So while they are known as the Moeraki Boulders, they are actually strewn along Koekohe Beach, for the record.
‘Strewn’ perhaps makes them sound pebble-like: it would be one giant who could have strewn these geological phenomena. They are massive, up to 2m in diameter some of them, and – a word to the wise – best viewed at low tide. There’s so much to do in the area – the Katiki lighthouse, the seal and penguin colonies, a bite to eat at the excellent nearby restaurants – that you’ll be happy to wait for the perfect timing to see these big guys.
They really do look like they’ve just landed from space, but it’s actually taken four million years for the largest boulders to form into what you’ll see today; 60 million years ago they were wee molecules.
There are about 50 or so strewn along the beach; old pictures and local legend tells us that in the 1800s when the whale craze was all go around here, there were heaps more of the amazing creatures. But people took ’em! Unreal. Popped them in their gardens. More exciting than topiary, maybe?
Course that’s now illegal – don’t back the truck up, Brian, please.
Look with your eyes, as you tell the kids – although, strange though it may seem with something so unique, you are permitted to clamber over them for the ultimate selfie. Against the backdrop of that impressive sweep of coast, it’ll be one of your better ones.
