February and March are busy months on the concert scene in Auckland. Nearly every week big name artists perform at either Vector the Civic or another venue within walking distance of b and bg auckland, Aspen House Hotel.

Diana Krall plays on February 20 and then Tom Jones pkays the next night at the Villa Maria Estate Winery.

Cliff Richards and the Shadows play at the Vector arena, 5 minutes away from bed and breakfast, Aspen House Hotel, on February 25.

Box Scaggs and a band of blues payers including Mick Fleetwood play the Vector arena on March 5.

Then  March 11, Harry Connick, Jr, pictured above,  one of the today’s most versatile and accomplished entertainers – pianist, singer, composer and bandleader – brings his many musical talents to The Civic with his exceptional touring band. Tickets from $99.

A week late, March 13 and 14 Lady Gaga who recently performed a duet at the Grammies with Sir Elton John, plays at the arena.

Tickets are from $89 so again affordable and so cheap against other currencies.

Lyle Lovett plays at the Civic Theatre, a historic venue with great seats – wathcing shows here makes you feel so close to the performers. March 20 is Lyle’s night.

This is his first-ever Australasian tour. The four-time Grammy winner is one of America’s finest singer-songwriters, leading a remarkable 20-year career spanning 13 albums and over four million records sold

Then April 10 Carole King and James Taylor entertain at the Vector arena.

The next night Kelly Clarkson plays with tickets from $89.

We were on our way to Whale Watch Kaikoura to see the largest predator on the planet and the largest animal in the animal kingdom. It’s an incredible drive with magnificent views, snowy mountains and a lot of coastline, even a segment with dozens of beautiful seals basking on the rocks.

Whale Watch is located in the town of Kaikoura – a scenic two and a half-hour drive north from Christchurch in New Zealand’s South Island. Out from Kaikoura is the South Pacific’s widest trench. Male sperm whales dive and feed here. This canyon is the only canyon so close to mountain ranges just 80 metres. This deep undersea canyon combines with unusual sea currents to attract an extraordinary abundance of marine life, the most famous being the Sperm Whale.

You can go out Giant Sperm Whale spotting at all times of the year. We saw three on the three hour trip we were on. Whale Watch scheduled tours operate daily. The company has a 95% success rate so they guarantee an 80% refund if your tour does not see a whale.

Fast Facts on the sperm whale

Kaikoura’s resident Sperm Whales are the biggest of the toothed whales and the worlds’ largest carnivore. They are equivalent in size to four elephants. Each of their teeth can weigh more than a kilogram and grow to 20cm long.

Giant Sperm Whales are the stars of the show and year-round residents. A typical Whale Watch tour may encounter New Zealand Fur Seals, pods of Dusky Dolphins and the endangered Wandering Albatross. Depending on the season you may also see migrating Humpback Whales, Pilot Whales, Blue Whales and Southern Right Whales. Kaikoura often hosts the world’s largest dolphin – the Orca – and is home to the world’s smallest and rarest – the Hector’s. There’s plenty of sea birds to spot while you look for the whale.