Nelson Region

Abel Head fluviatile sedimentary rocks. Map: M24; Classification: C3. Significance: Well exposed coastal sequence of Paleocene to Oligocene fluviatile sedimentary rocks. Only place to see these extensive subsurface strata of Taranaki Basin exposed on land.

Aorangi Mine first NZ graptolite discovery. Map: M25; Classification: B3. Significance: Locality at which graptolites were first discovered in NZ by Cox and Park and subsequently identified by Hutton in 1878 and published by Hector in 1885.

Aorangi Mine Ordovician graptolites, Anthill Creek. Map: M25; Classification: A2. Significance: Exceptionally well-preserved and complete section through graptolitic lower Ordovician strata.

Aorangi Mine Ordovician graptolites, Slaty Creek. Map: M25; Classification: A2. Significance: Only known section extending through from lower to upper Ordovician with a full sequence of graptolites.

Aorere goldfields. Map: M25; Classification: B2. Significance: First major goldfield in New Zealand.

Aorere Gorges. Map: M25; Classification: C3. Significance: Easily accessible, deeply incised gorges.

Aorere River delta and Ruataniwha Inlet, Golden Bay. Map: M25; Classification: C2. Significance: One of the best examples in the South Island of a prograding cuspate delta. Easily accessible complex estuary to the north.

Aorere valley peneplain remnants. Map: M25; Classification: C3. Significance: Best example of an exhumed peneplain in Golden Bay.

Appleby Maori "gravel borrow" pit. Map: N27; Classification: C2. Significance: Only known remaining "borrow" pit in the Waimea Plains area.

Arrow Rock (Fifeshire Rock). Map: O27; Classification: C3. Significance: A highly visible and noteworthy sea stack in the natural entrance to Nelson Haven.

Atawhai earthflow. Map: O27; Classification: C2. Significance: An easily accessible and visible example of an earthflow.

Bark Bay sand barrier and estuary. Map: N26; Classification: C3. Significance: One of the best examples in the region of a granite-derived coarse yellow sand beach, sand barrier and sandy estuary.

Baton River diverse Devonian fossils. Map: M27; Classification: A3. Significance: One of the two classic areas of Devonian in New Zealand. A very diverse fauna.

Baton River-Moran Creek Paleozoic sediments. Map: M27; Classification: C2. Significance: Only known exposure of unconformity at base of Baton Group.

Bedstead Gully chloritoid-staurolite schist. Map: M25; Classification: B3. Significance: One of the best exposures of chloritoid schist in New Zealand.

Beebys Conglomerate Cretaceous terrestrial sediments. Map: N29; Classification: C4. Significance: Easily accessible and best exposed examples of late Mesozoic terrestrial (fluviatile) sedimentation in this region.

Blue Creek Cave, Mt Owen. Map: M28; Classification: C3. Significance: Geomorphology - accessible, excellent example of phreatic maze development.

Bottom Rock limestone lens, Cobb Valley. Map: M27; Classification: B3. Significance: Rich Cambrian inarticulate brachiopods and conodonts, obtained through acid solution.

Boulder Lake metamorphosed schist. Map: M26; Classification: B3. Significance: One of the best exposures of a contact between granite and metamorphosed schist country rock in New Zealand.

Boulder Lake multiple cirque. Map: M26; Classification: C3. Significance: Excellent example of glacial cirque, tarns and striated bedrock. Northernmost glacial features in the South Island.

Boulder Valley prehnite. Map: N28; Classification: C3. Significance: A particularly well-developed example of prehnite replacing brachiopods.

Breaker Bay orbicular granite. Map: N26; Classification: B3. Significance: One of two best examples of several orbicular granite locations in the Kaiteriteri area (Separation Point batholith) and best example of single shell orbicules.

Bryant Range tectonic melange. Map: O27; Classification: B3. Significance: An example of a well developed tectonic melange.

Canaan Downs marginal polje, Takaka Hill. Map: N26; Classification: C3. Significance: Good, easily accesible example of this karst feature.

Canaan Valley hornfels. Map: N26; Classification: C3. Significance: Good example of wollastonite-bearing calc-silicate rocks.

Canaan Valley scheelite. Map: N26; Classification: B3. Significance: Rare example of scheelite mineralisation related to adjacent granitic intrusive rocks.

Canaan Valley skarn. Map: N26; Classification: C3. Significance: An example of an iron enriched skarn.

Cape Farewell to Nguroa coastal arches. Map: M24; Classification: B3. Significance: Best example in New Zealand of coastal arches, particularly in the Archway Islands at Wharariki Beach.

Chaffeys Creek ridge Ordovician fossils, Cobb Valley. Map: M26; Classification: B2. Significance: Excellent graptolite succession of middle to late Ordovician age.

Champion Creek hydrogrossular. Map: O27; Classification: A3. Significance: Type locality of the mineral hydrogrossular.

Champion Mine copper and Smelter, Roding Valley. Map: O27; Classification: B3. Significance: Large masses of native copper; with associated secondary copper minerals. Main site for underground mining of copper in New Zealand.

