Oyster Beds (Wanganui area) EarthCache
Hidden : 8/11/2012
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size: not chosen (not chosen)

Join now to view geocache location details. It's free!

Watch

How Geocaching Works
Looking for a different adventure?

Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions in our disclaimer.

Geocache Description:

Take a drive out of Wanganui on SH4 and turn off on the River Road towards Pipiriki and discover fossils from early times in New Zealand.

Many coastal areas of New Zealand, such as Wanganui have only been pushed up out of the sea to become land 50,000 years ago. Rich deposits of beautifully preserved Pleistocene sea shell fossils can be found from Te Piki to the Chatham Islands including Wanganui and Hawera. They are evidence that the land they are on, was once the bottom of a shallow sandy bottom sea.


On the River Road  27 km from wanganui there are outcrops of shells above the road and are known as Wilkes Shellbed. This is a reef built up of layers of oyster fossils. It is up to 15 meters thick and can be traced for over 50 km. The giant oyster shells it contains date from a much warmer period about 2.5 million years ago when this area was under water. Directions from Wanganui. Cross over the Dublin Street bridge and travel up State Highway 4 towards Raetihi. There is an information board 13.6 km from Wanganui. Turn left and travel up the River Road towards Pipiriki. There are no shops or petrol until you reach Raetihi. The cliffs are 27.1 km from Wanganui and are seen above the road on the right hand side of the road. Parking  S39° 46.147    E175° 10.157 You will need to be sure to pull off the road as this road is very windy and narrow. Walk up the road for a short distance to look at the oyster beds at the given coordinates. You will need to complete the following tasks and email the answers to me. You do not need to wait for a reply before logging a found. Please take a tape measure and pen and paper with you. 1.Estimate the height above the road that the shells are found. 2.Why do you think that the shells are seen so high up and not closer to the river? 3.Measure the largest shell you can safely reach. 4.On your return trip to Wanganui stop at the top of Gentle Annie and at          WP  S39° 49.737   E175° 08.296 examine the shells here and describe what you notice and say why you think that they differ from theother shells. If you are heading north stop at this WP take a photo so that you can compare the shells later. Optional extra to take a picture of the oyster beds with your GPS or a view of the river below. References  Sci  Waitato  ac National library art LXX11 on wanganui teriaries Information on River Road from Information Centre Wanganui

Additional Hints (No hints available.)



Advertising with Us