List of rock formations of New Zealand

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 geomorpholohy. Notable rock formations are also formed through constructive processes such as geothermal and volcanic deposits, and sedimentary deposition.

North Island formations[]

Formation	Region	Type	Summary	Location
Cape Kidnappers	Hawke's Bay	Wave erosion, sea stack		39°38′51″S 177°05′12″E / 39.647473°S 177.086699°E / -39.647473; 177.086699
Castle Craig Rock	Waikato	Terrestrial erosion		38°15′35″S 174°49′15″E / 38.25972°S 174.82083°E / -38.25972; 174.82083
Castlepoint	Wellington, Wairarapa	Wave erosion		40°53′55″S 176°13′14″E / 40.89861°S 176.22056°E / -40.89861; 176.22056
Cathedral Cove	Waikato, Coromandel Peninsula	Wave erosion, cave, sea stack		36°49′42″S 175°47′24″E / 36.82833°S 175.79000°E / -36.82833; 175.79000
The	Northland, Whangaroa	Terrestrial erosion, igneous rock		35°03′03″S 173°44′59″E / 35.050731°S 173.749623°E / -35.050731; 173.749623
Hole in the Rock	Northland, Piercy Island	Wave erosion, Natural arch	Limestone island with a natural arch. Significant tourist attraction.	35°09′56″S 174°20′21″E / 35.165437°S 174.339061°E / -35.165437; 174.339061
Horeke basalts, Wairere Boulders	Northland	Terrestrial erosion, igneous rock	Lava flow broken up as lower strata removed by erosion. Notable corrugation on basalt boulders.^[2]	35°22′29″S 173°35′47″E / 35.374687°S 173.596301°E / -35.374687; 173.596301
Kupe's Sail	Wellington, Wairarapa, Palliser Bay		A dipping bed of slightly more resistant rock protruding above weaker rock.	41°36′16″N 175°15′58″E / 41.60448°N 175.26616°E / 41.60448; 175.26616
	Northland	Wave erosion		35°27′29″S 173°24′53″E / 35.458139°S 173.414767°E / -35.458139; 173.414767
Lion Rock	Auckland, Piha	Wave erosion, sea stack	Prominent islet with shear cliffs of volcanic conglomerate	36°57′13″S 174°27′57″E / 36.953685°S 174.465880°E / -36.953685; 174.465880
Mangapohue Natural Bridge	Waikato	Terrestrial erosion, karst		38°15′40″S 174°53′57″E / 38.261043°S 174.899301°E / -38.261043; 174.899301
Natural Vase^{[citation needed]}	Waikato, Coromandel Peninsula	Wave erosion
Orakei Korako (including Golden Fleece Terrace and Rainbow Terrace)	Bay of Plenty	Geothermal	Geothermal terraces formed by minerals precipitating as the water cools.	38°28′25″S 176°08′55″E / 38.47361°S 176.14861°E / -38.47361; 176.14861
Pink and White Terraces	Bay of Plenty, Mount Tarawera	Geothermal	Significant 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″S 176°25′50″E / 38.26111°S 176.43056°E / -38.26111; 176.43056
The Pinnacles	Waikato, Coromandel Peninsula	Terrestrial erosion, volcanic rock	Andesite lava spires preserved when the weaker neighboring pyroclastic rocks were eroded.^[4]	37°02′36″S 175°43′34″E / 37.043223°S 175.726249°E / -37.043223; 175.726249
and Cathedral Rocks	Wanganui-Manawatu, Mount Ruapehu	Terrestrial erosion, volcanic rock	Rock spires of andesite near summit of Mount Ruapehu.	39°14′30″S 175°34′00″E / 39.24167°S 175.56667°E / -39.24167; 175.56667
Poor Knights Islands	Northland	Wave erosion, natural arch		35°30′S 174°45′E / 35.500°S 174.750°E / -35.500; 174.750
Putangirua Pinnacles	Wellington, Wairarapa	Terrestrial erosion, sedimentary rock		41°27′05″S 175°13′20″E / 41.45139°S 175.22222°E / -41.45139; 175.22222
	Wellington, Wairarapa	Wave erosion		41°34′20″S 175°25′50″E / 41.57222°S 175.43056°E / -41.57222; 175.43056
Three Sisters and Elephant Rock^[5]	Taranaki	Wave erosion, sea stacks and natural arch	Notable for their well documented partial destruction from wave erosion.	38°49′11″S 174°34′51″E / 38.819608°S 174.580815°E / -38.819608; 174.580815
Waimangu Volcanic Rift Valley (including Cathedral Rocks and Warbrick Terrace)	Bay of Plenty	Geothermal		38°17′10″S 176°23′15″E / 38.28611°S 176.38750°E / -38.28611; 176.38750
	Northland, Hikurangi	Terrestrial erosion, sedimentary rock		35°35′15″S 174°17′10″E / 35.58750°S 174.28611°E / -35.58750; 174.28611
Young Nick's Head	Gisborne	Wave erosion		38°45′25″S 177°57′50″E / 38.75694°S 177.96389°E / -38.75694; 177.96389

