Takapuna Fossil Forest (Auckland) EarthCache
Takapuna Fossil Forest (Auckland)
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(other)
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
Roughly 100,000 years ago the sea level was much lower around the coast and kauri, pohutukawa and mixed broadleaf trees covered the coast around this area.
Around this time a crater which is now now Lake Pupuke erupted covering the forest area in hot lava and ash.
The lava covered trees turned into flaming torches or rotted inside the basalt crust when it cooled and turned into a hard shell. Perfectly formed hollow imprints of the trunks detailing bark and leaves were left and can be seen today, some lying horizontal in the rock face and others standing upright.
One of these, a 1.6m diameter, 3m deep kauri trunk has been covered by grating for safety and is often mistaken for a well.
The elliptical (oval shaped) holes dotted along the coastal basalt walls were caused by gas blisters in the lava as the outer layer of the lava cooled. These along with moulds of trees or large branches that were caught up and carried along by the flowing lava can be seen in the bank between O’Neills and Brett Aves.
At low tide the remnants of 500 tree stumps can be seen on the reef by the boat ramp. These tree moulds formed when fluid lava congealed around standing trees. Most of the lava then flowed away, leaving isolated stumps of basalt where the trees once stood.
It is New Zealand’s best example of a fossil forest in a lava flow.
Best time to visit is low tide, but within 2 hours either side should be ok. Tide times for Auckland can be found here:Tides
To log this EarthCache, you must do the following and email us the results. You can go ahead and log your find, (ie. you don't need to wait for permission) but if we don’t think you have honestly completed the required tasks we will delete your log (after emailing you first of course):
a) The listed cords should take you to a selection of fossiled stumps. Take a photo of one with your gps clearly showing the gps screen. Please post this with your log.
B) Go to S 36 46.902 E 174 46.615 . Count the amount of bars on the grate covering the kauri trunk. Email me the amount
C) Go to S 36 46.851 E 174 46.614 . You will see some lava holes in the cliff. Measure two and email me the measurement.
Dont post the answers in you log, just post the photo..
The distance between A and C is roughly 400 meters on a track/rocks. Please take care.
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)