Kaikoura

[dianavilliers]

Skipping Hanmer, going straight to Kaikoura.

It's not that Hanmer's not worth a picture or two, it's just that I was driving, for the first time in a couple of years,  and was exhausted by the time we got there.  The hot  springs were most welcome, as were the lamb shanks at the pub. The backpackers, on the other hand was not. It could have been great, a very pretty little place, but the proprietress was officious and the  beds were squeaky. I didn't get a whole lot of sleep. Claire got some, but had nightmares about the ferry sinking.

Kaikoura is where things start getting really complicated. The seaward Kaikoura ranges in the distance mark the northern end of the Alpine fault which occurs on an east-over-west subduction zone. Off this coast is the Hikurangi trench, a continuation of  the southern end of the Kermadec trench which is on a west-over-east  subduction zone.  I remember my stage I  geology lecturer kind of knitting his fingers together to demonstrate this.  I also remember him apologising to us for having to teach something as complicated as the geological history of New Zealand to stage I students.
This whole geological mess continues north under Wellington and out  Hawkes bay.

The Hikorangi trench brings cold Antarctic water and assorted sea mammals close to the coast here, which in turn attracts tourists in large numbers. They used to attract whalers, but they're not so welcome any more.

Comments

[wcg.livejournal.com]

It probably says something about me that right on the heels of thinking "How beautiful!" I thought "That looks like a good invasion beach."

The complete absence of sand would be advantageous, though I imagine the water remains shallow for a long way out. But that's what flat bottomed amphibious transport ships are for.

Thoughts of amphibious operations aside, you really do live in paradise. That's just gorgeous.

[siliconshaman.livejournal.com]

I remember my geology teacher saying New Zealand was where Nature got really creative!

Lovely picture though...

[timbrk.livejournal.com]

[sigh]