Tongaporutu Beach

BY GREG BROWNE (GNS)
Accessibility: MODERATE
"Elephant Rock" in December 2008, G.Browne / GNS
Cliffs of sandstone and siltstone, eroded into very interesting coastal sea stacks, arches and sea caves.
What remained of "Elephant Rock" in January 2017, G.Browne / GNS
Tongaporutu is a very picturesque north Taranaki beach, and a favourite place for many to visit when travelling between New Plymouth and Hamilton. Coastal cliffs of darker coloured sandstone and lighter coloured mudstone represent sediments deposited in a deep-water sea about 10 million years ago. They form part of the Mount Messenger Formation, and represent the eroded sand and silt grains deposited in that ancient sea. The sediment was derived from the erosion of central North Island and northern South Island areas of the time. These grains have now turned to rock, and have been sculptured by the waves and wind into very photogenic coastal cliffs, sea stacks and caves.
One of the headlands at Tongaporutu in Dec 2008, G Browne / GNS Science
This part of the coast is eroding rapidly from the actions of waves and wind. In the past decade, the coastline has eroded back about 20 m, mostly from large storm waves crashing into the base of the cliffs at times of high tide. This rate of erosion is made possible by the soft nature of the rock and also by the large number of faults which run parallel to the coastline. Rocks within these faults typically are brittle and can easily be removed by storm events. A few years ago there were three large rock stacks called the "Three Sisters", but some of these have been eroded, and in their place, new ones have developed. There was also a stack called "Elephant Rock" which had a pillar of rock much like an elephant trunk. It too has suffered erosion, and now part of the trunk has been removed.

When you arrive at the beach after negotiating the river section, the prominent island to your right is called Pā Tangata. This was a Poutama fort occupied by local Māori. The ongoing erosion sometimes uncovers remnants from that urupa.
Directions/Advisory

This is a very popular walk from the carpark at Tongaporutu, west of State Highway 3. Follow the sign to the Three Sisters at Tongaporutu (the turnoff from SH3 is just south of the bridge over the river). From the carpark, walk for about 500 m adjacent to the Tongaporutu River, and then along the open west coast beach for a few hundred metres south of the river. Allow about 20 minutes to walk to the beach. Return by the same route. Take your camera!

DO NOT VISIT AT PERIODS OF MID OR HIGH TIDE. Check tide tables before visiting. Allow sufficient time for the return walk back to the carpark. At periods of mid and high tide the route adjacent to the river and along the coast is dangerous and should not be attempted. Two hours either side of low tide is the best time to visit but be aware that river levels and sea conditions may reduce the period during which the beach can be visited. Avoid standing or walking close to the coastal cliffs as blocks of rocks can be dislodged from higher up the cliff. Be aware of waves and currents along the beach, and in the river. Young children should be supervised.

Google Directions

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Accessibility: MODERATE

Walking adjacent to the Tongaporutu River involves walking over mudflats and across slippery rocks. Some of these have oyster or mussel shells attached to them, so some footwear is desirable.

Features
Sedimentary Active Erosion
Geological Age
Late Miocene ~ 10 milion years old
Zealandia Evolution Sequence
Māui Supergroup (Emergence): 25 – 5 million years ago
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