Wairere Boulders, New Zealand
Hiking in Wairere Boulders Nature Park, Horeke, New Zealand
Wairere Boulders, Horeke, Hokianga, Northland
A surprise geological find on a farm in Northland is drawing tourists from around the world.
The stunning rock formation at Horeke - the Wairere boulders - lay hidden for more than 100 years until a Swiss couple stumbled across it, thanks to their goat.
Felix and Rita Schaad bought the overgrown land in 1983 on arriving in New Zealand, not knowing it had a hidden secret.
It was four years after they had moved into their remote valley farm when the couple stumbled over the ancient treasure trove, while out catching wild goats with their dog.
Approaching the goat, Rita says they found rocks piled on each other looking like a river of stones.
After discovering their humble home was hiding a geological piece of paradise, it was always their intention to show it off to the world. But their dream was only realised six years ago when the determined couple began building pathways by hand through their jungle oasis.
It is one of the most awesome activities and an exciting adventure to explore this unique Tourism Attraction. The valley, formed by basalt boulders, features an easy walk and tracks and the unique walking possibilities make it an outstanding site of eco-tourism or nature tourism.
We are open every day during daylight hours !!
The length of the basalt rock amassments on the valley floor is 1 1/2 km. There are thousands of boulders stacked on top of each other, some around 30 m high. They look like a stream of rocks and boulders flowing down towards the Hokianga Harbour.
At a first look, everybody thinks the rocks are a limestone formations because of their deep cuts called fluting, but it is actually basalt.
Photo: fluted rocks
The markings on the boulders are called fluting, karst, clints, lapiez or solution pits. Often it is referred to it as pseudocarst Fluting can be the cause by stream and water erosion or by pyroclastic flows. In our case however it is caused by acidity. It is the result of chemical leaching by acids generated by the Kauri forests that used to exist in the area.
Read about the Cause of the Fluting
In the early days of New Zealand settlement, parts of the valley were logged and mainly Rimu (type of timber) was extracted. The river was dammed to flush logs down through the canyon. Some logs from that time are still stuck between rocks, and old stumps can still be found in the bush near the upper part of the boulder area.
Log from logging time of early settlers stuck between rocks
The site of the saw mill (the first water driven mill in New Zealand owned by William Webster is still to be seen. New Zealand's first steam mill, imported as well by William Webster was initially built at the Hokianga Heads but later moved to Wairere. Remnants of the loading facilities to ship timber down the Wairere river to the Hokianga Harbour are still to be seen.
In the early days there was a complete village, called Wairere, on the left valley side. It is to be found on older maps and was mainly for housing of timber mill workers. Some of the locations of dwellings can still be detected and some bits and pieces of old china prove that there were people living here in the early settlers' days. The first written report about the boulders, we are aware of, is in the Maori Journal, written by John Webster, the younger brother of William Webster.
Later the interest in the valley faded. We know that on the bottom end there was some livestock farming to produce cream at the beginning of last century and in 1946 the old milking shed on the right valley side was abandoned. A new milking shed was then erected on the left valley side. The old cottage was transformed into a hay barn, but we later restored it to its original beauty. (For more detail see the Schaad Homepage)
When we (Rita & Felix) purchased the valley in 1983, nobody had an interest in the area. It was considered to be too tough to live in that valley and neither livestock farming nor growing timber seemed to be a valuable option.
Wairere Boulders, Northland, New Zealand
A world unique and only eroded basalt boulder formation (as far as known) in the Wairere valley, Northland, New Zealand. You can enjoy 40 minutes to 2 hours walking.
ニュージーランド、ノースランド地方にある世界でも珍しい玄武岩の巨石が織りなす自然の渓谷。40分から2時間ほどのウォーキングを楽しむことができます。
Wairere Boulders Nature Park Part 1
Wairere Boulders
On “牛bee西兰”, Ethan is going to take you to different interesting spots throughout New Zealand. On this episode, we are going to Wairere Boulders. Natural boulders that were carved by the waters that became mildly acidic while passing through kauri roots and shaped these incredible rock formations.
Wairere Boulders Horeke Hokianga Northland
Introduction to Wairere Boulders
Lost in the Wairere Boulders Nature Park, New Zealand
Part of a series of videos taken at the Wairere Boulders in Horeke, New Zealand, North Island
Wairere Boulders
An easy stroll through a private National Park in Horeke shows you the fantastic basalt boulder formation. The surface erosion on the rocks is absolutely unique and was not known to the scientific world, before discovery of the valley by Rita and Felix Schaad, while catching wild goats in the subtropical rain forest surrounding the boulders. A track leads you over 23 bridges stairs and step, up to a lookout over the valley.
