NOTE March 2024: I have been advised that currently this is the only Slope Point fossicking beach to which access is allowed by landowners. This morning I drove 90 minutes east from Riverton to Slope Point, the southernmost tip of the South Island. Slope Point has cropped up in NZ rockhounding books etc. for many years, but it can be difficult to visit. Problems with access, especially the steep slopes and distance from good roads, mean that the fossicker has to be determined and prepared to carry heavy finds some distance back up-hill. Wet weather and slippery muddy conditions exacerbate the difficulty. Rock and Mineral Club expeditions sometimes head this way. For example, a group associated with the Tauranga Gem and Mineral Club visited last month. There are apparently three beaches here that fossickers visit, I have been to two of them. Some of the Slope Point stones have arisen from Jurassic Era volcanic activity and debris flows. Petrified wood, fossil tree fern, colourful rhyolites and interesting breccia can be found there. Before I describe some of my finds, I will describe how I got to the beach.
Driving past the tourist carpark, along Slope Point Road, I followed a narrow gravel road for about a kilometre and parked just off to the side, immediately after a “4WD ONLY” sign (see photos below). This small informal parking area is opposite a track which branches off sharply to the left and goes down the hill. There are two gates on this track – the first I could unlatch and walk through, but the second is chained and padlocked. The second gate also has barbed wire running along its side, making it difficult to climb. I made sure to climb over at the hinge end, the most stable end.
Once over the second gate, I turned right and walked on a grassy track along the fence until it turned left and went downhill towards the beach. After going down a steepish slope, I passed by what looks like an old holiday bach/crib (see photo below), down to a small stony beach with a high steep cliff along one side. The tide was going out but the waves had a lot of energy. For safety, I fossicked about two or three metres from where they were reaching. I spent three hours on the beach.
When driving back down the narrow road, I met a Department of Conservation vehicle, then another from Environment Southland. We had to slow right down and squeeze past each other. This road needs to be driven with a lot of care.
More information on Slope Point can be found here.
To turn to some of the finds from my fossick today. The most interesting was a rough little stone (3 cm at its longest) that I nearly abandoned until I glimpsed some patterns on one side. This is a chrysanthemum rhyolite, the “chrysanthemums” being cross-sections through large spherulites that formed the rock. It is worth tumble polishing for that one patterned side alone.
Another stone I nearly left on the beach is this large breccia, 7 cm long. I thought it rather subdued in colour, but liked its composition. When I took photos of it back at my accommodation, the close-ups revealed what I assume to be a complex crystal structure.
Two other breccia stones, both gorgeous in their own way – the first is light in colour but packed with tiny fragments of many different colours, the second consists of variations of red and white.
Some of the rhyolites I collected (though the fourth I’m not sure of):
Four more finds:
I was exhausted by the time I got back to Riverton Aparima, but the trip was well worth it.
The next Post in the “Southern Sojourn 2023” Series takes us back to Gemstone Beach again. The first Post in the Series is here. The Index to the Series is here.
Hi! I was at that exact beach today and I had amazing time fossicking. I have found so much beautiful stones that I don’t know what to do with. Lots of petr. wood, conglomerates, rhyolites… Thank you for providing the directions on how to get there, and thank you for all the amazing blogs and photos. Can’t wait to see Gemstone beach next!
Glad you found the beach and some interesting stones!