"Seal Watching" Kaikoura Travelogue by Kimi_the_Bear

While it is impossible to watch whales from the shore, you might well spot dolphins from a beach or the side of the road, or even from your hotel/motel room. But there is no need at all to go on a boat tour to watch seals - unless you want to swim with seals.

Well, I would not dare doing this. Not because the seals have quite bad breath but because I have seen their huge mouths and their teeth. The thought of getting in between their jaws is too upsetting for me. So I keep a safety distance - and stay on land.

I feel safest when sitting next to Mama or Papa.

I have photos of me up close to seals - just trying to locate them...

Hopefully I can post them here soon!

A fantastic place to watch seals and their pups is Ohau Point. This is about 25 kilometres north of Kaikoura. You can watch the colony from a lookout above the shore, so you have a great view without disturbing the seals and their young.

The pups are really funny. They play in the pools on the rocks, and climb around everywhere, sometimes taking high risks and falling on their noses. Older juveniles practice little fights, working out who's boss.