South Island formations[]

Formation	Region	Type	Summary	Location
Blackhead	Otago, Dunedin	Wave erosion, volcanic rock and sea stacks	Rock spires with basaltic columnar jointing	45°55′50″S 170°26′00″E / 45.93056°S 170.43333°E / -45.93056; 170.43333
Boulder Bank	Nelson	Wave erosion and deposition		41°14′S 173°18′E / 41.233°S 173.300°E / -41.233; 173.300
Castle Hill	Canterbury	Terrestrial erosion, sedimentary rock		43°13′45″S 171°43′00″E / 43.22917°S 171.71667°E / -43.22917; 171.71667
Cathedral Caves	Otago, The Catlins	Wave erosion, cave		46°36′30″S 169°22′50″E / 46.60833°S 169.38056°E / -46.60833; 169.38056
Cook's Head Rock	Otago	Wave erosion		46°12′05″S 170°04′50″E / 46.20139°S 170.08056°E / -46.20139; 170.08056
Curio Bay	Southland, The Catlins	Wave erosion	Petrified forest^[2]	46°39′45″S 169°05′55″E / 46.66250°S 169.09861°E / -46.66250; 169.09861
Elephant Rocks	Otago, Waitaki Valley	Terrestrial erosion, sedimentary rock		44°53′35″S 170°39′20″E / 44.89306°S 170.65556°E / -44.89306; 170.65556
Farewell Spit	Tasman	Wave erosion and deposition		40°31′S 172°52′E / 40.517°S 172.867°E / -40.517; 172.867
Huriawa Peninsula	Otago, Karitane	Wave erosion, natural arch and sea stacks		45°38′30″S 170°40′00″E / 45.64167°S 170.66667°E / -45.64167; 170.66667
Kaitorete Spit	Canterbury	Wave erosion and deposition		43°50′S 172°33′E / 43.833°S 172.550°E / -43.833; 172.550
Knights Point	West Coast	Wave erosion, sea stacks	Cliff and sea stacks formed by combination of uplift on the Alpine Fault and high erosion.^[6]	43°42′45″S 169°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″S 170°39′04″E / 45.90500°S 170.65111°E / -45.90500; 170.65111
Lovers Leap and The Chasm^[7]	Otago, Sandymount	Wave erosion, natural arch		45°53′35″S 170°40′44″E / 45.89306°S 170.67889°E / -45.89306; 170.67889
Moeraki Boulders	Otago	Wave erosion	Stong calcite concreations eroded out of a weak marine mudstone. Boulders also present in the cliff face and nearby streams.^[2]	45°20′55″S 170°49′40″E / 45.34861°S 170.82778°E / -45.34861; 170.82778
Nevis Bluff	Otago, Kawarau Valley	Seismic uplift, river erosion	Steep mica schist cliff face.	45°02′15″S 168°59′50″E / 45.03750°S 168.99722°E / -45.03750; 168.99722
Nugget Point	Otago, The Catlins	Wave erosion, sea stacks	Several sea stacks at the end of a prominent headland. The near vertical sandstone bedding creating steep planar cliffs.	46°26′50″S 169°48′55″E / 46.44722°S 169.81528°E / -46.44722; 169.81528
Obelisk (Kopuwai)^[8]	Otago, Old Man Range	Freeze thaw weathering		45°20′31″S 169°12′36″E / 45.34194°S 169.21000°E / -45.34194; 169.21000
The Old Man of the Buller	West Coast, Buller River			41°57′00″S 172°17′50″E / 41.95000°S 172.29722°E / -41.95000; 172.29722
Omarama Clay Cliffs	Otago, Ahuriri Valley	Glacial erosion		44°29′20″S 169°52′00″E / 44.48889°S 169.86667°E / -44.48889; 169.86667
Ōnawe Peninsula	Canterbury, Banks Peninsula	Wave erosion		43°46′30″S 172°55′30″E / 43.77500°S 172.92500°E / -43.77500; 172.92500
Oparara Basin Arches	West Coast	Terrestrial erosion, natural arch	Ground water erosion along the boundary of the basement granite and overlying limestone has formed caves and archers.	41°08′45″S 172°11′15″E / 41.14583°S 172.18750°E / -41.14583; 172.18750
The Organ Pipes	Otago, Dunedin	Terrestrial erosion, volcanic rock	Rock spire with basaltic columnar jointing	45°48′30″S 170°34′00″E / 45.80833°S 170.56667°E / -45.80833; 170.56667
Pancake Rocks	West Coast, Punakaiki	Wave erosion, natural arch	A coastal karst geomorphology. The apparent bedding within the limestone may be due to pressure solution of calcite during burial.^[2]	42°06′50″S 171°19′35″E / 42.11389°S 171.32639°E / -42.11389; 171.32639
The Pyramids	Otago, Dunedin	Wave erosion, seas stack		45°49′25″S 170°43′15″E / 45.82361°S 170.72083°E / -45.82361; 170.72083
Rapanui (Shag Rock)	Canterbury, Christchurch	Wave erosion, Sea Stack	Sea stack partially destroyed in the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake.	43°33′50″S 172°45′00″E / 43.56389°S 172.75000°E / -43.56389; 172.75000
Split Apple Rock	Tasman	Wave erosion, igneous rock	A spheroidal granite block divided on a joint.^[9]	41°01′05″S 173°01′15″E / 41.01806°S 173.02083°E / -41.01806; 173.02083
Te Anau glacial erratic	Southland, Te Anau	Glacial deposition	A Geological Reserve. During a past glacial advance this boulder was carried c. 50 km from the Fiordland mountains.^[10]	45°31′28″S 167°48′37″E / 45.52444°S 167.81028°E / -45.52444; 167.81028
^[11]	West Coast, Punakaiki	Wave erosion	Sea cliffs in sandstone and mudstone with a raised shore platform.	42°05′31″S 171°20′20″E / 42.09194°S 171.33889°E / -42.09194; 171.33889
Tunnel Beach	Otago, Dunedin	Wave erosion, Natural arch	Sandstone sea cliffs and natural bridge, with man made tunnel.	45°55′15″S 170°27′30″E / 45.92083°S 170.45833°E / -45.92083; 170.45833
Wharariki Beach	Tasman	Wave erosion, natural arch		40°30′10″S 172°40′43″E / 40.50278°S 172.67861°E / -40.50278; 172.67861

