List of rock formations of New Zealand

Last updated

This is a list of rock formations in New Zealand based on their aesthetic and cultural importance. New Zealand's geomorphology is formed through an interaction between uplift, erosion and the underlying rock type. Most of the notable examples listed here are formed by selective erosion, for example waves and rivers can more easily erode sandstone than basalt and can also exploit joints or faults in the rock-mass. [1] Some rocks like limestone (Waitomo Caves) and marble (Takaka Hill) can also be dissolved in water which forms a distinctive karst geomorphology. Notable rock formations are also formed through constructive processes such as geothermal and volcanic deposits, and sedimentary deposition.

Contents

North Island formations

PhotoFormationRegionTypeSummaryLocation
Cape Kidnappers from south.jpg
Cape Kidnappers Hawke's BayWave erosion, sea stack 39°38′51″S177°05′12″E / 39.647473°S 177.086699°E / -39.647473; 177.086699
Castle Craig Hill.jpg
Castle Craig Rock WaikatoTerrestrial erosion 38°15′35″S174°49′15″E / 38.25972°S 174.82083°E / -38.25972; 174.82083
Castlepoint, Wellington Region, New Zealand (18).JPG
Castlepoint Wellington, WairarapaWave erosion 40°53′55″S176°13′14″E / 40.89861°S 176.22056°E / -40.89861; 176.22056
Cathedral Cove, Coromandel.JPG
Cathedral Cove Waikato, Coromandel PeninsulaWave erosion, cave, sea stack 36°49′42″S175°47′24″E / 36.82833°S 175.79000°E / -36.82833; 175.79000
St Paul, Whangaroa.JPG
The Dome of Saint Paul Northland, WhangaroaTerrestrial erosion, igneous rock 35°03′03″S173°44′59″E / 35.050731°S 173.749623°E / -35.050731; 173.749623
Hole In The Rock In Bay Of Islands.jpg
Hole in the RockNorthland, Piercy Island Wave erosion, Natural archLimestone island with a natural arch. Significant tourist attraction. 35°09′56″S174°20′21″E / 35.165437°S 174.339061°E / -35.165437; 174.339061
Wairere boulders2.jpg
Horeke basalts, Wairere Boulders NorthlandTerrestrial erosion, igneous rockLava flow broken up as lower strata removed by erosion. Notable corrugation on basalt boulders. [2] 35°22′29″S173°35′47″E / 35.374687°S 173.596301°E / -35.374687; 173.596301
Kupe's Sail-20070331.jpg
Kupe's Sail Wellington, Wairarapa, Palliser BayA dipping bed of slightly more resistant rock protruding above weaker rock. 41°36′16″N175°15′58″E / 41.60448°N 175.26616°E / 41.60448; 175.26616
Koutu boulder4.jpg
Koutu Boulders NorthlandWave erosion 35°27′29″S173°24′53″E / 35.458139°S 173.414767°E / -35.458139; 173.414767
Lion Rock, Piha.png
Lion Rock Auckland, PihaWave erosion, sea stackProminent islet with shear cliffs of volcanic conglomerate 36°57′13″S174°27′57″E / 36.953685°S 174.465880°E / -36.953685; 174.465880
Bottom rock arch of Mangapohue Natural Bridge over Mangapohue Stream.jpg
Mangapohue Natural Bridge WaikatoTerrestrial erosion, karst 38°15′40″S174°53′57″E / 38.261043°S 174.899301°E / -38.261043; 174.899301
Coromandel-natural vase.JPG
Natural Vase [ citation needed ]Wave erosion
Orakei Korako.jpg
Orakei Korako (including Golden Fleece Terrace and Rainbow Terrace)Bay of PlentyGeothermalGeothermal terraces formed by minerals precipitating as the water cools. 38°28′25″S176°08′55″E / 38.47361°S 176.14861°E / -38.47361; 176.14861
Pink and White Terraces, New Zealand; terraced thermal pools Wellcome V0038492.jpg
Pink and White Terraces Bay of Plenty, Mount TaraweraGeothermalSignificant geothermal terraces formed by minerals precipitating as the water cools. These terraces were thought destroyed by the 1886 eruption of Mount Tarawera, however they may have just been buried. [3] 38°15′40″S176°25′50″E / 38.26111°S 176.43056°E / -38.26111; 176.43056
The Pinnacles (New Zealand).jpg
The Pinnacles Waikato, Coromandel PeninsulaTerrestrial erosion, volcanic rockAndesite lava spires preserved when the weaker neighbouring pyroclastic rocks were eroded. [4] 37°02′36″S175°43′34″E / 37.043223°S 175.726249°E / -37.043223; 175.726249
Cathedral Rocks, Ruapehu, New Zealand 21.JPG
Pinnacle Ridge and Cathedral RocksWhanganui-Manawatū, Mount RuapehuTerrestrial erosion, volcanic rockRock spires of andesite near summit of Mount Ruapehu. 39°14′30″S175°34′00″E / 39.24167°S 175.56667°E / -39.24167; 175.56667
Rock arch at Archway Island.jpg
Poor Knights Islands NorthlandWave erosion, natural arch 35°30′S174°45′E / 35.500°S 174.750°E / -35.500; 174.750
Afternoon view over Putangirua Pinnacles area.jpg
Putangirua Pinnacles Wellington, WairarapaTerrestrial erosion, sedimentary rock 41°27′05″S175°13′20″E / 41.45139°S 175.22222°E / -41.45139; 175.22222
Te Kaukau Point Wellington, WairarapaWave erosion 41°34′20″S175°25′50″E / 41.57222°S 175.43056°E / -41.57222; 175.43056
Three Sisters and Elephant Rock [5] TaranakiWave erosion, sea stacks, and natural archNotable for their well documented partial destruction from wave erosion. 38°49′07″S174°34′52″E / 38.81861°S 174.58111°E / -38.81861; 174.58111
Hot spring at Warbrick Terrace.jpg
Waimangu Volcanic Rift Valley (including Cathedral Rocks and Warbrick Terrace)Bay of PlentyGeothermal 38°17′10″S176°23′15″E / 38.28611°S 176.38750°E / -38.28611; 176.38750
Limestone rock formations at Waro, 1923 ATLIB 300303.png
Waro Limestone Scenic Reserve Northland, HikurangiTerrestrial erosion, sedimentary rock 35°35′15″S174°17′10″E / 35.58750°S 174.28611°E / -35.58750; 174.28611
Young Nick's Head from Kaiti Beach.jpg
Young Nick's Head GisborneWave erosion 38°45′25″S177°57′50″E / 38.75694°S 177.96389°E / -38.75694; 177.96389

