Sea-life haven

“This is Kaikoura: and it’s paradise,” Kip Brook writes for the International Business Times. “It’s just two hours’ drive from Christchurch international airport and is one of the most breathtaking locations of any town in New Zealand. Kaikoura is also one of the few places in the world where sperm whales can be seen year-round and close to shore.” Brook heads out on a crayfishing tour with Southbay Fishing Charters’ Ian Croucher. “Croucher says the crayfish areas are abundant as ever. ‘I think it’s because we have more seals about now. The seals eat octopus and the octopus eat the crays but the seals have been dealing to the octopus so we have heavy quantities of crayfish now.’ He takes out tourists — usually six at a time — and they catch sea perch, blue cod or red cod with clients and occasionally a whale pops up close by. They often see dolphins, seals, orca and little blue penguins.”