Moeraki Boulders Beach — Attraction in South Island

Now if your thing is big rocks on the beach, then this is it.

If not, stop and have a look anyway.

I find Moeraki a beautiful spot. Stop at the café grab a coffee and walk down the steps to the rocks themselves. When you look at them you realise they are like a huge version of those rocks with turned crystals inside.

Then keep going down to Moeraki village on the peninsula, only 4-5 mins drive away. Go to the fabulous Fleur's Restaurant fur great seafood (Rick Stein agrees), or if more of a beer budget then try the Moeraki Tavern..... Friendly, pleasant, good food and good prices. Sit inside in the timber interior, or outside on the large view deck. Simple but very nice.

There's a small design store down down the end of the road, lots of accommodation options, rental houses / camping ground / motel, and a great trip and drive/walk to Katiki Point aka Moeraki Lighthouse. See yellow eye penguins and many many seals.

Just another 5-20 mins up the road North is Hampden township. Very very small, but great pies at the café, the simply best Blue Cod fish and chips store, and a small supermarket that sells the largest ice-creams - on the planet (TM).

All a great base to explore the area.

I think I do like it...

If you never see so many round rocks gathering in one place, then this is the place to be. See it, touch it, feel it, sit on it, jump on it, make all sorts of selfie with it...but never forget the wonder of nature this place had to offer. It's very easy to get here. Drive from North(Oamaru) or from South(Dunedin) via State Highway 1(SH1) and you'll get there in less than an hour from either direction. Just make sure to watch for the sign of Moeraki Boulders as you could easily missed it if you're driving fast. There are 2 car parks, first is to go straight across the railway for 400m. Secondly is to follow the sign "Moeraki Boulders Cafe" where you could find toilets and a cafe. The beach is EASILY ACCESSIBLE from the CAFE compared to the other car park. Generously donate GOLD COINS($1 or $2 NZ coins) to the box just beside the access gate to the beach....

Nice area to stop by if you are into landscape photography.

Check the tides before you go. High tide on the day was at 453am. When we arrived for sunrise at approximately 7am, the tide at its highest was probably reaching a few inches up shore of the middle tier of boulders. Best to wear gum boots if you have them. By 8am, the tide had already receded to a point where it no longer touched the boulders.

Park near the cafe. It is a much shorter walk to the boulders than parking at the public carpark further south. Slight down hill walk from the carpark to the beach that’s definitely manageable. Please take note that the flight of stairs down to the beach could be slightly narrow and slippery.

There’s a sign saying that there’s a $2 entrance fee as the infrastructure leading down to the beach is private but it’s not clear...