Where the Wild Things are... Approachable
New Zealand is one of those unique places where it still seems possible to glimpse what the world was like before humans started going around butchering everything. Many of the animals seem to have little fear of humans, as the islands had remained uninhabited until the eleventh century. 
The New Zealand coastline is rugged, dramatic, and green. In some places, like Kaikoura, the ocean floor drops away steeply, allowing a unique opportunity to spot creatures that normally steer well clear of land. Just offfshore, for example, a resident group of sperm whales dive in search of large squid in such a prepdictable way that a multi-million dollar whale watching industry has emerged. Almost on cue, the 10-15 metres long whales surface, hang out for a bit, and then dive for twenty minutes. When they're resting at the surface, it's possible to approach slowly and get a great view of their massive bulk.
Albatross are legendary wanderers of the open ocean, some spending years aloft in the wind. In Kaikoura, these massive birds will often come right up to you in your boat, seemingly looking for handouts.
The ocean around Kaikoura is a veritable cetatcean soup. Here you can find the largest (orca) and the smallest (Hector's dolphin) members of the dolphin family, sometimes in the same day. They often play in your boats bow wake, proving that humasn can connect with wild creatures, given the chance.
New Zealand fur seals, having evolved around an island without any terrestrial predators, allow humans to approach much closer than is normaly prudent. Still, tourists should resist the urge to touch them - they have teeth and are a wild animal. Why are some people so stupid that they think wild animals actually enjoy being touched? I mean, come on...
A truly spectacular place, New Zealand offers some of the most exciting wildlife encounters on the planet, so long as you're willing to put up with wild weather, unpredictable conidtions, and a whole lotta sheep...
The New Zealand coastline is rugged, dramatic, and green. In some places, like Kaikoura, the ocean floor drops away steeply, allowing a unique opportunity to spot creatures that normally steer well clear of land. Just offfshore, for example, a resident group of sperm whales dive in search of large squid in such a prepdictable way that a multi-million dollar whale watching industry has emerged. Almost on cue, the 10-15 metres long whales surface, hang out for a bit, and then dive for twenty minutes. When they're resting at the surface, it's possible to approach slowly and get a great view of their massive bulk.Albatross are legendary wanderers of the open ocean, some spending years aloft in the wind. In Kaikoura, these massive birds will often come right up to you in your boat, seemingly looking for handouts.
The ocean around Kaikoura is a veritable cetatcean soup. Here you can find the largest (orca) and the smallest (Hector's dolphin) members of the dolphin family, sometimes in the same day. They often play in your boats bow wake, proving that humasn can connect with wild creatures, given the chance.
New Zealand fur seals, having evolved around an island without any terrestrial predators, allow humans to approach much closer than is normaly prudent. Still, tourists should resist the urge to touch them - they have teeth and are a wild animal. Why are some people so stupid that they think wild animals actually enjoy being touched? I mean, come on...
A truly spectacular place, New Zealand offers some of the most exciting wildlife encounters on the planet, so long as you're willing to put up with wild weather, unpredictable conidtions, and a whole lotta sheep...
