Swimming with the Dolphins

During the night the storm has disappeared and we see even a little blue in the sky, so maybe we’re lucky…

The “swimming with the dolphins” company is only ten minutes away from the Top 10 Holiday Park, our camping site and so a short drive along the seaside gets us there.

With so many people checking in at the desk we must be OK and we are! But the conditions are “moderate” which means a strong sea sickness warning…. and Michelle gets the advice to buy a few ginger tablets.
Then every swimmer gets a wet suit, flippers and goggles and we all get briefed for safety issues.
This time no seasickness bags on board but buckets and the strong request not to vomit leaning over the railing….there is some wind….

Michelle is VERY happy when she hears that the dolphins have been spotted only 20 minutes from the shore and that people may sit outside the cabin. She is confident she will handle that.
And she does! Within 20 minutes we are surrounded by hundreds of Dusky dolphins (which are only seen in the southern hemisphere).
They swim, jump, make salto’s forward, backwards.. The swimmers are encouraged to make all kinds of noises to attract them, as the swimmers have to amuse the dolphins and not the other way around!

In total we make 5 dives (the maximum amount legally allowed). A very impressive experience to see dolphins coming towards you, under you , around you and it’s as if they laugh at you and invite you to play. Such a pity not being able to swim as fast as them!

In the meantime the weather has changed and it’s quite cold. We‘re all wet and freezing but the crew is fantastic, and they treat us with hot chocolate, ginger cookies and a hot shower (for Michelle only a shower… ;-) ).
Then the captain manoevres the ship into the middle of a pod enabling the swimmers to make films and photographs.

Suddenly the ship starts to speed because the captain sees bad weather arriving rather quickly.
During the way back a king albatross is following the boat, beautiful!

After lunch we start the east-west crossing from Kaikoura towards Greymouth which is supposed to be magnificent.

The countryside is less undulating than earlier, beautiful, and also here everywhere sheep (we saw even a flock of sheep on the road on their way to other land, accompanied by the shepherd and two dogs which “steared” by the shepherd keep the sheep on the right track), deer, cattle and a few lama’s.

Weather gets worse and worse, we don’t see the mountains anymore and we decide to call it a day and stop in Hanmer Springs, one of New Zealand’s most popular holiday resorts (because hot springs, bungy jumping and all kinds of other outdoor activities).
This time we choose a Kiwi Holiday Park very quiet next to a golf course. It rains cats and dogs, it’s cold and after having been an hour inside we put on the heating (and miss our fireplace).

Hopefully the clouds will have disappeared tomorrow morning. The trip should be an awesome one.