Moeraki Boulders

The Moeraki Boulders are a group of very 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 that back the beach.

The boulders originally formed in ancient sea floor sediments around 60 million years ago. Some of the boulders weigh several tonnes and are up to 3 metres in diametre!

Scientific Explanation

Scientists explain the Moeraki Boulders as septarian concretions formed about 65 million years ago.

Crystallization of calcium and carbonates around charged particles in muddy undersea sediments gradually formed the boulders in a process taking as long as four million years.

The soft mudstone containing the boulders was raised from the seabed around 15 million years ago and sea erosion is exposing the erosion-resistant boulders.

Maori Legend

The maori named these boulders "Te Kaihinaki" (food baskets.) Their legend states that they were washed ashore from the wreck of a canoe whose occupants were seeking pounamu (a beautiful New Zealand jade known as greenstone.) The reef near Shag Point was the hull of the boat; the rock just beyond was the petrified navigator. Some of the boulders were hinaki (baskets), the more spherical ones were water gourds, and the ragged ones kumara (sweet potato) from the canoe. The survivors from the canoe, Nga Tamariki, Puktapu and Pakihiwi Tahi, were transformed at daybreak into the hills that overlook the beach upon which the boulders lie.

The Moeraki Boulders

The Moeraki Boulders are one of nature’s true wonders. The spherical rocks are up to 10 feet wide and weigh several tons each and have a mythical air about them. It’s easy to see why they’ve been described as alien eggs, prehistoric turtle eggs, and a giant’s marbles.

Located between Moeraki Village and Hampden, New Zealand, the rocks are a must-see stop on any itinerary. They sit on the Koekohe Beach on the stunning Otago coast.

We happened to visit them at low tide and so we were able to walk right up to them. Crawling on top for a photo seemed a natural and we couldn’t help ourselves.

Many of the boulders have large cracks in them which expose the crystals inside. Colors of yellow, brown, and rust are exposed as is the eco-system which has formed in them. While there are 50 boulders currently on the beach, it’s said that once there were many more, but they were likely taken as souvenirs. Thankfully they’re now protected and it’s against the law to damage or remove one of these treasures.

While on the beach we encountered sleeping sea lions, one which took a moment to let us know he wasn’t happy to have his napped disturbed. So well camouflaged are these huge creatures that we failed to notice him on our return trip and after nearly stumbling over him, he let us know again just how much he’d like us to move on and leave him to his suntanning. That was our cue to leave, so off we went to leave him in peace.