Timothy’s Blog

There will be plenty of firsts for me in this trip. I accepted the assignment because I know I wouldn’t be doing some of the things we’ll be doing if it wasn’t for this project.

I accepted because I’ve never been to the southern hemisphere before.

I accepted because I love discovering new places. And I had a feeling it will be a fantastic road trip.

Day two began with a 2 hour drive to Kaikura, the coastal town along the west coast of New Zealand.

This maybe a small town of no more than 4 thousand people but there is plenty of activities to keep me busy.

This is where I got my first taste of cow dung all over me after a 2 hour All Terrain Vehicle tour of a real-live working animal farm.

We drove the quad bikes up and down the hilly terrain up to the coast and back. Along the way, close encounters with cows, sheeps and seals.

At the end of it all, i was covered in dust and dried up dung.

More firsts on m second day in Kaikoura. I hopped abaord my first helicopter ride for an eagle eye’s view of the mighty sperm whales that feed in this part of the pacific. The helicopter ride was thrilling enough with the blistering winds bumping us all over the place. But the bumpy ride to the middle of the bay was well worth it when the mighty sperm whale surfaced for a breath of fresh air. That moment was just priceless.

I also had the chance to meet the native Maori people to talk about their unique culture. Lesson number one, the Hongi. Which is a traditional greeting of pressing your noses together. It symbolises the exchange of breath.

And there was crayfish everywhere…as one would expect. The town of KaiKoura literally means “A Meal of Crayfish” in the Maori language.