Birding On My Own - Australia and New Zealand 2002
Emmalee Tarry
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New Zealand South Island East Coast

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Moeriki Boulders

On the way to Dunedin, the highway passes the Moeraki Boulders Scenic Reserve. The moeraki boulders are a set of rounded stones formed in the ocean and deposited in sediments now above sea level. Gradually erosion exposes more and more boulders. There is a restaurant with public toilets and a track down to the beach.

On the coast of Northern California at a place called Sea Ranch there is a beach with similar boulders. Locals call it Bowling Ball Beach. It is open to the public, but not advertised.
This is a shot of the boulders on a rising tide about an hour away from high tide. Obviously it is better to view the boulders at lower tide, but you can still see them at high tide.

Originally there were many more boulders, but the smaller ones were souveniered to decorate lawns and gardens.
The boulders were formed in ocean deposits that are now above sea level. As the cliff behind the beach erodes more and more boulders are exposed. Here is a boulder that is not fully exposed.
Smaller boulders were removed from the beach to use as lawn ornaments. This driveway had a boulder on either side of the gate.


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