Wineries & Whales NZ slightly OT

"Yves" wrote in message .........

Aha, now I can see what you are planning. Yes, forget Nelson this time around.

The drive from Christchurch (remember, we drive on the correct side of the road!) up the coast is quite spectacular; a few wineries in Northern Canterbury (among the sheep farms) - Pegasus Bay Wines is highly recommended - then the Whale Watch town of Kaikoura.

You can find what they found on any particular day in the past year - like on the 1st May last year they viewed 19 Sperm Whales, 9 Orca, Over 1,000 Dolphins and several seals.

As you drive into Blenheim, Montana Wines have quite a large visitor facility (aimed very much at the tourist) - and there will be a Tourist Advice Centre in Blenheim where you can get free maps etc of the area.

Ouch! - I live north of Auckland, and we get about half a dozen mild frosts a year; the nearest snow being in the volcanic centre of the island about 500 km south.

Kaikoura sits under a mountain range - there will be snow on the peaks, but April-May is a beautiful time in the South Island.

Remember - *fresh* seafood and Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc !