KEN'S 70TH BIRTHDAY TOUR - WHAT A SURPRISE

Ken wasn't expecting this! His expectations for this morning was coffee with family and unbeknown to Ken his family and friends had been sneaking around behind his back for the past month organising a special event just for him.

The Orlova South coach pulled up at 9am in front of Ken's house and delivered a note which read "Its your 70th birthday and your family and friends have decided you need to do something special.

Don't argue, climb aboard the Orlova, take a seat and relax."  With rather a  bemused look he did just that, he boarded the coach with his wife nd family, gathering more and more  family members as we headed North along the highway towards Kaikoura.

KAIKOURA is a place known for its relaxing lifestyle, abundant marine wildlife and unexpected beauty. The natural and unspoiled aspects of Kaikoura continue to attract visitors form within NZ and overseas.

The Kaikoura Winery is situated on the limestone bluff in South Bay overlooks the Peninsula, where the convergence of two ocean currents -- one subtropical, the other subantarctic -- makes the ocean rich in plankton, marine life and minerals. The continental shelf is closer to the coast in Kaikoura than in most other parts of New Zealand.

A leisurely lunch at the Winery, which offered magnificent views of snow-capped mountain ranges and the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean, as well as an informative tours of the vineyard, winery and underground cellar. Established in 1998, Kaikoura Winery has an unmistakably Kaikoura identity with its label reflecting the natural beauty of  the Kaikoura region, where the mountains meet the sea. The grapes for the current vintage were grown both in Kaikoura and Marlborough, where  free-draining soil combined with favourable climate produces wines of  unique character and distinction.

A stroll through the streets of Kaikoura enable us all to check out locally produced arts and crafts, and off loading some of the calories consumed during lunch, before boarding the Whale Watch coach and boat for a delightful boat ride and to experience the incredible whale positioned just off the coastline. The wind was calm, the sea had a 2.5 metre swell from the north which died off leaving a mill pond with scattered clouds and very sunny.

	Sighting Report	4 Sperm Whales, New Zealand Fur seals Hutton Shearwater, Sooty Shearwater, Westland Petrel, Cape Petrel, Northern Giant Petrel, Wandering Albatross, Southern Royal Albatross, White-Capped (Shy) Mollymawk, Salvin's (Shy) Mollymawk, Grey Headed Mollymawk, Fairy Prion, Australasian Gannet, White-Fronted Tern
Species seen:

"This was an unbelievable and a worth while experience" said Ken on his departure from the whalf.

From here more surprises followed and it didn't take much arm twisting for another stop off, this time Donegals Irish Bar and resturant. Ken was even more surprised to find that he was staying the night.

DONEGAL HOUSE was chosen for the first nights accommodation, and  is set amongst lovely gardens in a beautiful rural are under Mt Fyffe - Kaikoura's famous landmark.  Here we dined on freshly caught crayfish, topped off by Irish Baileys Icecream, entertained by a two handled door leading into the Ladies, danced the night away before retiring to a very large and comfortable room.