Rockpools and sheep

We woke up to yet another great breakfast and it definitely set us up for the day ahead. After a relaxing day yesterday it was time to explore Banks Peninsula. At our last Airbnb our hosts recommended visiting Le Bons Bay so we decided that should be our first destination today. The drive there was very challenging with lots of tight bends and continuously climbing hills to then descend them. Nick started feeling really queasy during the drive so we were both glad that I was driving. After an hour or so we reached Le Bons Bay after passing a grand total of 4 dead possums on the roads. Most journeys you know you will see at least one on the road so I think these volumes really show how many there must be in the country and why they have become such a pest to the native wildlife. The bay itself was beautiful and the sun had come out for us. What made it even more amazing was the sound of the waves or at least they would have been lovely to listen to if they weren't being over powered by the sound of two children riding motorbikes all over the beach! We swiftly walked past and as far away from the noise as possible. Down the end of the bay was a river that was flowing out to sea. We explored the area and forest around it with no unnatural noise or anyone else around us. A sad moment was when we saw our first seal, only he was a baby one who has clearly had his tail bitten off, probably by a shark, and has now washed up on shore and sadly died. I'm hoping we do manage to see an alive one and wild penguins during our time here. We walked back down the beach towards where we came in and over to the other side of the bay. This side had hundreds of rockpools amongst the shellfish encrusted rocks. We saw hermit crabs, little fish and sea anemones while trying not to stand on too many of the hundreds of shells clinging to the rocks. The most unusual animal we saw was sheep! On the cliffs above once you pass the rocky cliff faces is lush green grass so of course there would be sheep making this their home. It was surreal to see this animal so close to the sea and you did wonder if any have been brave enough to jump down and take a dip in the sea! After a while the sea started to come in so we adbandoned the rocks and headed back to the car. We had planned to do a walk in the afternoon but neither of us were really feeling it. Instead we drove the tourist route down to Akaroa to have some lunch. The views were spectacular during the whole drive and Nick was relieved he was driving so that he wasn't in charge of taking the photographs. We had some lunch at a restaurant in town before having one last wonder around the shops getting a few bits and bobs. Banks Peninsula is beautiful and it makes me so excited for what else New Zealand has in store for us.Read more