Post 1
Post 2
I have been able to arrange an accommodation base in Riverton Aparima in Southland for a few weeks, possibly a few months. This means my tumblers have become silent and my focus has turned to fossicking once again, after six months spent at home. I crossed Cook Strait by ferry on Tuesday 17 January, spending the night at Ward. The next morning, I drove out to Ward Beach, spending just under two hours there. As it is the height of the summer holiday season, quite a few campers were located at the ground at the back of the beach. A few large vehicles for launching boats were also at the back of the beach. The day was cloudy, with low clouds hiding the tops of the hills. I decided to cross the Flaxbourne River and walk southwards as I had not been down that way previously. This will give me an opportunity to collect information about this area to add to the TumbleStoneTwo page on Ward Beach.
At this time of the year, the Flaxbourne River has only a very light flow. Last time I was here, in July 2022, the river had been in flood, and the beach was piled high with forestry slash and the water was heavy with silt.
The Ward Beach boulders, to the north of the carpark.
Forestry slash on Ward Beach, July 2022.
Forestry slash on Ward Beach, July 2022.
Easily wading the river’s trickle today, with the beach being clear of the slash, I passed a seal sunbathing on nearby rocks. The beach to the south initially contains a lot of rocks on the seaward side of the pebbly beach, with pockets of stones sometimes lying in-between the rocks. Jagged outcrops of limestone thrust up through the sand and pebbles. Then there is a long sweeping beach, at the end of which is Needles Point. The Needles are a spectacular coastal limestone outcrop about three kilometres south of Ward Beach (another is Chancet Rocks to the north).
The area I visited on 18 January 2023. Google Maps
Ward Beach, 18 January 2023, in front of the carpark, looking a little south.
Looking from the carpark to the river mouth
The Flaxbourne River as it is about to flow into the sea.
Looking back to the carpark and camping area from the river mouth.
Seal on rocks near the river mouth.
One of the jagged limestone outcrops. The Needles in the far background.
The first part of the beach south of the river mouth is dominated by rocks.
Stones can be found amidst the rocks.
Some boulder-like rocks here too.
After the rock stretch, there is a sweeping pebble beach all the way to The Needles.
The Needles.
Among the stones found during my fossick were a few with agate in them. In this stone, the agate has filled holes in what I think likely is limestone.
Ward Beach stone.
The following type of agate-veined limestone pebble can also be found on Ward Beach. Below it is a veined limestone pebble where agate is not apparent.
At one point on the beach, there was a white rock about 35 cm long with some agate veins. This contrasts in size to a small white and black pebble I found, about 2 cm long.
Rock in the sand/pebbles on Ward Beach.
Small Ward Beach stone.
There is a great range of limestone pebbles here of different colours and textures. Many of them contain zoophycos trace fossils (see here).
Zoophycos trace fossil in limestone.
Two other stones I found today – the first is maybe brecciated limestone, 4 cm long, and the second a granite or basalt porphyry, containing feldspar crystals, that is about 6 cm long (for more information on the second type of stone, see Stone #2 in this Post).
Brecciated limestone?
Volcanic porphyry stone.
A drive of just over three hours then took me 230 kms south to Leithfield Beach in Canterbury, just north of Christchurch. I know fossickers have found petrified wood and interesting jaspers here. I often drop in on this beach on my way past, though it has not proved very productive for me (except the day I found five pieces of petrified wood – see “L” is for “Leithfield Beach Petrified Wood” in the second part of this Post). Today, I decided to visit the section of beach just a little south of where I normally go, spending an hour there. I parked near the community hall and public toilets.
The short trail between the carpark and the beach.
Looking north towards old stormwater drain pipes.
Looking south, dog walker in far distance.
The stones on Leithfield Beach.
I find it difficult to find a stone on Leithfield Beach that is not pitted or has chunks taken out of it. However the jaspers can be irresistible. Here are four of the jaspers I found.
Some agate in this gorgeous small jasper (3 cm long)
6 cm long jasper.
Other side of stone.
Next stops, next day, will be Timaru South and Kakanui’s Seadown Beach. See this Post for my fossick at Timaru South. The Index to the whole Series is here.