South Island formations

PhotoFormationRegionTypeSummaryLocation
Blackhead, Dunedin, New Zealand.jpg
Blackhead Otago, DunedinWave erosion, volcanic rock and sea stacksRock spires with basaltic columnar jointing 45°55′50″S170°26′00″E / 45.93056°S 170.43333°E / -45.93056; 170.43333
Start of Boulder Bank.jpg
Boulder Bank NelsonWave erosion and deposition 41°14′S173°18′E / 41.233°S 173.300°E / -41.233; 173.300
Castle Hill New Zealand.jpg
Castle Hill CanterburyTerrestrial erosion, sedimentary rock 43°13′45″S171°43′00″E / 43.22917°S 171.71667°E / -43.22917; 171.71667
Cathedral Caves - panoramio.jpg
Cathedral Caves Otago, The CatlinsWave erosion, cave 46°36′30″S169°22′50″E / 46.60833°S 169.38056°E / -46.60833; 169.38056
Cooks head overview.JPG
Cook's Head Rock OtagoWave erosion 46°12′05″S170°04′50″E / 46.20139°S 170.08056°E / -46.20139; 170.08056
Petrified tree in Curio Bay.jpg
Curio Bay Southland, The CatlinsWave erosionPetrified forest [2] 46°39′45″S169°05′55″E / 46.66250°S 169.09861°E / -46.66250; 169.09861
Elephant Rocks in Waitaki Valley, New Zealand.jpg
Elephant Rocks Otago, Waitaki ValleyTerrestrial erosion, sedimentary rock 44°53′35″S170°39′20″E / 44.89306°S 170.65556°E / -44.89306; 170.65556
Farewell spit.jpg
Farewell Spit TasmanWave erosion and deposition 40°31′S172°52′E / 40.517°S 172.867°E / -40.517; 172.867
Huriawa Peninsula Karitane Otago.jpg
Huriawa Peninsula Otago, KaritaneWave erosion, natural arch and sea stacks 45°38′30″S170°40′00″E / 45.64167°S 170.66667°E / -45.64167; 170.66667
Ficinia spiralis Kaitorete Spit NZ 1.JPG
Kaitorete Spit CanterburyWave erosion and deposition 43°50′S172°33′E / 43.833°S 172.550°E / -43.833; 172.550
Knight's Point, West Coast.jpg
Knights Point West CoastWave erosion, sea stacksCliff and sea stacks formed by combination of uplift on the Alpine Fault and high erosion. [6] 43°42′45″S169°13′30″E / 43.71250°S 169.22500°E / -43.71250; 169.22500
Lion's Head Rock Otago, Sandfly Bay Wave erosion, sea stacks 45°54′18″S170°39′04″E / 45.90500°S 170.65111°E / -45.90500; 170.65111
Lovers Leap on Otago Peninsula.jpg
Lovers Leap and The Chasm [7] Otago, Sandymount Wave erosion, natural arch 45°53′35″S170°40′44″E / 45.89306°S 170.67889°E / -45.89306; 170.67889
NZL-moeraki-boulder.jpg
Moeraki Boulders OtagoWave erosionStrong calcite concretions eroded out of a weak marine mudstone. Boulders also present in the cliff face and nearby streams. [2] 45°20′55″S170°49′40″E / 45.34861°S 170.82778°E / -45.34861; 170.82778
NevisBluff.jpg
Nevis Bluff Otago, Kawarau ValleySeismic uplift, river erosionSteep mica schist cliff face. 45°02′15″S168°59′50″E / 45.03750°S 168.99722°E / -45.03750; 168.99722
Nugget Point on Sunny Day.JPG
Nugget Point Otago, The CatlinsWave erosion, sea stacksSeveral sea stacks at the end of a prominent headland. The near vertical sandstone bedding creating steep planar cliffs. 46°26′50″S169°48′55″E / 46.44722°S 169.81528°E / -46.44722; 169.81528
