In a country known for its spectacular scenery and countless picture postcard views, the Moeraki Boulders stand out as one of the most visited and photographed sites in all of New Zealand. People from all over the world come to see the Moeraki Boulders and to learn about the culture of the Maori people whose traditional homeland surrounds the Moeraki area.

Located on the Otago Coast, the boulders are the remnants of ancient mud balls that formed around debris at the bottom of an ancient ocean. As the earth’s crust lifted upwards these balls were embedded in the cliffs of New Zealand. Erosion has uncovered these remarkable round stones, creating a one of a kind natural wonder.

The main reason that tourists visit Moeraki is to see the Moeraki Boulders, which are to be found about forty kilometers south of the village of Oamaru on Koekohi Beach. Once on the beach, you can walk amongst the boulders — the only ones with such a composition in the entire world, and then go 1.5km south to see a large colony of yellow-eyed penguins.

The closest hotel to the boulders is the Moeraki Village Holiday Park in the fishing village of Moeraki. The larger village of Oamaru, approximately 40 kilometers north of the village of Moeraki has a wide range of places to stay. Staying in the village of Moeraki provides a quiet, tranquil and picturesque place to relax and enjoy the natural beauty of the area. For those looking for more activities, the village of Oamaru is probably a better choice.

No visit to Moeraki would be complete without a visit to the world-famous seafood restaurant “Fleur’s Place.” For a small restaurant in such a small town it is amazing how busy this little place can get. Reservations are definitely recommended, but diners will be rewarded by unforgettable views from their table at Fleur’s. There is also a small cafe located right near the boulders which caters to tourists stopping to see the Moeraki beach boulders.

And just in case you’re not yet convinced to pay a visit when in the “neighborhood”, there’s a legend about the Moeraki Boulders. The Local Maori tales say that the boulders are the remains of eel baskets, calabashes, and kumara that have been brought on the beach when a large sailing canoe, the Arai-te-uru, shipwrecked. The same legend says that the rocky shoals that extend seaward from Shag Point are actually the petrified hull of the canoe while the nearby rocky promontory is the captain’s body.

The Moeraki Boulders are a great place for those who want a relaxing getaway with stunning scenery and natural beauty.

Images courtesy of timothymnz, sheillaellen (1 + 2), celebdu, strangeones, geoftheref, timparkinson (1 + 2)

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