Marlborough Region

Acheron cob accommodation house, Clarence Valley. Map: N31; Classification: B2. Significance: A good example of a restored cob accommodation house.

Alfred Stream earthflow. Map: O27; Classification: C3. Significance: One of the best examples of many earthflows in Nelson region.

Awatere cuspate foreland, northern Clifford Bay. Map: P28; Classification: C3. Significance: Miniature but classical symmetrical cuspate foreland formed by bi-directional longshore currents.

Awatere River complex landslide. Map: P29; Classification: C3. Significance: A large active complex landslide, showing evidence of several periods of movement.

Barber Stream rock glacierlandslide. Map: N29; Classification: C3. Significance: Excellent example of an unusual feature - a rock glacier.

Blairich solifluction stripes. Map: P29; Classification: B3. Significance: A fairly extensive area of well defined solifluction stripes and stone polygons with a large well-shaped cirque.

Blind River Miocene-Pliocene fossil sequence. Map: P29; Classification: B3. Significance: Excellent exposures of fossil-bearing Miocene and Pliocene sedimentary rocks.

Blind River mouth Pliocene fossils. Map: P29; Classification: C3. Significance: Excellent exposure of fossil-bearing Pliocene sedimentary rocks.

Blue Mountain gabbro complex. Map: P29; Classification: B3. Significance: Well-exposed ultrabasic-gabbro ring complex.

Branch River faulted terraces (Alpine Fault). Map: N29; Classification: A2. Significance: Classic example of progressive displacement of late Quaternary terraces by right lateral slip on the Alpine Fault.

Bush Gully faulted slope (Elliot Fault). Map: N31; Classification: C2. Significance: Largest horizontal displacement measured across the Elliot Fault.

Bush Gully faulted terrace (Elliot Fault). Map: N31; Classification: C2. Significance: Largest horizontal displacement measured across the Elliot Fault on a post-glacial degradational river terrace [12 m RL].

Cape Jackson drowned ridge crest. Map: Q26; Classification: B3. Significance: Superb example of a narrow ridge crest drowned by rising sea level and sinking land to form an elongate meandering peninsula.

Cape Stephens wind-funnelled sand dune, D'Urville Island. Map: P25; Classification: C3. Significance: Unusual landform for the region.

Cardigan Ridge fault trace (Fowlers Fault). Map: N31; Classification: C3. Significance: Largest late Quaternary RL displacement seen on the Fowlers Fault.

Chancet Rocks CretaceousTertiary boundary. Map: P29; Classification: A1. Significance: Good exposure of the biostratigraphically determined Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary. Large Paramoudra trace fossils, previously thought to be fossil sponges.

D'Urville Island copper mines. Map: P26; Classification: C2. Significance: Northernmost copper mining in the South Island.

East Riverlands gullying. Map: P28; Classification: C2. Significance: Good example of multiple parallel gully erosion in loess easily viewed from main highway.

Elliot Valley fault trace junction. Map: O30; Classification: C3. Significance: Junction of major fault traces of Clarence and Elliot Faults

Endeavour Inlet antimony workings. Map: P26; Classification: B3. Significance: Site of the largest antimony mine in New Zealand.

Fighting Bay Torlesse schist. Map: Q27; Classification: C3. Significance: Exposured rocks that area a possible extension of the North Island schist belt east of the Picton Fault.

Flaxbourne River folds and thrusts. Map: P29; Classification: C3. Significance: A well exposed example of complexly folded (several fold generations) late Cretaceous-Paleocene sedimentary rocks. Excellent exposure of KT boundary sequence.

Fowlers Hut fault trace (Fowlers Fault). Map: N31; Classification: C3. Significance: Site where maximum post-glacial displacement has been determined, ie 23-27 m RL. Stream displacement along the Fowlers Fault (as represented by this, and other Fowlers site) indicate that at least 2 displacement episodes have occurred. This site is monitored for precise strain measurements by the Earth Deformation Section, Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Ltd (New Zealand Geological Survey).

French Pass submerged ridgeline. Map: P26; Classification: B3. Significance: Best appreciated example of a submerged ridge forming a reef in the Marlborough Sounds, resulting in one of the strongest tidal current flows in New Zealand.

Greville Harbour boulder spit. Map: P26; Classification: B3. Significance: Excellent example of a large boulder spit across a bay mouth.

Greville Harbour coastal features. Map: P25; Classification: C2. Significance: Good example of sand barrier blocking off a large lagoon and swamp.