Formations elsewhere[]

Photo	Formation	Region	Type	Summary	Location
	Gog and Magog	Stewart Island / Rakiura	Volcanic plugs		47°11′45″S 167°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″S 176°38′55″W / 43.80611°S 176.64861°W / -43.80611; -176.64861

Maps[]

Young Nick's Head

Cathedral Cove

Dome of Saint Paul

Waro Limestone Reserve

Putangirua Pinnacles

Cape Kidnappers

Pink and White Terraces

Lion Rock

Wairere Boulders

Hole in the Rock

Koutu Boulders

Kupe's Sail

Orakei Korako

Pinnacle Ridge

Castle Craig Rock & Mangapohue Natural Bridge

Te Kaukau Point

Waimangu Valley

The Pinnacles

Three Sisters and Elephant Rock

Castlepoint

Poor Knights Islands

Blackhead & Tunnel Beach

Kaitorete Spit

Old Man of the Buller

Huriawa Pen.

Split Apple Rock

Oparara River Arches

Rapanui Rock

Pancake Rocks & Trueman Track

Boulder Bank

Moeraki Boulders

Pyramids & Lovers Leap

Organ Pipes

Onawe Pen.

Nugget Pt.

Omarama Clay Cliffs

Cook's Head

Elephant Rocks

Curio Bay

Cathedral Caves

Castle Hill

Te Anau glacial erratic

Wharariki Beach

Farewell Spit

Knights Point

Obelisk

Gog and Magog

References[]

^ Cotton, Charles Andrew (1949). Geomorphology: an introduction to the study of landforms. Wiley.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d Thornton, Jocelyn (2009). The Field Guide to New Zealand Geology: An Introduction to Rocks, Minerals and Fossils. Penguin. ISBN 9780143202592.
^ 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.
^ William), Hayward, Bruce W. (Bruce (1971). The geology and eruptive history of the Table Mountain region, Coromandel Peninsula (Thesis). ResearchSpace@Auckland.
^ "Memory is all that's left of Elephant Rock, now trunk-less". Stuff. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
^ 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.
^ "Hidden Otago". hiddenotago.co.nz. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
^ "History and culture". www.doc.govt.nz. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
^ "Split Apple Rock: Sitting pretty just off..." The Earth Story. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
^ Hayward, Bruce; Hayward, Bruce; Taonga, New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu. "Glacial erratic at Te Anau". Retrieved 19 November 2018.
^ Wilson, Kerry-Jayne (2013). West Coast Walking: A Naturalist's Guide. Canterbury University Press. ISBN 9781927145425.

[1] Cotton, Charles Andrew (1949). Geomorphology: an introduction to the study of landforms. Wiley.

[:0-2] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d 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). ResearchSpace@Auckland.

[5] "Memory is all that's left of Elephant Rock, now trunk-less". Stuff. Retrieved 21 November 2018.

[CooperKostro2006-6] 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". www.doc.govt.nz. Retrieved 12 December 2018.

[9] "Split Apple Rock: Sitting pretty just off..." The Earth Story. 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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