July 22, 2014 Licking Trees, and Seals (not licking these!)

Waking up to a cold morning, we got back into the gatorwaka and rambled on up to Kaikoura (on the coast).  Kaikoura means in Maori “meal of crayfish.” Along the way, we stopped at some black beech to “lick some trees.”  Well, not literally lick the trees, but we did lick the honeydew off the sides of the tree. The honeydew is produced by  a scale insect that feeds on the sap of the tree and extrudes a drop of “honeydew” out the back end. Yes, we were licking the back end of an insect and it was good! Bees collect the honeydew and make yummy honeydew honey that is a lot like our Tupelo honey in Florida. It does not crystalize and has a unique flavor.  An introduced wasp is a “pest” issue because it competes for the honeydew and not as many bellbirds and bees can consume this honeydew with the wasp around.  

Getting back into the gatorwaka, we traveled over the dusted snow top Kaikoura range into the town of Kaikoura.  As we got over the mountain range and entered the Kaikora District, we were in awe at the beautiful turquoise colour of the ocean. Once in Kaikora proper, we checked into the Dusky hotel. had lunch, and then headed up the coast to see NZ fur seals (called Kekeno in Maori). We stopped at Ohau point where we observed a colony of seals at high tide (crashing waves). Plenty of pictures later, we ventured up a trail to see a waterfall. At the base of the waterfall where seal pups frolicking in the pool beneath the waterfall. Sort of a “fairy-like” wonderland – and we communed with the seal pups.

A seal peeks out and says hello to us from along the side of the trail.

Chillin' with the seals at the falls

Snarfing down some yummy fish and chips back at the backpackers

Back to Kaikours we went for some shopping and sightseeing. We checked out a local fish n chips shop and  took our hot food back to the Dusky backpackers hotel. After a frenzied eating of chips, ketchup, and such, we topped off the evening with some tip top ice cream and cookies as well as some hot tubbing and movies. Time for good night’s rest! – m&m : )