The Obelisk (The Old Man; Kopuwai) [8] Otago, Old Man Range / Kopuwai Freeze thaw weathering 45°20′31″S169°12′36″E / 45.34194°S 169.21000°E / -45.34194; 169.21000
Buller River near Berlins.jpg
The Old Man of the BullerWest Coast, Buller River 41°57′00″S172°17′50″E / 41.95000°S 172.29722°E / -41.95000; 172.29722
Omarama Clay Cliffs.jpg
Omarama Clay Cliffs Otago, Ahuriri ValleyGlacial erosion 44°29′20″S169°52′00″E / 44.48889°S 169.86667°E / -44.48889; 169.86667
Onawe Peninsula, 2007.jpg
Ōnawe Peninsula Canterbury, Banks PeninsulaWave erosion 43°46′30″S172°55′30″E / 43.77500°S 172.92500°E / -43.77500; 172.92500
Oparara River flowing out of Moria Gate arch.jpg
Oparara Basin Arches West CoastTerrestrial erosion, natural archGround water erosion along the boundary of the basement granite and overlying limestone has formed caves and archers. 41°08′45″S172°11′15″E / 41.14583°S 172.18750°E / -41.14583; 172.18750
Organ pipes columnar joints Dunedin.jpg
The Organ Pipes Otago, DunedinTerrestrial erosion, volcanic rockRock spire with basaltic columnar jointing 45°48′30″S170°34′00″E / 45.80833°S 170.56667°E / -45.80833; 170.56667
Punakaiki - looking south.jpg
Pancake Rocks West Coast, PunakaikiWave erosion, natural archA coastal karst geomorphology. The apparent bedding within the limestone may be due to pressure solution of calcite during burial. [2] 42°06′50″S171°19′35″E / 42.11389°S 171.32639°E / -42.11389; 171.32639
Little Pyramid, Otago Peninsula, NZ.jpg
The Pyramids Otago, DunedinWave erosion, seas stack 45°49′25″S170°43′15″E / 45.82361°S 170.72083°E / -45.82361; 170.72083
ShagRockSumner.JPG
Rapanui (Shag Rock) Canterbury, ChristchurchWave erosion, Sea StackSea stack partially destroyed in the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake. 43°33′50″S172°45′00″E / 43.56389°S 172.75000°E / -43.56389; 172.75000
The split apple rock (4448821244).jpg
Split Apple Rock TasmanWave erosion, igneous rockA spheroidal granite block divided on a joint. [9] 41°01′05″S173°01′15″E / 41.01806°S 173.02083°E / -41.01806; 173.02083
Te Anau glacial erratic New Zealand.jpg
Te Anau glacial erraticSouthland, Te Anau Glacial depositionA Geological Reserve. During a past glacial advance this boulder was carried c. 50 km from the Fiordland mountains. [10] 45°31′28″S167°48′37″E / 45.52444°S 167.81028°E / -45.52444; 167.81028
Flax-covered rock stack off beach at the end of Truman Track near Punakaiki.jpg
Truman Track [11] West Coast, PunakaikiWave erosionSea cliffs in sandstone and mudstone with a raised shore platform. 42°05′31″S171°20′20″E / 42.09194°S 171.33889°E / -42.09194; 171.33889
Rock arch forming a natural bridge at Tunnel Beach, ca 2 km west of St Clair, Dunedin. ATLIB 273680.png
Tunnel Beach Otago, DunedinWave erosion, Natural archSandstone sea cliffs and natural bridge, with man made tunnel. 45°55′15″S170°27′30″E / 45.92083°S 170.45833°E / -45.92083; 170.45833
Wharariki Beach (212987255).jpeg
Wharariki Beach TasmanWave erosion, natural arch 40°30′10″S172°40′43″E / 40.50278°S 172.67861°E / -40.50278; 172.67861