Grey River faulted terraces (Awatere Fault). Map: O29; Classification: C3. Significance: Only recent trace of the Awatere Fault to show post-glacial reversal of upthrown side.

Hodder River weathering features. Map: O30; Classification: B3. Significance: Good example of differential lithology weathering.

Horse Flat coal measure fossils. Map: O31; Classification: B3. Significance: Only known New Zealand occurrence of well-preserved mid-Cretaceous brackish to fresh water bivalves and gastropods.

Isolated Creek sawcut gorge. Map: P29; Classification: C3. Significance: A spectacular narrow sawcut gorge, approximately 30 m deep on Isolated Creek.

Isolated Flat. Map: N30; Classification: C3. Significance: A large gently sloping mountain flat at approximately 1000 m elevation with evidence of large scale slumping. The Awatere Fault visably traverses the flat. A unique landform feature in this area.

Lake Alexander debris dam. Map: O29; Classification: C3. Significance: One of the best local examples of a landslide dammed lake.

Lake Chalice debris dam. Map: O28; Classification: C3. Significance: A good example of a landslide-dammed lake.

Lake Grassmere and bar, Clifford Bay. Map: P29; Classification: B2. Significance: One of very few closed off coastal embayments in New Zealand. Second largest barrier-enclosed inlet in New Zealand after Lake Ellesmere.

Lake McRae debris dam. Map: O30; Classification: C3. Significance: Excellent example of a landslide-dammed lake.

Lake McRae fault trace and landslides (Clarence Fault). Map: O30; Classification: B3. Significance: Excellent example of landslides associated with fault traces.

Leader Dale fault offset stream (Clarence Fault). Map: N31; Classification: B2. Significance: Excellent easily visible example of stream offset laterally by displacement on a large fault.

Long Island cuspate foreland. Map: Q27; Classification: C3. Significance: Best example in Queen Charlotte Sound of a cuspate accumulation of gravel beach.

Matarau Point foreland beach ridges. Map: O26; Classification: B2. Significance: Large and important example of accreted beach ridges which document changing relative sea levels and longshore drift.

Mt Ears prehistoric argillite quarry, D'Urville Island. Map: P25; Classification: B3. Significance: Probably the most northern quarry and an important source for metasomatised argillite that was to be distributed to the North Island. The largest area of prehistoric quarries on D'Urville Island.

Needles Point pinnacles and CretaceousTertiary boundary. Map: P29; Classification: B3. Significance: Good KT boundary exposures and spectacular coastal erosion features.

Ohana Bay prehistoric quarry. Map: P26; Classification: C2. Significance: Site of the source of a very distinctive metasomatised stone used by prehistoric New Zealanders.

Okiwa Bay Pelorus Schist. Map: P27; Classification: C3. Significance: An example of high-grade Pelorus Schist close to the contact with Torlesse schist.

Onamalutu Valley metachert. Map: O28; Classification: C2. Significance: The only occurrence of an unusual metachert known in the Marlborough schist.

Paddock Rocks, D’Urville Island. Map: P26; Classification: C3. Significance: Excellent example of the partly eroded crest of a nearly submerged ridge crest now forming a belt of islets and rocks.

Pakiaka Point boulder bank and lagoon. Map: O26; Classification: C2. Significance: Best example of a boulder bank and enclosed lagoon in the area.

Pelorus and Kaituna River deltas. Map: P27; Classification: C2. Significance: The best defined deltas in the Marlborough Sounds.

Pelorus Bridge river gorge. Map: O27; Classification: C3. Significance: Excellent example of a small river gorge cut through hard sedimentary rocks. Easily accessible, superbly visible from road bridge over Pelorus and walk bridge over Rai. A scenic and tourist attraction.

Penk River Cretaceous olistostromes. Map: O29; Classification: C3. Significance: Excellent section through olistostromes and debris flows.

Pyramid Rock. Map: O28; Classification: C3. Significance: Unusual rocky promintory sticking out above softer surrounding rocks in melange.

Rarangi beach ridges and swamp. Map: P28; Classification: C2. Significance: A series of post glacial beach ridges extending inland about 4 km.

Riverlands sand dunes. Map: P28; Classification: C2. Significance: Sand dunes marking the arc of the former early Holocene coastline stretch parallel to the present coast.

Saxton River faulted terraces (Awatere Fault). Map: N30; Classification: C3. Significance: Easily accessible example of Quaternary displacement of terraces and bedrock ridges along the Awatere Fault.

Serpentine Creek landslide. Map: N30; Classification: C2. Significance: An excellent example of a landslide avalanche containing a buried fossil forest.

