The Moeraki Boulders are a group of large spherical “stones” on Koekohe Beach near Moeraki on New Zealand’s Otago coast.
These boulders are actually concretions that have been exposed through shoreline erosion from coastal cliffs. Even today, there are still boulders remaining in the mudstone that will, eventually, fall on to the beach as they come lose due to erosion! The boulders are one of the most fascinating and popular attractions on the South Island. They originally started forming in ancient sea floor sediments around 60 million years ago, and the largest boulders are estimated to have taken about 4 million years to get to their current size.
The most striking aspect of the boulders is their unusually large size and spherical shape.Approximately one-third of the boulders range in size from about 0.5 to 1.0 metre in diameter, the other two-thirds from 1.5 to 2.2 metres . Most are spherical or almost spherical, but a small proportion are slightly elongated parallel to the bedding plane of the mudstone that once enclosed them The larger boulders weigh several tonnes.
Maori legend tells that the boulders are remains of calabashes, kumaras and eel baskets that washed ashore after the legendary canoe, the Araiteuru was wrecked at nearby Shag Point (Matakaea).
The Boulders are a very popular spot for photographers – and with good reason! Early morning and late afternoon are the prime times for photography, when brilliant soft sunlight is cast across the rocks; making for spectacular photographic opportunities. Other times, such as when storms are rolling in, provide an atmosphere and scene that can’t be matched anywhere else in New Zealand, or the world!
https://www.albomadventures.com/moeraki-boulders/
The cache is near the very popular carpark for the walk to the Moeraki Boulders.
The cache is a 200ml sistema with log book only, BYOP.