Wairere Boulders prt 1.
Flown over the Wairere Boulders on a very windy day, sorry for jello the gopro did not like the wind much. Its an awesome place to go and reckomend every taking the hike to the top for the view its well worth the trek, a video coming soon to show you.Not far from Horeke and Kaikohe.
Wairere Boulders Nature Park part2
Wairere falls walk, waikato, nz
Wairere Boulders prt2.
Another flight over the Wairere Boulders, this time from the top lookout point. This really upset the Y6 with the wind and hot air coming of the rocks but still it was fun.
Horeke Wharf, Utakura Valley, northland,new zealand
i could not help myself the other day when i was down in horeke having a look into the past, so i walked out along the wharf to show how it now looks to the ones who remember what it used to look like back in the days... i bet a few memories are getting stirred in my cuzzies brains aye
Exploring Hokianga: Koutu Boulders & Hokianga Heads Walks – New Zealand's Biggest Gap Year
Day 361: Today we’re checking out some of the best things to do in Hokianga – the Koutu Boulders and doing some stunning walks at the Hokianga Heads, otherwise known as Arai Te Uru Reserve.
Yesterday – Day 360 ➜
Tomorrow – Day 362 ➜
[Newest “Travel Tips” Video] How to Save Money on Accommodation When Travelling New Zealand ➜
-- About this video –
Today is our last day on the Hokianga Harbour in the towns of Omapere and Opononi. We are checking out some of the free things to do in Hokianga starting with the Koutu Boulders – the North Island’s Moeraki Boulders! If you’re looking for walks in Northland then don’t miss these Northland walks!
So what do you think of the Koutu Boulders in Hokianga and the Signal Station Track in Arai Te Uru? Would you add these Northland activities to your Hokianga travel itinerary? LUK in the comments!
#BackpackerGuideNZ #Northland #NZMustDo #TravelNewZealand #NewZealand #TravelNZ
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-- New Zealand Biggest Gap Year --
365 Days: 365 Activities
BackpackerGuide.NZ is New Zealand’s biggest online travel guide for adventure and budget travel in New Zealand. Join us, as the team behind BackpackerGuide.NZ, Robin and Laura, update the travel guide while taking on 365 Days: 365 Activities in New Zealand! It’s New Zealand’s Biggest Gap Year! We release new videos of the New Zealand backpacking adventure every single day, as well as New Zealand travel tips and 360 videos every Sunday so start making your New Zealand bucket list!
Read more about the Koutu Boulders and Hokianga Heads hikes on New Zealand’s biggest guide for backpackers:
-- More Things to Do in Hokianga New Zealand –
Hokianga – Guide for Backpackers ➜
10 Reasons to Stop in Hokianga ➜
10 Outstanding Things to Do in Opononi & Omapere ➜
Walking on the Wairere Falls summit track, Waikato NZ
Mataitaua Marae, Utakura Valley, northland, new zealand
a very sobering experience to see this palce from what i do remember from growing up. it has changed an massive amount and has made me think alota bout the past and things that have happened on this marae. i will love this place forever and will hold it in that special place in my heart
Mataitaua Marae, Utakura Valley, northland, new zealand
this is rather a wake up call for me as it has changed a hell of alot since my childhood, the wharekai is now gone and i dont know why?the marae is looking a lil run down also.i was afraid of going onto the grounds because i didnt know why it looked so rundown from the outside. i truly cant answer any questions and im not even sure fi what i have said above is even correct... so dont take it personal, just look at the pretty picture
Discovering the Koutu Boulders in Opononi, New Zealand
In this video I visit the Koutu Boulders on the West Coast of New Zealand's Northland. Just across the harbour from Opononi, these magnificent works of nature are quite special to see.
Be sure to SUBSCRIBE to Your Virtual Tour Guide to see videos from Northland, the entire country of New Zealand and beyond. I'm a Canadian living in NZ, so as a foreign local, I know all the good spots tourists want to see!
Here is the link to Google Maps to know exactly where I went :
Have a spot in Northland you want me to check out? Comment below!
Wairere river during flood of 27.02.2007
On 27.02.2007 the Wairere river in Horeke, Hokianga, Northland New Zealand was flooding. As many tourist have never the chance to enjoy this spectacular event, we have recorded it for them to view.