-	All photographs of Moeraki Boulders

Moeraki village, a couple of kilometres south of Hampden, in North Otago on the South Island Of New Zealand. Moeraki is a charming fishing village, its a lot quieter here today than it was in its rowdy past as a busy whaling station.

The Waitaha Maori people were resident in the Moeraki area since the 13th century. There was a Maori pa (fortified settlement) south of Moeraki at Katiki Point, built by Taoka, a well known hostile chief of the late 17th to early 18th centuries. The Pa is renowned for the battle called “Te Hakopa” where Chief Taoka’s warriors defended this site against an attack staged by a group of Maori from Kaikoura.

Quite a few Pakeha (white men) were killed and eaten by the local Maori before John Hughes, W.I Haberfield and other men from the Weller brothers' Otago whaling station, established a whaling station at Moeraki Bay, on Boxing Day, 1836.That was the start of European occupation in the area.

Today Moeraki is a charming little fishing village built on the north side of the Moeraki Peninsula at the south end of the Moeraki Beach. There are plenty of roads and tracks up nearby hills to some stunning lookout points for panoramic views of the coast, The village is home to the Kotahitanga Church, which was built in 1862, the stained glass windows were made in Rome. The north facing bay has many colourful fishing boats which keep local restaurants in an abundant array of the freshest possible seafood. Enjoy watching the boats come and go, along with seals, penguins and dolphins. There is also a local tavern, camping ground, store and a gift shop. On the point is the Moeraki Lighthouse where there is a bird sanctuary as well as observatory where you can go and watch yellow eyed penguins coming ashore in the evening.

Take the Koekohe Beach walk to the stunning Moeraki boulders. The boulders are 65 million years old and scattered like giant marbles in the sand on the beach. The sea is slowly eroding the boulders and is always uncovering new ones, some are up to one and a half metres in diameter. The world famous Moeraki Boulders are sectarian concretions. Crystallization of calcium and carbonates around charged particles, muddy sea-floor sediments gradually formed the boulders in a process similar to that which creates pearls, but taking as long as four million years. Later when the seabed became raised, the soft sandstone around the boulders began to erode away freeing the boulders from the embankment above the beach.

Moeraki has a modest range of accommodation, there is enough here to please all travellers who are planning to stay and enjoy this quaint seaside village. We recommend you pre-book your Moeraki accommodation, so you can relax in the thought that quality accommodation awaits your stay.