TS2 – GEMSTONE BEACH

Gemstone Beach lies at the bottom of the South Island of New Zealand. Source: https://www.mapsland.com/maps/oceania/new-zealand/detailed-map-of-south-island-new-zealand-with-other-marks.jpg

Gemstone Beach is located at Orepuki on Te Waewae Bay (top left). Source: Google Maps.

Gemstone Beach, near Orepuki. Source: Google Maps.

Gemstone Beach, looking southwards.

Gemstone Beach is probably the most well-known stone fossicking beach in the lower South Island, as implied by its name (which was probably bestowed upon it when tourism signs were developed for the Southern Scenic Route many years ago). The beach lies 70 kms west of Invercargill, and the mountains of eastern Fiordland can be seen from it, further to the west. The beach is on the Te Waewae Bay coast, on the shores of Foveaux Strait. The name “Gemstone Beach” most narrowly applies to a 200 to 250 metre stretch of beach in front of the carpark opposite the “Gemstone Beach” sign just west of Orepuki. However, I use the name to refer also to the beach that runs from the carpark to the mouth of the Waimeamea River, 1.5 kilometres to the northwest.

Important Posts on Gemstone Beach include the Series “Gemstone Beach and Its Stones: An Introduction for the Passing Motorist” and “Gemstone Beach: Location on Te Waewae Bay”. 

Other Posts on TumbleStone Blog which provide an Introduction to Gemstone Beach:

• “March 2019 Stone Collecting Trip to Southern New Zealand – Gemstone Beach, from the Car Park to the Waimeamea River Mouth“ – A description of the area that I usually cover on my fossicking at the beach, with location map and aerial photos.
• “Thirty New Zealand TumbleStones for the USA – Part One: Ten from Gemstone Beach” – An introduction to the beach, with location map and aerial photos, plus a couple of handfuls of polished stones from the beach. December 2020.
• “O” is for “Opaque Orepuki Orbicular Jasper” and “P” is for “Planet in a Pebble” – The first of these two Posts from an alphabetical series contains a little background on the Orepuki area. September 2021.
• “South Island Stone Collecting Trip, May/June 2020 – Days Six to Ten” – The Days 7, 8 & 10 entries provide a sense of parts of the beach and the stones found there.
• “Another South Island Fossicking Trip, February/ March 2021 – Days 5 to 6 (Gemstone Beach)” – Includes some places on the beach and the stones I found there.
• “Here Is Where The Heart Is… Sea Winds Out On The Wild” – Provides an idea of how rough the sea can get at Gemstone Beach. September 2019.
• “Degrees of Polish Perfection – Four Tumble-Polished Gemstone Beach Stones” – An account of four Gemstone Beach stones, their discovery in February/March 2021 and their polishing.
• “What is Known About a Mining Application to Remove Gemstones from Gemstone Beach?” – A six-part series on a 2025 Application to NZ Petroleum and Minerals to mine gemstones, garnets and quartz from Gemstone Beach. The Application was withdrawn in November 2025 after considerable public reaction.

Other TumbleStoneTwo Pages on Gemstone Beach:

GEMSTONE BEACH: LOCATION ON TE WAEWAE BAY

GEMSTONE BEACH AND ITS STONES: AN INTRODUCTION FOR THE PASSING MOTORIST

GEMSTONE BEACH: MY STONE FOSSICKING

GEMSTONE BEACH: THE STONES

HOME – FOSSICKING BEACHES – BEACH STONES – TUMBLE-POLISHING – ABOUT ME

Author: tumblestoneblog

Retired Academic, male, living in the New Zealand countryside near Whanganui with his wife as well as Jasper the dog, Fluffy the cat, Dancer and Penny, the horses, and a shed half-full of stones. Email john.tumblestone@gmail.com. View all posts by tumblestoneblog