CANTERBURY: KAIKOURA
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10-May-14 | return to location list print |
Ohau Stream Waterfall
SH1, Half Moon Bay, Kaikoura Coast, Canterbury
rvexplorer id: 18668
Lat-Long: -42.24476, 173.83078
Entrance to the Ohau Stream Walk
Walking under the railway bridge
The start of the walking track
Walking along a cliff face
Curiositiy and joy
Just who is this strange visitor?
Nah! I really prefer the girls...
UPDATE: 25-Nov-2016
Sadly, this stunning attraction is no longer available after being partially destroyed in the Kaikoura earthquake. The seal pups are still being born, but have relocated to another area where you will still be able to see them. The waterfall pool is filled up with rocks, and the access path has been destroyed. These may be restored at some future time.
Click here to read more about this, and see a video of the pups frolicking in the pool.
The Ohau Stream Walkway takes you along the side of a stream up to a small waterfall. Along the way you can see seal pups clambering over rocks and swimming upstream where they frolic and play in the pool at the base of the waterfall.
Apart from the DOC track, this is a wild, natural environment. You are seeing seal puppies playing as they have done for thousands of years. And, with no longer anything to fear from humans, they demonstrate curiosity and inquistiveness towards these strange human creatures that are visiting their world.
This would have to rate as our favourite attraction anywhere in New Zealand!
Of course you have to pick your time to visit - autumn and winter are when the pups still young. They travel up and down the stream connecting the waterfall to the bay, waiting for their mothers to return at feeding time.
These are wild animals, and you must follow the clearly signposted instructions not to feed or attempt to touch them - even baby seals can inflict a nasty bite.
How good is this? I can't think of anywhere else that comes close.
Photo time!!
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