Two trips courtesy of my kind and generous parents were to Kaikoura and Hanmer Springs. These locations are situated north of Christchurch and I would estimate a 1 hour 45 minutes drive to Kaikoura which took us 2-3 times as long due to rest stops, and promptly deleted our anticipated trip to Queenstown 😉
The drive to Kaikoura was absolutely stunning, and we travelled north of Kaikoura, aiming to get to Ohau waterfalls but went too far and ended up at a turning point only to realise there were plenty of seals sat on a rock:
Kaikoura
We went back to do the Ohau waterfall walk featured n the following link:
http://trampingtracks.co.nz/Ohau-Waterfall-Walk.html
Here are some of the pictures, you can see at the waterfall there are many baby seals frolicking awaiting the arrival of adults bearing food. As we walked down we saw some adult seals climbing up to the waterfall and I crept down the bank and waited to take some close up pictures:
Ohau Waterfall with baby seals playing!
Walking back
He caught me looking!
Walking under the old bridge
CUCHSHINE PETTING FARM, Kaikoura
Are you pleased to see us Peacock?
Gorgeous piggy
We were cornered by the goats and other animals wanting feeding
My parents shower at the Aspen Spa Hotel (what?? it seems noteworthy.)
Spa shower
A glimpse of the sea in Kaikoura
thebarefootchroniclesofus 
What lovely memories!
Truely x