From Elephant rocks we make our way to the East Coast.

There’s one more geological marvel we want to see.

But before we get there we stop at a PDS to empty the grey water out of van and top up fresh water.

While there and another van pulls up and out jumps Debby Downer wanting a chat.

Moeraki Boulders? Says him after asking where we are heading. That’s a big lot of disappointment. nothing there, just rocks on a beach…

And he proceeds to launch into a general whinge about the world, life, and modern times intermingled with a racist rant or two. I curse at how slow the grey water tank drains and opt to just pretend it’s finished so I can move on quicker…

So what are the Moeraki Boulders?

Well old racist Karen was sort of right, they are rocks on a beach.

But not just any rocks, they are concretions, Septarian Concretions to be exact. Similar to the ones we saw in the cave tour only bigger. Much bigger.

What the hell are Septarian Concretions?

I’m glad you ask.

They are nodules of rock, typically spherical, usually formed in cabanate rich mudstone. They often “grow” around something, a crab claw or dinosaur bone for example, so often contain fossils in their centre.

So basically as dumbed down as I needed it explained to me, a bit of organic matter is engulfed in mud and a rock “crystal” grows around it before the mud/sand is rockyfied itself.

Time move son and the softer mudstone or sandstone is eroded from around the harder nodule leaving behind big marbles.

And if that’s not impressive enough to make you want to check them out. Well they are on a spectacular stretch of beach.

And, well

Just look at them!

There are other, similar concretions 20km south at Shag Point (Teheheh, Shag!) that contain plesiosaur fossils but we are heading north…

And that end’s our New Zealand adventure, for this time. The following day is spent making our way back up to Christchurch, we’ve a plane to catch.

All in all we had a great trip. To recap here’s a list of links to all the awesome stuff we got to see and do.

Rafting through the most amazing Glowworm cave

Checking out Pancake Rocks

The beautiful Hokitika Gorge

Dinner and more glowworms at Sunset Point

A mind blowing walk on the Franz Josef Glacier

West coast sunset at Bruce Bay

The Waterfalls of Haast Pass

The Omarama Clay Cliffs

The proglacial Lakes of Aoraki

Stunning Lakes

the Elephant rocks

And finally the Moeraki boulders.

Along the way we took advantage of clear dark skies to do a bit of Milkyway photography

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