Scattered along the beach at Moeraki which is some 40 kilometers south of Oamaru, the boulders are a popular visitor attraction.
The soft mudstone containing the boulders was raised from the sea bed around 15 million years ago and sea erosion of the cliff is exposing the erosion-resistant boulders.
Emerging from the cliff, as if being born from the earth, the World famous Moeraki Boulders are septerian concretions formed some 65 million years ago. Crystallization of calcium and carbonates around charged particles in muddy undersea sediments gradually formed the boulders in a process taking as long as four million years.
The soft mudstone containing the boulders was raised from the sea bed around 15 million years ago and sea erosion is exposing the erosion-resistant boulders.
According to Maori tradition, the boulders are gourds and calabashes, which is traditional maori food, washed from the great voyaging canoe Araiteuru when it was wrecked upon landfall in New Zealand some 1000 years ago.
Almost Unique in the world, the Moeraki Boulders are situated about 25 mins south from Oamaru along Sh1.Tthey can be seen emerging from the cliffs and slowly disappearing into the sand and the sea.Visitors can walk along the beach to visit the boulders, best seen at low tides, but visible most of the time.
The nearby Moeraki Boulders Restaurant
Open 7 Days - (03) 439 4827 Overlooking the boulders there is a walkway down to the beach, which is free to Restaurant patrons, and $2 for the public.
There are also Ostrich's for which food can be purchased from the restaurant
Moeraki Fishing Charters
For a great day out plus fish for the pan.Callum & Kirsten Buchanan
info@moerakifishingcharters.co.nz
www.moerakifishingcharters.co.nz
Freephone (0800) MOERAKI (663 7254)
Cell (027) MOERAKI (663 7254)
