On a recent trip up to Karamea on the west coast of the South Island, I went to visit the Oparara Caves. These are a few kilometers inland, and not far from the end of the Heaphy Track. They are an amazing example of limestone erosion… Huge archways have been cut through the limestone by […]
Oparara Limestone Arches Read More »
Our “Discover Ancient Worlds” holiday programme finished this week, with a presentation from the participants of some of their activities and discoveries. Feedback from each of them has been very positive – particularly about the many hands on challenges they were involved with. Here are some examples: In this picture you can see how to
The JOIDES Resolution drill ship is back in Wellington after spending the last two months recovering sediment cores from off the east coast of the South Island. The photo shows the ship being loaded with fresh supplies in the Port of Wellington. The expedition was very successful, with several holes being drilled, one of which
Ocean Drilling science holiday programme Read More »
Takaka limestone landscape On a recent trip up Takaka Hill near Nelson, I went exploring over the limestone landscape with my daughter Sophie (with permission from the landowner). The area is riddled with sink holes and caves. The most well known is Harwood’s Hole – a huge vertical shaft about 50 metres across and over
Caves and Moa Bones Read More »
Recently the ocean drilling ship JOIDES Resolution visited Wellington Harbour for a brief one day stop-over before heading out to attempt several drillings in the sea floor off the Canterbury Coast. I had the opportunity to visit the ship and be shown around by GNS Science’s very own Greg Browne. He is one of the
Ocean Drilling in New Zealand waters Read More »
Last week, along with several other GNS scientists, I accompanied sedimentologist Greg Browne to the coast near Nelson, to check out his new dinosaur footprint discovery. His findings are being published this month in the New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics. (photo courtesy of Marianna Terezow, GNS Science) Kim Hill from Radio New Zealand
Dinosaur footprints discovered in New Zealand Read More »
Our last day trip took us to two more beautiful localities in the area south of Hamilton. Firstly we visited the Mangapuhoe Natural Bridge. This is a huge limestone archway, formed originally as a large cave which partially collapsed, leaving the Bridge. The track from the road takes you through dense bush beside the river
Kawhia Fossil Hunting Read More »
Today we went to two more fossil localities on our journey northwards in the North Island. First up we turned off the main highway about 16 kms north of Wanganui city and travelled along a gravel road beside the Whanganui river for a few kilometres. We parked up beneath some cliffs alongside the road, known
Whanganui River Fossil Beds Read More »
Today I am on a fossil hunting tour to check out some of the best fossil hunting sites in the North Island, along with James Crampton and Marianna Terezow. They have been writing a book for New Zealand fossil hunters and we are giving the locations a final check to make sure the details are
Ototoka Beach Fossil Hunting Read More »
For those of you interested in the follow up of our ice core drilling expedition, here is the National Radio broadcast of the story as told on “Our Changing World” on Thursday 20th August. The broadcast is about 13 minutes long. http://podcast.radionz.co.nz/ocw/ocw-20090820-2120-Southern_Alps_Ice_Cores_Drilling-048.mp3
Our Changing World radio broadcast Read More »