More Rocks... An Amazing Geological Wonderland...

 One of the biggest attractions in Golden Bay would have to be

all the amazing rock structures. This place is another

great place to explore on a hot day... It's well signposted on the

road from Takaka to Pohara... There is parking and entry

is free although donations to 'Friends of Labyrinth Rocks'

are gratefully received as is volunteer help to keep this place going.

 This is the map inside the free brochure available at the entrance.

As you can see there are two parts that are like a maze

and as I walked along the 3km of paths I really felt I could get lost,
but eventually they all come back to the main path.

The Labyrinth is a  two hectares (five acres) wonderland

of limestone rock formations and regenerating

native bush. Limestone is a sedimentary rock made

by the accumulation and consolidation of the remains of shells

plankton and other organisms that lived in the sea and

on the sea floor. The limestone in the Labyrinth

originated in the Oligocene geological era some

30 million years ago. About 25 million years ago

earthquakes and ruptures lifted this land out of the

sea and exposed it to the effects of weather and erosion.

The tremendous tectonic forces that caused this upheaval produced 

a series of cracks through the rock. This allowed rain,

 always slightly acidic, to percolate through and slowly dissolve

 the limestone (alkaline calcium carbonate). 

After millions of years the small cracks widened to become 

the 'canyons' that now form the Labyrinth.

Rain falling on bare rock surfaces continues the same

dissolving process and has produced these

incredible natural sculptures.

Water entering the vertical cracks escapes by finding its way through

horizontal weaknesses in the rock strata and in a similar fashion

produces undercuts, tunnels and caves. The maze area is a

spectacular example of this...

Silt from a nearby flooding river have filled the

deep canyons and made the paths to walk on

around this amazing natural phenomenon

which has taken millions of years to create.

It is  fascinating and awesome to explore... I highly recommend...