Kaikoura

Kaikoura is a town on the upper west coast of the South Island. The name Kaikoura translates (in Maori) to food/crayfish. You can buy local crayfish ready cooked from shacks along the State Highway north of town. Crayfish in New Zealand refers to lobster, although their crayfish does not have a large claw like our lobsters do, and therefore have slightly less meat.

Kaikoura is situated on a small peninsula and is surrounded by ocean and beautiful mountains. Offshore, the sea bed drops away rapidly to the Kaikoura Canyon which brings much sea life near the shore. It's renowned for whale-watching tours and swimming with dolphins.