Index to “August 2025 Stone Collecting Trip” Series: Part One, Posts 1 to 7

My August 2025 trip actually began on 28 July when I left home in Whanganui to catch a Bluebridge Cook Strait ferry in Wellington. On this trip, I visited some of my favourite South Island beaches again, and also consulted with Chrissy about the book we are preparing on the stones of Gemstone Beach. As usual, I documented the beaches I visited and the stones I collected for tumble polishing. In this Index, you can click on a link to be taken to the relevant Post. The photos above each link give you an idea of the beaches and the stones that feature in that Post. The first seven Posts in the Series are listed below. Part Two of this Index, Posts 8 to 14, can be found here. Posts 15 to 22 are listed here.

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My car and two widely-spaced camper vans.

Ward Beach stones.

Buried in the stones.

Part 1 – Outrunning the Storm to Ward Beach, Tuesday 29 July

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Seadown Beach this afternoon – you can just see a person standing by the rocks at the far right.

The best patch of stones was just beyond the buried rock.

Seadown Beach stones today.

Part 2 – A Stop on My Way: Lots More Sand on Kakanui’s Seadown Beach, Wednesday 30 July

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Looking back towards the Gemstone Beach carpark from the other side of the Taunoa Stream.

Chrissy fossicking, with Ohla the dog at the far right, near the cliffs.

My 19 finds today.

Part 3 – First Visit to Gemstone Beach, Friday 1 August

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A cold bleak Gemstone Beach today.

Chrissy, far left, and some of the other people on Gemstone Beach today.

Part 4 – Between the Beauty and the Pain, Gemstone Beach, Saturday 2 August

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…and the horse going.

The aircraft overhead.

Part 5 – A Horse on Gemstone Beach, An Aircraft Overhead, Sunday 3 August

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Down near the Waimeamea River Lagoon, lots of stones.

My finds today.

Part 6, A Simple Song, A Simple Stone, Gemstone Beach, Tuesday 5 August

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On the way back, the beach in front of the carpark, viewed from just west of the Taunoa Stream.

More Gemstone Beach stones.

Gemstone Beach seagulls.

Part 7, A Rhodonite Find on Gemstone Beach, Wednesday 6 August

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Part Two of this Index, Posts 8 to 14, can be found here.

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