Kaikoura... The Esplanade... Today's Walk

 The weather dictates where we choose to go walking each day.

Today it's cold but no wind so Robin and I and two little dogs

walked round the esplanade... If you click on this photo to
enlarge it, you will look round the bay to the University
 of Canterbury Marine Field Station (blue roof)  established in
1962 and is considered one of the best sites anywhere
in the world for a marine laboratory and for investigating
the great diversity of habitats, fauna and flora about the
Kaikoura Peninsula.
A bit further along the road is the historic Pier Hotel. Built and 1st
opened in 1885, situated in the next bay close to Fyffe House,
it was shifted to its present site about 1914,
a major feat in those days.

The wharf itself has had an interesting history. First built for

the whaling and fishing ships, then it had two big fish processing

factories, one employed 140 staff. The introduction of quota's and the 

change from hooks and long lines to setting nets changed

all that. In the late 70s, early 80s, there were 60 to 80 traditional fishing 

 families in Kaikoura and South Bay. These days that number 

could be down around 10. The wharf is just a landing depot now. 

The fish are shipped off to Christchurch.

This is looking north. There have been big seas which washed up

a lot of seaweed and debris. In places the roads were covered

and closed and had to be cleared there was so much of it.

Here you can see the row of historic Norfolk Pines.

I found the information below.

This is looking north to the Hapuka River mouth. 

Apart from the lovely beach we passed several historical

 and newer interesting things...

A real Art Deco movie theatre. It's always been a theatre

but today with being able to download movies at home

it has been continuing community fund raising which

enables this icon to stay in existence.
Last night I went to the movies to see Boy Choir.
I highly recommend the movie but it was also an opportunity
to see inside the building - not as exciting as the
outside but a great small town movie theatre.

This is 'Kaikoura Boutique Hotel'... Built in the 1880's, possibly

 as a guest house, then it was a back packers called The 

White House, with a dubious reputation! Done up and transformed 

by more locals it has been successively leased to various enterprises.

It's now sitting empty should anyone have a vision for it!

 It's interest today, apart from the architecture,  is it still has an 

original hitching post outside.

Further along the foreshore...
This seat -was built in memory of another Kaikoura free spirit...

This is me - looking very scruffy and tired as I recover from

pneumonia - but enjoying being out and about with this

mischief of a dog called Jessie.

This unique sun dial built from local stone in memory of 

Thomas Brent Smith, tragically killed while saving

a humpback whale 16.6.2003 aged 38 years.

I'm told he was trying to free a whale that was tangled in 

ropes from set fishing nets when the whale suddenly dived

 and took Thomas with it. His body was never found.

Here's some more creative Kaikoura talent. This is the

remains of a huge old Macracapa tree. It had been

growing on the foreshore forever but had become

dangerous and amidst much protest was cut down.

Gabrielle Young who has lived in Kaikoura forever

and is well known for her art, took to the tree trunk

with her chainsaw and this is the end result - The Family.

Now... The public toilets.  The murals on these toilets...

And on the end of the public swimming pool fence...

Were painted by two elderly Kaikoura ladies, who bring

their pots of various coloured paints, their own seats, lots

of talent and imagination...And brighten up the town.