The lure of Kaikoura

Press, 8 July 1976, Page 32

The lure of Kaikoura

“To eat crayfish” is the English translation for Kaikoura given in “Wises New

Zeaiand Guide,” and what has become a luxury for city dwellers is a lure for

thousands of holidaymakers every summer. Whether they go out in the armada of small craft to set their pots and bobbing markers all the way up the coast from Oaro to South Bay or walk round the rocks at low tide to put a pot in a favoured spot to await the next low tide, all are assured of catching crayfish. But crayfish is not the only attraction for those who have selected Kaikoura, once a sleepy hollow as their favourite place for a holiday. There is surfcasting, although the beach fishermen do not get as great rewards as they did 10 or more years ago, net and line fishing, which produces good boat loads, surfboard riding on the northern beach of Mangamaunu, mountaineering, bush walks or just lazing in the sun and benefitting from the smog-free fresh sea air. As well as being an attraction to long and shortstay visitors during the popular holiday times, Kaikoura is an ideal place for a meal-break stop for motorists travelling to or from the Cook Strait ferries. During the summer it is difficult to find a parking spot along theespia-

nade. Cars and caravans line the whole seafront while their passengers have a break for a meal or just stretch their legs. Accommodation is difficult to find during the summer holidays, even though motels continue to spring up, and many visitors book in a year ahead at motels or the town’s four licensed hotels. The Kaikoura Scenic Reserve Board provides a large number of cabins, camping areas and picnic spots ail along the coast south of Kaikoura and a camping ground just north of the main shopping centre caters for many campers; but one has to be early to get a really favoured spot. The Kaikoura Peninsula, familiar to air passengers as the descent point for Wellington - Christchurch flights, ensures that there will be a calm sea on oneside or the other, regardless of the wind, except at; times of storms. | The Kaikoura Boating' Club and the Marlborough’ Harbour Board have provided launching ramps toj cater for the hundreds of boats that put out for fish-' ing or just boating; and the Kaikoura Lifeboat Institute is on 24-hour standby ini

case the Rescue 11 is called to sea. The lifeboat and its experienced enthusiastic crew have gone out in all kinds of weather and have made some good rescues in the six years the boat has been in service. At the end of the peninsula’s rocks is one of the biggest colonies of fur seals in the country. Within easy walking distance from a parking area, the seals and a large nesting colony for sea birds attract a constant stream of visitors during the summer. There is sea bathing and for those who prefer the safety of an enclosure the town has been provided with 50-metre swimming on the seafront by the Kaikoura Lions Club. Limestone caves and the Kaikoura golf course to the south of South Bay are other holiday-time attractions.