Seymour Square War Memorial clock tower. Map: P28; Classification: C2. Significance: Best example of a war memorial made from local Marlborough Wharanui stone.

St James Station fault scarp (Clarence Fault). Map: N31; Classification: C3. Significance: Well preserved fault scarp showing the largest lateral displacement on the Clarence Fault.

Staircase intrusion. Map: O30; Classification: B3. Significance: Best New Zealand example of rhythmic layering in an intrusive body.

Starborough Creek Pliocene fossils. Map: P29; Classification: B3. Significance: Well exposed section through fossil-bearing Pliocene sedimentary rocks.

Tapuaenuku zirconium aegirine. Map: O30; Classification: B3. Significance: New Zealand's only recorded occurrence of Zr-bearing pyroxene mineral (aegerine), and one of only a few worldwide occurrences.

Tarndale flats. Map: N30; Classification: B2. Significance: An excellent example of an alpine flat with numerous tarns.

Tarndale-Sedgemere fault trace (Awatere Fault). Map: N30; Classification: C2. Significance: Excellent late Quaternary traces of the Awatere Fault zone and associated landforms occurring in a zone up to 2 km wide.

Taylor Pass lime kiln. Map: P28; Classification: C1. Significance: Good example of an historic lime kiln.

Titirangi prehistoric stonework. Map: P26; Classification: C2. Significance: The best example of stone garden walls in the South Island.

Tory Channel East Head. Map: Q27; Classification: C3. Significance: Outstanding section of coastal cliffs with prominent vertical joints and schistosity giving a pinnacled character. Readily viewed by passengers on Cook Strait ferries.

Turkeys Nest Basin solifluction slope. Map: O29; Classification: B3. Significance: These large scale solifluction deposits are the best examples of a rare feature to Marlborough.

Upper Wairau landslide. Map: N30; Classification: C3. Significance: Good example of a large landslide.

Upton Brook rejuvenation gorge and fossils. Map: P29; Classification: B3. Significance: Rich fossil site and good example of a rejuvenated gorge.

Waihopai River faulted terraces (Alpine Fault). Map: P28; Classification: C3. Significance: Good example of late Quaternary faulting and deformation ocurring on the Wairau (Alpine) Fault.

Waima dune field. Map: P29; Classification: C2. Significance: Best example of coastal sand dunes in Marlborough.

Wairau abandoned sea cliffs. Map: P28; Classification: B3. Significance: Good example of abandoned sea cliffs and stacks dating back to the early Holocene.

Wairau boulder barrier, lagoons and delta. Map: P28; Classification: B1. Significance: One of the best examples in New Zealand of a river mouth lagoon, bird's foot delta and narrow boulder barrier.

Wairau River braids. Map: O28; Classification: C3. Significance: Excellent representative example of braided river beds in Marlborough Rivers.

Wairau Valley lateral moraine. Map: N29; Classification: C3. Significance: Well defined example of lateral moraine; easily seen.

Wairau Valley offset terminal moraine. Map: N29; Classification: B3. Significance: Easily seen example of terminal moraine laterally Alpine Fault.

Wakamarina alluvial gold mining. Map: O27; Classification: C3. Significance: Good example of alluvial gold mining, first significant gold discovery in Marlborough.

Waterfall Stream and Cow Stream moraines. Map: O29; Classification: C3. Significance: Terminal moraines in large blocks. Some of the best examples of these unusual terminal moraines features. Unusual so far east of the main range.

Wellington Gold Mine, Top Valley. Map: O28; Classification: C3. Significance: Only preserved battery, still in place, in Marlborough.

Whangarae Bay estuary and sandspits, Croiselles Harbour. Map: O26; Classification: C2. Significance: Excellent example of a tidal estuary formed by enclosure of a deeply-incised bay by two sandspits. Easily viewed in total from main road on ridge crest to south.

Wharanui earth flow. Map: P30; Classification: C3. Significance: A good example of an active earth flow.

White Bluff sea cliff. Map: P28; Classification: C3. Significance: A large dramatic sea cliff overlooking Cloudy Bay. Best regional example of sea cliffs.

Woodside Creek Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary. Map: P30; Classification: A2. Significance: Internationally important locality for Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary exposure, determined using foraminifera and dinoflagellates and having an iridium anomaly. One of the three first sites in the world where an iridium anomaly was recognised at the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary. As the only southern hemisphere site at the time, it was critical in developing the hypothesis of a meteorite impact.