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Sally, one of our field leaders, told us maori stories along the way.
When we arrived in Wellington after 10 hours in the car, we made disastrously slow-cooking pizza, then fled into the game room. Leo clearly enjoyed the shoot-em-up games.
The next morning we hopped on a three hour ferry to the south island.
Once we got to the south island, we drove more, but took a break at a beach where there were bundles of kelp wrapped up by the waves like ropes.
We arrived in Kaikoura apprehensive about the marae (Maori tribal land/settlement) because there is very strict protocol regarding being welcomed. It went well, and when we woke up the next morning we watched the sunrise pinkening the Southern Alps in the distance.
We visited a garbage dump to learn about Kaikoura's plan for zero waste. Ever wonder what compressed soda bottles look like?
We helped an endangered bird called a Hutton's Shearwater by digging burrow holes and building nest boxes at the Kaikoura DOC workshop.
It must be a law that any workshop has random signs hanging up.
And of course, we went dolphin watching! These pigeons hoped we were going to feed them.