We checked back into Base Backpackers in Christchurch and caught up with Sam that night. Next morning we were rudely awakened by the fire alarm at 5:45am!!! It seems to be a running theme throughout our trip!!! We were not impressed. Still, we had to get the 7am bus to Kaikora so it didn't really affect us!
We checked into the Adelphi Lodge and borrowed the hostel's bikes and rode along up the coast. My bike didn't seem capable of getting out of first gear but it was a great ride anyway! We stopped at the end of the beach and went for a walk where we saw some sea lions in the sea and took a brief stroll up the cliffs to see the amazing view of the place.
The next morning we were up early to walk to Dolphin Encounter - the company who are taking us out to sea to swim with the dolphins. We watched a video and got dressed in our wetsuits (and hats), flippers and goggles and headed out.
There were 12 of us on a small boat, along with the guide and the captain. Within 10 minutes of being out on the water, the sea became very choppy and we bounced over large waves. We'd been told to keep an eye out for any sign of the dolphins. It didn't take long for them to be spotted - a group of about 20 Dusky Dolphins. We cut the engine and were instructed to slide off the back of the boat into the sea!
The video had told us that, as we were in the dolphins environment, we had to try and entertain them so we had to make noises or sing, swim in circles and keep eye contact with them. If we were brave enough, we could dive down. So we began making noises at the dolphins which is quite a task when you're trying to breathe through a snorkel!
We became surrounded by them. Everywhere you looked you could see dolphins - it was really amazing! Kate & I had bought a disposable camera but the dolphins were too fast to be able to get a decent photo. In the end, we gave up and just concentrated on watching them!
After about 15 minutes, they all disappeared so we'd assumed that they'd given up playing with us so we got back into the boat. Then we realised why they had gone - to the left of the boat was a pack of Orca Whales!!! We couldn't believe it. We stood and watched each time they came to the surface - one of them swam right under the boat! We were so lucky to see them, especially this close to shore!
Once the Whales left, the dolphins returned and we watched them
swim around the boat, leaping into the air and doing somersaults before we headed back to shore.
It was such an amazing experience. We couldn't believe that the dolphins had come to close to us and the Orca Whales had just made a brilliant day even better!
We dried off and got the coach back to Christchurch.
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