Sunday 21 February

Waipara Gorge

Grade:  Moderate

We walk through the riverbed in shallow river crossings, then return along the cliff tops/escarpment. There is an option for reverse direction too. Bring togs if you feel like a dip at the gorge.  

Suggest gaiters to keep little stones from getting into your boots in the riverbed and also stops seeds from getting into your socks on the escarpment.

Waipara River limestone is rich in fossilised shells and skeletal debris from the plants and animals that lived in the ocean over 65 million years ago. The first fossil bones to be discovered in New Zealand were found here in 1859. The river’s extraordinary fossil legacy includes huge shells, the bones of ancient penguins, and teeth from enormous sharks. We are likely to see giant ‘geological pearls’ known as concretions which contain the fossilised remains of marine reptiles such as mosasaur and plesiosaur.

Please book with leader by Friday if you intend to join this trip.