We had plans for the afternoon but be still managed to squeak in a wine tasting at the nearby Elephant Hill winery.
Today we were bent on making the hike out to Cape Kidnappers.
Not only is it home to one of the top 5 ranked golf courses in the world, but it is also home to the largest land based population of gannets.
It is a 20-22 km hike out and back along beach the entire way. You have to have the tides well timed as the entire journey (including gannet viewing) takes around 5 hours at least.
We were hoping to camp here but this site looks full...
Within their first few years of life gannets fly over 3000 km to Australia. Researchers are not entirely sure why they do this. Especially because, once flying to Australia, the gannets then return back to New Zealand where they mate, breed (most often for life) and finish out their lives (which can be over 25-35 years!).
Stunning views. Smelly birds. Sun in all its intensity.
Oh yeah, and those stunning views!
We were surely rewarded on our return hike when a pod of four Orca whales (two adults and two youngsters) surfaced off the shore, in perfect viewing distance. What a way to finish a long day! Well, that an a gourmet meal!
-J
They fly over once to see if they can cut it in Aus, which apparently they can't, local birds are a little too tough for them... apparently.
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