Moeraki Must Do's

MOERAKI BOULDERS Visit or stay in Moeraki, a small coastal fishing village and home to the famous Moeraki Boulders. A series of huge spherical stones (some reaching two metres high) have assembled on the beach like a giant set of marbles.

SHAG POINT/MATAKAEA RESERVE Once used by early moa hunters, this rocky headland is the site of burial grounds, fossilised reptiles and sacred Māori sites. New Zealand fur seals now bask here, with a cliff-top viewing area to observe their exploits. Ten minutes from Moeraki.

KĀTIKI POINT LIGHTHOUSE Eight minutes from Moeraki, this historic lighthouse that was built in 1878 and acts as an important breeding site for yellow-eyed penguins.

PUKETAPU OR SACRED HILL Fifteen minutes from Moeraki in the town of Palmerston, take a scenic walk to the town’s main landmark, drenched in outstanding panoramic views.

MACRAES Explore the old Gold Point Stamp Battery and look out over the Frasers Open Pit, an enormous open cast mine. A 45-minute drive from Moeraki but well worth the detour.

Moeraki Boulders © Adobe Stock

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