Day 10. Driving

 Today was all about the drive back from Nelson to Christchurch - and it took up pretty much the whole day. We checked out about 9.30am and headed east. This was quite windy, through the mountains to Blenheim. On the way we stopped at Hevelock at the head of Pelarus Sound, which turned out to be a pretty town with nice galleries. Then we carried on to Blenheim, where we again stopped to stretch our legs and walked around a market and visitor centre.

At this point the road turns south along the coast. It's less windy and easier driving. At one point we stopped for a break and found there was a sea lion nursery, granite rocks with lots of protected pools containing sea lion pups, some with their mothers.

Ohau Point

Part way down the east coast we stopped at Kaikoura for lunch and to walk up and down the main street for a while. It's a busy seaside holiday town in the high season but fortunately was a bit quieter today. 

Just south of Kaikoura we stopped at a pebbly beach with great views of the mountains.

There was a stretch where the mountains come right down to the sea and a series of road and train tunnels as the road hugged the edge of the land. Then an easier stretch in to Christchurch. For convenience we're staying at the airport hotel to make things easier tomorrow. They upgraded us to a suite, presumably because it's quiet, and as the hotel is taller than most of the airport (apart from the tower, which we can see quite close to our room) we have a great view across the runway and to the distant mountains.

CHC