New Zealand,  South Island

Moeraki Boulders | New Zealand

Last updated on 25 March 2024

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moeraki boulders otago new zealand

The Moeraki Boulders are not as big as I thought they were.

On our trip down the South Island coast this summer, my friend and I stopped off at the Moeraki Boulders, a hot spot for tourists and locals alike, especially for the photo opportunities. While I think I have been there before, I would have been very young and, like Gandalf, have no memory of this place.

“The Moeraki Boulders are a group of very large spherical “stones” on Koekohe Beach near Moeraki on New Zealand’s Otago coast. These boulders are actually concretions that have been exposed through shoreline erosion from coastal cliffs that back the beach. The boulders are one of the most fascinating and popular attractions on the South Island.” – Moeraki Boulders website

Like I said, I think the hype and the mass amounts of photos online and in brochures that have been embedded in my brain over the years made me think that they were a whole lot bigger than they were, and that there were way more of them.

That’s all very well and good, you say, but …

Were the Moeraki Boulders worth the stop?

Yeah, totally. They’re a weird phenomenon, and it’s crazy to think that they are natural. They’re really are large spherical stones. It’s like if giants had a game of marbles going on. That’s what it’s like.

It’s definitely something to add to your New Zealand bucket list, just make sure you check the tides before visit. If we had arrived any later than we did, it would have been a rather wet experience.

Have you visited the Moeraki Boulders? 

Anjali Kay is an Aotearoa New Zealand-based blogger and book lover sharing travel inspiration, bookish posts, the occasional creative project, and a lot of practical blogging tips here at This Splendid Shambles. Based in Auckland, she's been writing book reviews and travel posts, sharing creative projects and blogging tips since she started her first blog in 2009. When she's not working on her own blog, Anjali also offers blog coaching and support for bloggers who want real guidance from someone who's actually done the work, and is a few chapters ahead of them.

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