Turakirae Head is located approximately 10 km south of the Remutaka Forest Park main entrance, on the Wainuiomata Coast Road. The walk should take you approximately 2 hours return, however the terrain is otherwise fairly flat and easy.
The public road ends 3 km short of Turakirae Head. You must park your vehicle in the public car park 800 m before the end of the public road. From the carpark, walk along the road and over the Orongorongo River Bridge. Access to Turakirae Head is gained via a covenant area on private property. A fence line defines the extent of the covenant. Visitors must keep to the seaward side of the fence.
The southern coastline can be exposed in certain weather conditions. The weather can also change rapidly so we recommend you check the weather forecast and prepare appropriately.
While you are out here you may wish to visit the fur seal colony within this reserve. Fur seals are present in highest numbers (up to 500) during winter. It is not advisable to attempt to approach the animals or get between them and the sea.
The five earthquake-raised beaches are internationally-renowned in scientific circles for the continuous record they provide of geological upheaval over the past 7,000 years. The most recent uplift occurred over 150 years ago when an earthquake measuring 8 on the Richter scale raised the beach several metres at Turakirae Head and 1.7 metres in Wellington Harbour. The second beach ridge was uplifted by a similar ’quake around 1460 AD. This is now about 8 metres above sea level and is separated from the earlier beach by a platform of large boulders. A similar platform separates the third beach at about 16 metres above sea level. This beach is estimated to have been uplifted about 3000 years ago.
Two other ridges are mostly obscured by screes from the steep slopes behind. They occur at 22 and 25 metres above sea level. Evidence of much earlier uplift can be seen in the hills west of the Orongorongo River
More info can be found at Dept of Conservation and Te Ara
Once you complete the following EarthCache requirements you can post your find without delay, as per the EarthCache guidelines. You will also need to verify your find by sending us a message with your answers to these questions and we will answer in due course:
1) Make sure you add the text "Turakirae Head - GC1CPJ5" at the beginning of your email.
2) The area preserves a well-defined sequence of earthquake-raised beaches. What year did the most recent uplift occur and how high did it raise it?
3) Take a photo here with your GPS at the cache co-ordinates and post it with your log. (Optional).
4) At S 41.25.982 & E 174.54.771, what two indicated directions can you go?
5) What is the translation of “Turakirae”?
Please DO NOT post answers with your log - Just post your photo.