Waitaki District Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)

The Mysterious Moeraki Boulders

If you are driving along North Otago coast, you definitely shouldn’t miss out on stopping by the Moeraki Boulders. The Moeraki Boulders are a group of mysterious huge round stones on Koekohe Beach near Moeraki. The boulders formed about 65 million years ago and weighs up to several tonnes each! These fascinating boulders have attracted tourists and photographers from all over the world and for a good reason! The atmosphere changes at different times of the day, at sunrise or sunset, at high tides and low tides, creating many spectacular and photogenic opportunities. I recommend going during sunrise/sunset as watching the soft sun rays light up the boulders in an orange glow was nothing short of amazing! #momentssg #unforgettableexperiences #newzealand

A picturesque beach with mysterious boulders!

New Zealand has no short of beautiful beaches, but this one here is really special. Named the Moeraki Boulders Beach, lying along the beach are mysterious spherical stones scattered all around the area! Every Boulder is unique in their sizes, with some of them in full spherical shape while others behind half, as shown in the photos. There are many stories behind how these boulders landed up in this beach, and one of the more interesting one is that according to the Maori legend, these boulders are gourds washed ashore from a great voyaging canoe when it was wrecked upon landfall hundreds of years ago! It is recommended to come here during sunrise for the best view of the beach, but sunset are just as equally beautiful as well. There are also cafe and restaurant in the area so you can definitely drop by to relax before/after the beach visit. To get here is just a 30mins drive away from Oamaru, including a really scenic drive along the way! #momentssg #hiking #nationalpark #newzealand #unforgettableexperiences #travelinspiration

Where Magic Meets Earth

"Nature's marbles, Moeraki Boulders – a beyond-earthly wonder!"#MoerakiBoulders

The Moeraki Boulders were conjectured as a "gift" given to the Earth by aliens. They did not go to the scene and could not imagine that this was a gift from nature. On the east coast of New Zealand's South Island, more than 50 huge round stones are scattered on the beach. The largest diameter is more than 2 meters, the smallest is more than half a meter, the weight is several tons, and there are cracks in the corners. Still hollow. The scientist explained that the calcium and carbonate around the charged particles have crystallized over 4 million years, but the shape of this shape, after years of scouring by the waves and wind and rain can form such a round and lovely shape, I would rather believe in Maori. The legend of man: "A few hundred years ago, the canoe Arede Oulu was overturned when New Zealand was about to land. Many of the gourds on the ship were washed ashore and formed the boulders we saw today." Attractions, tourists and tourists wave after wave, but I would rather stay away from the crowd and see the warm side of the round stone.

The three sisters and the elephant rock were a mark on my bucket list when coming to New Zealand. They did not disappoint! The rock really does look lile an elephant and is nothing like I‘ve ever seen before.