We set out from our quiet base of Oamaru and begun the second phase of our trip. We left early from Oamaru and drove to Christchurch, a 3 hour journey, to return our rental car and pick up our camper. The camper is a two berth van with kitchen, bathroom and toilet facilities. After a couple of hours organising the camper and stopping off for supplies, we finally "hit the road".
Setting out from Christchurch, we travel north along State Highway 1, the main highway which runs from Cape Reinga to Bluff, until we reach the town of Domett where we turn east towards the coast. We followed the winding country road until we came to a "V" in the road, we decided to check out all directions, so first took the right hand option towards the Hurunui River Mouth. We were rewarded with a stunning display of coastal rips as the river rushed out to greet the Pacific Ocean.
Continuing on, and returning to the "V" in the road we turn right and head towards the Cathedral Cliffs near the townsite of Gore Bay. These stunning cliffs look similar to the earth pyramids we saw in South Tirol, Italy except they are back-dropped by pristine coastline.
We pass by the townsite of Gore Bay a quaint waterfront community before reaching Cheviot, then connecting with State Highway 1 again. The road from here until just before Kaikoura is a little windy and steep in places but soon spills us out onto the rugged Kaikoura Coast. We reach the town of Kaikoura in time for a dramatic sunset from the lookout point on the peninsula which overlooks the Kaikoura townsite, Seaward Kaikoura Mountain Range, and the vivid blue coastline. To top off an already great day, we find ourselves a parking spot right on the beach only metres from the high tide mark!
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