There are lots of interesting facts to learn about the Moeraki Boulders. The more you know about them, the more fascinating they become!
Stunning Moeraki Boulders at sunrise
- There are over 50 boulders along Koekohe Beach.
- The biggest boulders weigh 7 tons and measure over 2 metres across.
- It took about 4 million years for the largest boulders to form to their current size.1 The tiny fragments however began forming about 60 million years ago.
- There were many more boulders on the beach back in the 19th century, based on old photos. People took the smaller boulders to use as garden ornaments or as souveniors. This is of course now illegal to do.
- There is one very large Moeraki boulder outside the Otago Museum in Dunedin – it was taken there by truck in the late 1800s; long before laws were changed to give protection to the boulders. It is located outside the old main entrance of the museum on Great King Street. It measures 6 feet (over 182cm) in height and weighs more than 7 tons; making it one of the largest boulders. There are also much smaller boulders on display inside the Museum.
Small Moeraki boulders on display at the Otago Museum
- Maori call the boulders “eel pots”. Some locals call them “hooligans gallstones”. Other names that have been bestowed upon the boulders include “giant gobstoppers”, “alien’s brains”, “the bowling balls of giants” and the “Stonehenge of New Zealand”!
- The Moeraki Boulders have legal protection and it is prohibited to damage, graffiti or remove them.
A Moeraki boulder outside the Otago Museum in Dunedin
References
1. The Moeraki Boulders; anatomy of some septarian concretions J. R. Boles, C. A. Landis, P. Dale 1985
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Some people on this site are so rude, people are asking genuine questions. English may not be their native language & this should be taken into consideration.
When I was a young lad I used to jump from one to the other. My friends and I used to walk past them very often on the way to Moeraki for a bit of fishing.
Many good memories on seeing them again. I used to live in Hampden which is a couple of kilometers north of the boulders.
moeraki boulders are an unbelievable formation. I circular shape of boulders are looking cute. I wanna take one Moeraki boulder to my home but i can’t. any ways nice post and keep up the good one.
I was looking to know how they became formed, not nearly enough information
I totally agree.
yep agreed
Me too. Are they volcanic in origin and why do they have the layers that are shown on the ones in the museum display?
they were caused be erosion which produced the sherical shape
Kettle point in Ontario Canada also has what we call kettles
I live near there! I should go this summer on a day trip.
My late husband and myself spent our golden wedding anniversary in New Zeland in 2006 and we visited the boulders. I now have a lovely memory of them as I did a water colour painting of them which now hangs on my wall in England.J
We visited the boulders in February this year, it’s a beautiful place. I would love to see your painting?!
Good for you! I’d love to see it! Aren’t they just beautiful?
They would look great in my garden…….. : )
Please, no intelligent and responsible person wants to see them in your garden.
Lol amazing
These are not boulders but large alien eggs that never hatched…
Quite the theory
I love it its awsome the rocks look awsome and unbelievable i like how you guys give me information about it all every where i go i can search what i need and i comes up☺
You receive an F, sir, for your poor use of punctuation in your one continuous statements. Your English professor would be so disappointed in you. It is clear that there should be multiple sentences here, but you showed none! Go back to school.
Anon,
Your English professor should be ( NOT WOULD BE) so disappointed at (NOT IN) you.
As far as I can tell, Anon’s reply is fine. Your corrections are not correct. I never heard of someone being disappointed AT you. If I may ask, in what country were you educated in the English language? I’m just curious.
This space is for commenting on the boulders, not for correcting grammar.
so why are you correcting them??
anon shut up you are an idiot
What a sad reminder of the judgmental and ignorant people in this world. Not only did Anon feel a need to post a negative comment, but never considered his judgements may be toward a child, a challenged person, or a non-native speaker, among SO many other possibilities. Anon receives an F minus for simple humanity.
My name is lisa, my family and I will go to Oamaru on 2.12 next year. Then We visit Moeraki Boudlers. Could you tell us tide time about this view point?
can you get to the boulders by public transport eg BUS thank you
this rocks are cool
Olivia,
“these” rocks are cools.
These rocks are “cools”? If you are going to correct someone, do it right.
So is it a requirement to only visit at low tide? This site is not clear about that and its a long way to go if the timing is all wrong.
There is a question here from someone about when low tide is but nothing actually saying whether it matters a great deal or not.
I would hate to be disappointed as my visit to Dunedin includes a trip out to see them.
We saw them somewhere between high and low tide. You just might not see as many at high tide
Very interesting. A fun bit of geology.
Approximately how many tourists would visit these boulders per year?
How were the Moeraki boulders formed? What are they formed from? Sand? granite? etc?
Please explore having Department of Conservation create an animated video showing the progressive formation of these Boulders. The explanations I have found do not begin to graphically explain their four million years’ creations. We found CoC billboards very helpful during our recent travels around South Island. We think the Boulders, which already enjoy public awareness as marvels of nature, deserve scientific scrutiny, if such has not already been done. Let us know what we may have missed! Thanks.
how were the moraki boulders formed? Why are they so rounded?
this is awesome!!
google kettle point.its in Ontario and has similar stones
How are the Moeraki Boulders believed to have been formed?
if you watch the video on the previous page, this is explained
They are really fascinating! one of our world’s wonders!
The boulders are weird but awesome
umm can i please have more facts about Moeraki Boulders
Please can you give me some information on the makeup of the boulders
Good Information, but more information should be put on this website about Moeraki Boulders. Thanks!