Day 5 - 7 (February 1 - 3) - Kaikoura, Mangamaunu

Day 5

Our first morning in the camper van started at 5:30am. Mattis, after 13.5 hours of sleep, was understandably well-rested. Well, what can I say, I was somehow awake too and didn't mind the idea of getting up. So we had breakfast right away. Tim made us all baked beans and toast, and Mattis immediately fell in love with New Zealand sausage. Plus, a nice coffee and the morning was perfect. It was pleasantly warm outside. Tim, Lea, and Mattis went on an exploration of the area and collected seashells on the beach (which Mattis proudly presented to me afterwards). I started sorting our things into the camper van. Currently, we're still stumbling over our bags. But I have to say, there really is a lot of space in this van. It's a wonderful place to live for 3 months.

In the morning, we continued on to Kaikoura, a town 2.5 hours north of Christchurch. The drive there was very beautiful and diverse in nature. Lea didn't enjoy the ride so much and unfortunately couldn't fall asleep without Mama's help. So we quickly rearranged the car seats - Mattis in the front passenger seat and me in the back with Lea. Then Mattis couldn't sleep anymore because the view up front with the cows, sheep... was too exciting.

Upon arriving in Kaikoura, we found a freedom campground on the peninsula. This time we were in the front row right by the sea. What a view and fantastic weather (pure sunshine and 28 degrees). We could see white stone slabs in the water, which looked really beautiful. But the reason we were here was to see the seals, which you can encounter nearby. We took a short hike to Point Kean, the seal colony, with Mattis in the carrier and Lea in the wrap. There, we could walk on the exposed stone slabs to encounter the seals. And indeed, we could see them up close. The best part were the many little baby seals, waddling on their little flipper feet, making cute sounds, frolicking through the water, and nursing at Mama Seal's "breast". To experience something like this in the wild is incredible and unique. Besides the seals, Mattis was interested in the many rocks there and joyfully threw them into the water ("I want to make the rocks swim," he said).

Day 6

Today, we enjoyed the amazing view in the morning. This was the first time the panoramic windows came in handy. My moment of the day.

Later, we had to do some shopping, all together this time. Let's just say, it would have been better if only one of us had gone. It was extremely exhausting with Mattis, as he immediately threw a fit if he couldn't have something. Well, you live and learn.

In the afternoon, we moved to Mangamaunu for some surfing, just 20 minutes from here. It was Tim's first time surfing there. I threw stones into the water with Mattis and Lea slept comfortably in the carrier. We spent the day relaxing in sunshine and almost 30 degrees.

In the evening, we sat outside the camper van for the first time and played UNO while having dinner. Lea was happily bouncing in her bouncer. And today, for the first time, Lea flipped from her tummy onto her back. Yippie... Now she can do it in both directions.

Later, other New Zealanders with children arrived, and Mattis immediately made friends with the boy and also managed to get him excited about his stone-throwing passion.

We spent the night by the sea with a few other campervans.

Day 7

The hot weather continued. We slept in until 8:30am and enjoyed the morning view of the sea in Mangamaunu. Tim went for a short morning surf. In the afternoon, we went to Kaikoura for fish and chips. It was delicious. Lea also wanted to eat so badly.

Later, we had to "empty" our caravan at the dump station for the first time. Oh well, that's part of camping too. Fortunately, Tim isn't as sensitive about it as I am.

We ended the evening with a nice drink and a view of the sea before continuing to a new place and a new sleeping spot tomorrow.