New Zealand - Kaikoura Whale Watching

On December 26th, we headed for Kaikoura for a Whale Watching adventure.  Before we got there, we enjoyed a start to the beautiful scenery.  These church pictures were taken in a little town where we stopped for lunch on the way to Kaikoura.

Oh yes, and our 8 passenger van that toured us around New Zealand.

And some more great landscape.

Kaikoura is known for its whale watching.  We boarded a large catamaran after being warned of rough seas and the potential for significant motion sickness.  It was quite a ride.

Our local guide ...

What we are chasing.

Trying to locate the whale in the fun game of hide-n-seek.

Off we go !!!

Finally spotted the sperm whale.  Two boats and two helicopters are now following this poor whale ... as he seems to be the only whale willing to come up for air for all the foreigners.

Blow hole.

And he is gone!!!  It was fun while it lasted!!!

And when the whale was done with us, when chased after the Hector's Dolphins