Index to “June-July 2026 South Island Trip” Series

On Monday 22 June 2026 I drove from home in Whanganui to Wellington to catch a Bluebridge Cook Strait ferry. I stopped the next two nights in Ward in Marlborough, visiting Ward Beach on the Tuesday. I then continued south reaching the south coast of Southland a few days later. One of the aims of the trip was to finish the draft of the book that Chrissy and I are compiling on Gemstone Beach stones. I returned home five weeks later. As usual, I documented the beaches I visited during this trip 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 beach and the stones that feature in that Post. For Indexes to other fossicking trips I’ve conducted in the past, see “An Annotated Index of Indexes on TumbleStone Blog”. 

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Ward Beach, looking south-west from the carpark.

The sea has eaten into the stone beach, leaving a steep drop in places. Looking north.

Ward Beach stones, wet from the waves.

Today’s collected 21.

Part 1 – Six Finds from Ward Beach, Tuesday 23 June

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The scattering of stones I checked out as I walked north.

Local fire truck crossing the new Kakanui bridge.

My 18 finds this afternoon.

Part 2 – A Bitterly Cold Kakanui Fossick, Thursday 25 June

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Looking back towards the carpark from the Taunoa Stream.

Chrissy on the beach near the start of the Waimeamea Lagoon.

This afternoon’s finds.

Part 3 – Four Breccia Finds, a Small Pinkie and a Tiny Poppy Jasper from Gemstone Beach, Monday 29 June

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This afternoon’s 29 finds.

Spherulites? See next photo.

Tiny waterline agate in vein.

Intriguing quartz vein.

Patches and patterns.

Some green epidote in the mix?

Dark hematite and translucent quartz.

Dark hematite and white quartz.

Part 4 – Intriguing Details in Small Jaspers Found on Gemstone Beach, Wednesday 1 July

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Looking west.

Later in the fossick, the clouds got darker.

Papatotara Beach stones.

My 13 finds this afternoon.

Part 5 – An Outstanding Poppy Jasper Find, Papatotara Beach, Friday 3 July

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Fossickers at the mouth of the Taunoa Stream.

Gemstone Beach stones.

My finds today.

Part 6 – Seven Featured Finds From Gemstone Beach, Tuesday 7 July

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A very wet and muddy beach entrance.

Looking east, more sand than when the tide is higher.

Looking west.

This afternoon’s 17 finds.

Part 7 – Second Papatotara Beach Fossick, Thursday 9 July 

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David’s display of rock finds. Source: http://www.facebook.com/sglc.rocks.

Andrew ran a rock quiz alongside his ventifacts display.

Michelle (left) and Amelia busy at the Deep South Pounamu table.

Tina (right) and Sorsha at the Club table, ready to hand out prizes. Source: http://www.facebook.com/sglc.rocks.

Pauline’s table featuring a range of petrified wood. Source: http://www.facebook.com/sglc.rocks.

Kaleb’s display of sea glass, with Sam and Sarah (and me) behind. Source: http://www.facebook.com/sglc.rocks.

Mike behind the table of Chrissy and Trevor’s stone jewellery. Source: http://www.facebook.com/sglc.rocks.

Chrissy explaining stuff about tumble polishing. Source: http://www.facebook.com/sglc.rocks.

Despite the sig, I still had to tell people they could take one home for free.

Part 8 – Southland Geological and Lapidary Club “Mini Rock and Mineral Show/Open Day”, Saturday 11 July 

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Part 9 – A Sunday Afternoon on Gemstone Beach, Sunday 12 July

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Looking back towards the carpark.

One of the greatly expanded areas of stones on the other side of the Taunoa Stream. Another fossicker coming our way.

My 66 finds from today.

Part 10 – Farewell Fossick on Gemstone Beach, Sunday 19 July 

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Lee on Seadown Beach.

Shona rockhounding on Seadown Beach.

Scattered stones, Seadown Beach.

Part 11 – Meeting Lee and Shona on Kakanui’s Seadown Beach, Tuesday 21 July 

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Part 12 – Jaspers and Quartzites from Timaru South, Wednesday 22 July 

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Just prior to a wave sweeping up the beach. Compare next photo.

A wave sweeping up the beach.

Part 13 – An Hour on Ward Beach, Sunday 26 July 

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Uplifted bedrock a couple of hundred metres upstream from the river mouth. Weld Cone in background.

Part 14 – Another Hour on Ward Beach, Monday 27 July

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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