The Boulders at Moeraki
One of the coolest things to see on the East Coast of New Zealand are the Moeraki Boulders. These are a sight not to miss. When we saw the sign, we took the turn and immediately had to decide if we wanted to go the tourist shop or the beach. We chose the beach. The parking lot is nestled in between some sheep grazing fields and the walk along the beach was windy, but beautiful.
As you approach the boulders, you can’t help but wonder how Mother Nature formed these perfect balls. As it turns out, they were formed in a similar manner to oysters. Some item get stuck in the sea bottom and it collected sediment around it for centuries. Scientists have found all kinds of things in the center, skeletons of turtles, bones, wood, and extinct reptiles.
The boulders are strewn along the beach, almost in a line. They had been buried in the cliffs until erosion has worn away the cliff sides and they are exposed. Walking along the cliffs, you can still see some of the boulders that have been completely uncovered. I wonder how many are still there and what they contain. A few on the beach had broken open and you can see where they originally fit together.
The Moeraki Boulders ranks up there as one of my favorite things we saw in New Zealand, since to me they seem so unnatural and somewhat mysterious.