Although the shark may be the first thing to catch your eye, this is about the experience with our captain - "Pirate Nick." He was rad. Cig hanging out the corner of his mouth, missing finger tips, and... a peg leg! My first experience deep sea fishing was a memorable one. We caught crayfish (like our lobsters without the claws) and heaps of sea perch. Nick also taught us how to fillet the fish and was responsible for one of the most delicious meals we had over the two weeks. We tossed the baby shark back into Kaikoura's waters.

I highly recommend trying out deep sea fishing in Kaikoura for experiences like this one: http://www.afar.com/highlights/deep-sea-fishing-with-pirate-nick However, in addition to all that you'll learn about catching and filleting fish, you should give this a go purely for the chance to see Royal Albatross up close and personal. I didn't even know these creatures still existed and I don't think I've ever been so fascinated by a bird before. These regal animals are a thrill to watch, either when fighting over a sea perch, or "running" across the water's surface. I've never seen anything like it before.

A trip to Kaikoura isn't complete without eating fresh cray, strolling along the headlands and meeting the seals. Secure in our kayak, my friend and I paddled with our guide out into the ocean, watching the seals sunbathing and splashing on rocky outcroppings from a conservative distance. We'd watch for a while, then traverse to the next spot along the coast, admiring the postcard-worthy views from the water. As we started back to the shore, this fellow decided to come up and say hello. It was the closest that I'd been to these Kaikoura residents; I could almost count his whiskers and I imagined I could smell his fishy breath. A few heartbeats later, he dove underwater, his inspection complete. We'd passed muster.