Nins Bin, seafood and more in Kaikoura, New Zealand

It is so hard to find good coffee on South Islands, New Zealand. We are truly spoilt in Melbourne. The coffees were expensive and the milk is usually burnt. Ughh! After spending a night at Hanmer Springs, we heading off towards Kaikoura with a couple of milk burnt coffee and a buttery spinach and feta scone. We had a 12.30pm appointment with some wild seals. I was really excited about this activity. Getting close to wild animals always seem like a luxury to me. However, it was not to be. There were no seals in sight due to the bad and rough weather and the trip was cancelled. Sad face

So instead we drove 20mins north of Kailoura to Nins Bin. This place has been selling fresh crayfish since 1977. Only a lonely elderly woman mans this tiny beach side caravan. From the memos and photos on the wall, her husband may have passed away. Crayfish is ordered from the white esky and the price ranges according to the size of the crayfish. We ordered a relatively big crayfish to share and a dozen of green mussels. This will have to be one of the best meals we had in New Zealand this trip. Standing by the counter and looking out into the sea, eating this super fresh and perfectly cooked crayfish and eating super plump mussels. This is life. Good life. The crayfish was simply cooked with garlic and butter. Mister was more in love with the mussels. They were so sweet and fat! Delicious And who cares about the “beard” that was still stuck onto the mussels.

We went exploring around Kaikoura with borrowed bikes from our Holiday Park. We rode and discovered a small gallery, sheeps in backyards as well as more seafood caravans on the other side of Kaikoura.

And remembered that we missed out on swimming with the seals? We managed to see 2 sleeping seals on a beach! Mister noticed stationary tourist buses in one of the lookouts and decided to head down for a look. No swimming with the seal but at least we saw 2 up close and personal.

On our way back to Holiday Park, we stopped by the Original Kaikoura Seafood BBQ (stamped by Lonely Planet). After the disappointing seafood chowder we had, Mister was adamant to try another. For $5NZ a cup of chowder, it was worth it. The chowder had a nice smokiness from the fish and no fake meat in sight.

And I tried the paua fritters. Paua is abalone. It is something that NZ has in abundance and found it a pity to have it in a fritter. I wasn’t too sure what it tasted like. There wasn’t much flavour and have to say I did not enjoy it. Just give me the abalone whole please!

It was really nice to be able to relax, ride around the coast and then settle in for the day. I even cooked a dish for “Meal to Share“. Like I said in the post, many people would have found it quite funny watching me julienne vegetables and then taking photos of the finished product.

The weather may not be as sunny as we preferred it to be. We did not go out to sea to swim with the seals but we had a great time. We had fun. Sometimes I think that many plan too much for their holiday. There is a destination that they need to go to, something that needs to be seen or do or whatever. Holidays are meant to be free from schedules and time.