Find the ancient fossil forest
Time: 5 mins to the beach
Grade: Easy
Start: Waikawa – Curio Bay Road beach car park Get Google Maps directions
This area boasts some of the best wildlife and some amazing rock formations all in a relatively small area. Tumu Toka translates to “hard wood”, which is a reference to the ancient fossil forest with imprints of ferns and fallen trees around 180 million years old seen at low tide. Nearby nest the endangered Hoiho yellow eyed penguins. Also accessed from this area is Porpoise Bay where in summer you might see the rare hectors dolphins if you are lucky.
