Day 6 of the New Zealand excursion was one of the first "Holy Moly" kinds of days. We were coming from Marlborough wine country traveling through fields and patches of forest. It seemed like one turn of a corner, and all of a sudden we were looking at snow capped mountains overlooking tropical beaches.
One of first stops was a TripAdvisor "Must Do". The Oahu Stream harbors a large pod of seals that swim up river from the ocean to give birth to their pups. This event only happens within a short time frame during NZ's Spring. We happened to hike the trail on the perfect day. Numerous pups and adults were both climbing and gliding down the small rapids. In preparation for an up steam shot, one of the friendly locals positioned himself on top the center rock.
Minutes later, that same little dude swam up to me inspecting my tripod and showing us his impressive back stroke. At the top of the trail was a 3 story waterfall with dozens of seals playing and napping in the mist. It was sight I still cannot believe and certainly will not soon forget.
Our second day was filled with more wildlife friends including swimming with wild dolphins along with feeding and sheering sheep. The last afternoon in Kaikoura was spent on the penninsula with immensely saturated panoramic views of the Pacific and the Southern Alps.