Formations elsewhere

PhotoFormationRegionTypeSummaryLocation
Gog and Magog Stewart Island / Rakiura Volcanic plugs 47°11′45″S167°33′45″E / 47.19583°S 167.56250°E / -47.19583; 167.56250
Ohira Bay basalt columns Chatham Island Terrestrial erosion, volcanic rock 43°48′22″S176°38′55″W / 43.80611°S 176.64861°W / -43.80611; -176.64861

Maps

NZ-NI plain map.png
Disc Plain red.svg
Young Nick's Head
Disc Plain red.svg
Cathedral Cove
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Dome of Saint Paul
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Waro Limestone Reserve
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Putangirua Pinnacles
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Cape Kidnappers
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Pink and White Terraces
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Lion Rock
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Wairere Boulders
Disc Plain red.svg
Hole in the Rock
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Koutu Boulders
Disc Plain red.svg
Kupe's Sail
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Orakei Korako
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Pinnacle Ridge
Disc Plain red.svg
Castle Craig Rock & Mangapohue Natural Bridge
Disc Plain red.svg
Te Kaukau Point
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Waimangu Valley
Disc Plain red.svg
The Pinnacles
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Three Sisters and Elephant Rock
Disc Plain red.svg
Castlepoint
Disc Plain red.svg
Poor Knights Islands
NZ-SI plain map.png
Disc Plain red.svg
Blackhead & Tunnel Beach
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Kaitorete Spit
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Old Man of the Buller
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Huriawa Pen.
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Split Apple Rock
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Oparara River Arches
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Rapanui Rock
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Pancake Rocks & Trueman Track
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Boulder Bank
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Moeraki Boulders
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Pyramids & Lovers Leap
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Organ Pipes
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Onawe Pen.
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Nugget Pt.
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Omarama Clay Cliffs
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Cook's Head
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Elephant Rocks
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Curio Bay
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Cathedral Caves
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Castle Hill
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Te Anau glacial erratic
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Wharariki Beach
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Farewell Spit
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Knights Point
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Obelisk
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Gog and Magog

See also

References

  1. ↑ Cotton, Charles Andrew (1949). Geomorphology: an introduction to the study of landforms. Wiley.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Thornton, Jocelyn (2009). The Field Guide to New Zealand Geology: An Introduction to Rocks, Minerals and Fossils. Penguin. ISBN   9780143202592.
  3. ↑ Bunn and Nolden, Rex and Sascha (December 2016). "Te Tarata and Te Otukapuarangi: Reverse engineering Hochstetter's Lake Rotomahana Survey to map the Pink and White Terrace locations". Journal of New Zealand Studies. NS23: 37–53.
  4. ↑ William), Hayward, Bruce W. (Bruce (1971). The geology and eruptive history of the Table Mountain region, Coromandel Peninsula (Thesis).{{cite thesis}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ↑ "Memory is all that's left of Elephant Rock, now trunk-less". Stuff. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  6. ↑ Cooper, Alan F.; Kostro, Fabian (2006). "A tectonically uplifted marine shoreline deposit, Knights Point, Westland, New Zealand". New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics. 49 (2): 203–216. doi:10.1080/00288306.2006.9515160. ISSN   0028-8306. S2CID   128895227.
  7. ↑ "Hidden Otago". hiddenotago.co.nz. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  8. ↑ "History and culture". Department of Conservation . Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  9. ↑ "Split Apple Rock: Sitting pretty just off..." The Earth Story. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  10. ↑ Hayward, Bruce; Hayward, Bruce; Taonga, New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu. "Glacial erratic at Te Anau" . Retrieved 19 November 2018.
  11. ↑ Wilson, Kerry-Jayne (2013). West Coast Walking: A Naturalist's Guide. Canterbury University Press. ISBN   9781927145425.
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