Kaikoura Peninsula Clifftop Walk

The clifftop walk offers great views of the shoreline below. The flat shore platforms are a classic erosion feature created by the relentless surging of waves across the rocky shore. Most of the rocks themselves are limestones and mudstones that were laid down during the late Oligocene and early Miocene (about 28 – 20 million years ago) when New Zealand was almost entirely submerged under the ocean. The Kaikoura Earthquake of 2016 uplifted the peninsula by about 80cm greatly increasing the area of exposed shore. Because of uplift of the coast by such earthquakes, these platforms eventually become pushed high above sea level and become known as marine terraces.
The top surface of the Kaikoura Peninsula (above the cliffs) is made of a series of these uplifted terraces that form steps at different levels. The oldest and highest one that you can see has been lifted about 105 metres above sea level in the last 125 000 years. In sequence below that are three more marine terrace levels that are 100 000, 60 000 and 40 000 years old respectively.

A walk along the clifftop gives views of the wide shore platforms. See if you can identify the newly exposed areas of rocks and the recently uplifted storm ridges along the back of some of the beaches. You can also see up to three grassed-over raised beaches at the foot of the cliffs that are from 1000 to 3000 years old.
Also look out for uplifted sea stacks (the ‘rhino horns’) and the flat marine terraces of the area that you are walking on.
There are several useful information panels along the walk that describe the geology, wildlife and history.
As you proceed along your walk, see also if you can identify the four marine terrace levels that make up the area of the top of the peninsula.