with Dusky dolphins!
Humpback whale
Winter migration