Moeraki Boulders is located approximately 40km (25 miles) south of the coastal fishing town of Oamaru, 300km south (180 miles) of Christchurch, on New Zealand’s South Island.

According to an ancient Maori legend, the boulders are gourds washed from the great voyaging canoe Arai-te-uru when it was wrecked upon landfall in New Zealand some 1000 years ago. The more mundane explanation is that the boulders are septarian concretions that formed about 65 million years ago, and were raised from the seabed 15 million years ago. Crystallization of calcium and carbonates around charged particles in muddy undersea sediments gradually formed the boulders in a process taking as long as four million years.

The boulders each weigh several tons, measuring up to 10 feet (3 meters) in diameter. The boulders have a hollow interior.

There is a nearby restaurant and gift shop overlooking the boulders, with a walkway down to the boulders. Note that there is a $2 charge for using this walkway. There is also a small public park about .5km from the boulders and the walk from there is enjoyable and easy.

While you are at Moeraki Boulders, here are some ideas to try.

• Sunrise. Moeraki Boulders is a fantastic place to catch the rising sun; however you need to take care to check the tide tables, and determine the direction of the rising sun. If you are camping at the nearby park, it is a .5km walk along the beach in the dark, not leaving you much time to setup for the sunrise. Also, be aware of the tide, the boulders, as in the image above, may be in the surf (I checked the afternoon before, and they were high and dry).
  
  
  
  
  
• Patterns. Try catching the pattern the boulders make by being scattered along the beach. The best time for this is in the early morning, since there is a small cliff face directly behind the boulders. Too late in the day, and the boulders may be in the shadows.
  
• Macro shots. Try some macro shots of the boulders themselves. Each boulder seems to have a series of vein type lines along their surface, giving each of the boulders a turtle shell like appearance. You will also notice a number of boulders that have been broken apart as a result of the wave action, a close up shot of the interior of the boulders will reveal some interesting patterns and colors as well.
  
• Explore along the cliff face. As you walk along the cliff face behind the boulders you will find new boulders emerging. These boulders will eventually find their way down to the waters edge, where the tides will eventually break them down.

If you are in the area in the late afternoon, the nearby village of Moeraki boasts one of the finest restaurants along the coast. Fleurs Place, which sits right on the waterfront at the old jetty, boasts outstanding food and drinks; the service, fast and friendly. During my visit, I was surprised to see that my order was taken on a Palm Pilot and sent via WiFi to the kitchen.

For those of us in the northern hemisphere, the seasons are reversed, with summer being from December to February.

New Zealand has mild temperatures, moderately high rainfall, and many hours of sunshine throughout most of the country. Its climate is dominated by two main geographical features — the mountains and the sea. In summer a light jacket or sweater should be included in your luggage should the weather turn cooler or you visit higher altitudes. You can expect some rain, so include a light rainproof jacket or coat. If visiting between May and September, pack warm winter garments and layer your clothing.