Nature Photography Opportunities

Kaikoura is one of our favourite places to visit. Photographic opportunities are endless including seascapes, sunrises, sunsets, seals, birdlife, close-up photography and more!

Accommodation

We'll be staying at the Albatross Backpacker Inn (the old Post Office and Telephone Exchange)1 Torquay Street, Kaikoura. Tel. 03 319 6090.

Things to do

Photograph the sunrise as the sun pops out of the sea illuminating the mountains
Walk the Kaikoura Peninsula track
Visit the Ohau stream waterfall and watch young seals playing in the stream
Check out the 360-degree views from the town's observation point
South Bay at sunset can be very dramatic
The Fyffee Palmer scenic reserve has a couple of short bush walks
Spend a few hours investigating rock pools at low tide, you'll be surprised at what there is to photograph
Enjoy coffee at many of the local cafes
Drive up the coast and take in the spectacular vistas... sea, mountains and sky offer plenty of scope for landscape photos

Trip Report

REPORT ON KAIKOURA FIELD TRIP - Peter Harper

An excellent time was had by 13 members who attended this visit to Kaikoura over the weekend of 28/29 August 2010. We mostly stayed at the Albatross Backpackers, and because the weather was good, some members voyaged out to see the albatrosses & petrels at 0900h on the Saturday. Sea conditions were slight/moderate with no wind. Some of our members took on unusual pallid complexion while at sea, but all were heroic behind their cameras. The seafowl included three species of wandering albatross, a northern Royal albatross, Buller's and White-capped Mollymawks adult and immature Giant petrels, and lots of Cape petrels. Closer inshore were white-fronted and Caspian terns, Spotted shags. On the peninsula the red-billed gulls were in full screaming and posturing mode prior to mating. Most of them were yelling at Carl.

Other vertebrates included a Sperm whale on the surface - complete with diving tail fin photo opportunities - and Hectors Dolphins seen just beyond the surf line as we returned to base.

And yes, some of our members were beguiled by the antics of seal pups, waterfalls, along with throngs of general public.

The pot luck dinner provided by the team on Saturday night was vast and delicious - as usual. I reflected that the noisy seafowl throng about our vessel and us having our wonderful dinner had much in common.

Our Society lives by such occasions.