Spotting a rare Leopard Seal on a visit up to New Zealand

Last weekend I drove through to the small coastal settlement of Akaroa for the day. The day had begun cold yet dry and there was frost at the side of the road where the sun had been unable to warm through. I stopped first at The White Rabbit Café which has just opened on the Geddes Pass intersection in place of one of my favorite cafes. A spruce up inside had created a cosy atmosphere which was still busy despite the cold start. I tried one of their raspberry and lemon scones with a Flat White coffee. So far so good, I’ll be back for one of their brunches shortly.

Continuing along to Akaroa I passed small settlements and hardly any other traffic. Although it was a lovely day without a cloud in the sky it appeared it was too cold for a lot of my fellow Canterbrians to head out this way. Fine by me, I love strolling through Akaroa when it’s quiet. I got parked easily and walked alongside the beach and waterfront. It was peaceful with the sea so flat it looked like a mirror reflecting the sunlight.

The peace and calm of Akaroa Harbour on a winters day

I wandered down to the end of the pier to watch a shag dive down to catch small fish below – he bobbed up several times everyone with a small catch in his mouth – it must have been good fishing that day. I wandered past the waterfront cafes and shops, some had people braving the cold to sit outside and appreciate the views, others looked as though they had a scattering of people inside. I continued on towards the lighthouse. On the small beach in front of me I noticed a shape. At first, I thought it was a poor New Zealand fur seal taken ill on the sand. But on closer inspection I discovered it was a Leopard Seal. It rolled over stretched and peered up at me with big shiny black eyes. Although it was right next to the pathway it wasn’t the slightest bit bothered by my presence rather it was just curious from the sound whenever a car drove by.

The slumbering Leopard Seal in Akaroa Harbour

Really it was the ideal spot for a seal to slumber, so close to the sea that it would take seconds to escape if it felt threatened although I suspect with its large head and mouth full of sharp teeth it would be more of us in trouble than him. The seal was long, light grey with a large head and pronounced nose. It had black spots on its underneath which made me instantly aware of what he was. He looked very different to our Fur Seals. I spoke with the local sailing crew who were taking photographs. They had never seen a Leopard Seal so close up either - what a chance, what a privilege.