FYFFE HOUSE

Kaikōura's oldest surviving house is proof the township was built on the backs of whales — many centuries after Paikea gripped his tohorā. The two-storeyed 1840 cottage, built on a foundation of whale vertebrae, offers a rare glimpse into the town's short-lived whaling industry. The pale-pink exterior and blooming front garden is in stark contrast to the bleak history that lies inside; artefacts and audio tales describe an austere life for those chasing the mighty southern right whale. The house-cum-museum explores the resources that attracted both Māori and Pākehā to the peninsula. But it also illustrates the harsh realities of here. The building doesn't take long to peruse and rewards visitors with one of the best views on the peninsula, the same faunarich seascape that attracted the earliest settlers centuries ago.

62 Avoca Street, Kaikōura. (03) 319 5837, fyffehouse.co.nz