Pinnacle Rock is near Kaikōura, and it is an amazing place to start the day. I recommend you wake up early and go for sunrise. The sky is bright orange, and the light hits the ocean in a really beautiful way.

This is also when the dolphins are most active. The first dolphin tour boats of the day head out from Kaikōura around this time, and the dolphins often follow them, so you get a good chance of seeing them from the shore.

There are also a lot of seals around the rocks, so watch your step and keep a safe distance. They look lazy when they sleep but they can move fast if they feel threatened.

If the weather is clear and the air is cold enough you might even see the green flash right as the sun rises above the horizon, which is a rare but magic moment.