A dream came true!

Today is February 6, 2023, the National Day of New Zealand. We are crossing from Wellington to Picton by ferry. We have fantastic weather and can enjoy the view for 3.5 hours.

With some delay, we arrive at the port of Picton and immediately set off for Blenheim. We are lucky to meet new acquaintances today and are excited about what awaits us.

The roads lead through idyllic wine-growing areas. After half an hour, we arrive at a beautiful house and are warmly welcomed. We get to know each other while enjoying a glass of wine, cheese, and fruits. The children dash through the garden or play in the house. We can't refuse the invitation for a BBQ, so we have a great time today. After dinner, we take a walk together to the playground.

Meeting Denise and Tim is an enrichment for us. We enjoy the conversations and hospitality late into the evening.

We continue where we left off yesterday for breakfast. Unfortunately, we don't have much time and have to say goodbye.

Equipped with new travel tips and route suggestions, we head to Kaikoura.

We fulfill a lifelong dream there and go swimming with wild dolphins. Even on the drive along the coast, we see dolphins in the sea. Lazy seals lie on the rocks on the shore. When we reach the Dolphin Encounter Center, we already see large families of dolphins swimming and jumping in the sea.

Our nervousness is slowly rising. When the time finally comes, we are given equipment with wetsuits, caps, goggles, snorkels, and fins. They are well prepared for different needs, and Jens even gets goggles with his prescription.

After instruction on how to behave on the boat, in the water, and with the dolphins, we are ready to go. A bus takes us to the harbor in South Bay. From there, our adventure on the water begins.

It doesn't take long for us to spot the first dolphins. Jens and I take turns snorkeling because one of us always watches the children.

Then it's time to put on the goggles and fins. Jens goes first and is visibly nervous.

The first snorkeling session is over, and Jens is overwhelmed by the feeling of dolphins swimming right beneath him, almost forgetting to breathe.

After a few minutes, it's my turn. I don't have to wait long, and then I'm surrounded by a lot of common dolphins. The swarm swims up behind me and zips past me from all sides.

I'm so fascinated that time seems to stand still. A glance over the water gives me an overview of where the dolphins are, and then I try to cross their swimming direction as quickly as possible.

It's incredibly beautiful to simply swim with them and almost dance with them. If you move in a circle and make sounds, it attracts the animals and they engage in play.

It is simply indescribable to put this feeling into words.
We didn't expect to spend so much time in the water, but we can still take turns three more times and enjoy the experience to the fullest.

When they finally swim away, snorkeling is over. But the adventure is far from over. The dolphins keep appearing next to the boat. They accompany us for the entire journey back.

Benedikt has positioned himself at the front of the boat and sees the dolphins swimming, surfacing, and jumping right in front of the boat. We also see mothers with their young ones.

The day couldn't have been more beautiful for us.

Overwhelmed by the impressions, we fall exhausted into bed.