Full moon over the Kaikoura Peninsula

Kaikoura is well-known as a spot for whale watching or swimming with dolphins, as a cold current from the south mixes with the warmer waters of the Pacific here, creating an excellent food source for these mammals. The tip of the Kaikoura Peninsula is home to a seal colony and many birds. Right behind the coast, the Seaward Kaikoura Range rises up with peaks reaching 2600m. Sir Edmund Hillary once prepared for his Everest ascent here. Much easier, however, is the hike to the cosy Mt Fyffe Hut, where I enjoyed this great view, a hot tea by the wood burner, and good company and conversation late into the night.