Cobb glacial valley. Map: M26; Classification: C3. Significance: A large well defined glacial valley. The best and most easily accessible in the northern South Island.

Cobb Valley Cambrian volcanics. Map: M26; Classification: B3. Significance: Best exposed, fresh outcrops of basic Cambrian Volcanics in Northwest Nelson.

Cobb Valley roche moutonnee. Map: M27; Classification: C3. Significance: A particularly good example of a roche moutonnee in a field of roches moutonnees.

Cobb Valley slate (Leslie Formation). Map: M26; Classification: C3. Significance: Well-exposed example of locally graptolitic, slate.

Cobb Valley talc magnesite. Map: M26; Classification: C2. Significance: One of several talc-magnesite deposits in Cobb-Takaka area and almost nearly quarried away.

Copperstain Creek porphyry and skarn. Map: M25; Classification: B2. Significance: Granodiorite intrusion with copper mineralised skarn. The best example in New Zealand of the Fe-rich calc-silicate skarn minerals andradite and hedenbergite.

Davis Creek gneiss. Map: M30; Classification: B3. Significance: Good exposure of high grade garnetiferous biotite gneiss containing sillimanite.

Delaware Bay coastal features. Map: O27; Classification: C3. Significance: A good example of a tombolo and enclosed estuarine bay. A rare example of a sandspit growing out from headland to meet main sand barrier.

Delaware Inlet phyllonite. Map: O27; Classification: A3. Significance: Good exposure of the Median Tectonic Line boundary between two terranes.

Devils Boots, Aorere Valley. Map: M25; Classification: C2. Significance: Two spectacular limestone pinnacles with long overhangs resembling the boots of someone head-down in the ground.

Dun Mountain chromite, mine and railway remains. Map: O27; Classification: B3. Significance: Good example of chromite mineralisation. Also the site of the largest chromite mine in New Zealand, 1859-1865. Copper-chromite was sent to Nelson on a wooden-railed Dun Mt railway - now a historic walkway.

Dun Mountain dunite. Map: O27; Classification: B3. Significance: Type locality of the rock named dunite, described by the Austrian Ferdinand von Hochstetter.

Eastern Waimea Inlet islands and spits, Nelson. Map: N27; Classification: C2. Significance: Least modified of many islands at the eastern end of the largest enclosed estuary in the South Island. Also four gravel spits protruding into the estuary show different degrees of modification with the expansion of Nelson City.

Ed's Cellar cave, Takaka Hill. Map: N26; Classification: C3. Significance: An unusual cave with deep vertical shafts.

Eighty-Eight Fault. Map: N28; Classification: C3. Significance: Excellent example of late Quaternary displacement along the Eighty-Eight fault.

Eliot Creek porphyry. Map: M25; Classification: C3. Significance: Best example and most accessible of Cretaceous I-type porphyry Mo deposits in New Zealand.

Ellis Basin and Horseshoe Basin Karst, Mt Arthur. Map: M27; Classification: B3. Significance: Alpine marble glaciated karst, superb solution features.

Enner Glynn coal mine. Map: O27; Classification: C5. Significance: One of the first coal mines in New Zealand.

Falcon Cave, Mt Arthur. Map: M27; Classification: C3. Significance: Geomorphology - fifth deepest (1989) in New Zealand (-497 m).

Farewell Spit. Map: N24; Classification: A3. Significance: An internationally significant, actively growing Holocene sandspit complex; largest in New Zealand.

Farewell Spit tidal flats and channels. Map: N24; Classification: A3. Significance: Best example of tidal flats and channels attached to a spit in New Zealand.

Glenroy buchite with clinoenstatite. Map: M30; Classification: A3. Significance: An unusual occurrence of pyrometamorphism. The fourth terrestrial occurrence of clinoenstatite.

Glenroy granulites. Map: M30; Classification: C3. Significance: Good exposure of the only granulites recognised west of the Alpine Fault.

Glenroy Road fault traces (Alpine Fault). Map: M30; Classification: C3. Significance: Good example of the complex geometry of the Bends area of the Alpine Fault.

Gorgoroth Cave, Mt Arthur. Map: M27; Classification: C3. Significance: Deep pot hole (-346 m).

Gouland Downs karst. Map: M26; Classification: C3. Significance: Spectacular karst under full natural vegetation. Small caves, natural arches (track passes over one) and surface solution features. A major scenic highlight of Heaphy Track.

Gouland Range karst. Map: M26; Classification: C3. Significance: An excellent, large example of advanced stage of solution-weathered karst in a high rainfall area. Impressive size, diversity and complexity of karst features.

Graham Valley nickel. Map: N27; Classification: C3. Significance: Good example of nickel mineralisation (pyrrhotite, pentlandite, chalcopyrite, marcasite, mackinawite).

Graham Valley pyroxenite. Map: N27; Classification: C3. Significance: Excellent example of the most common rock type in the Riwaka complex.

Graptolite Hill Ordovician fossils, Cobb Valley. Map: M26; Classification: B3. Significance: Important biostratigraphic succession through middle and upper Ordovician graptolite-bearing rocks.

Greenlink CaveRiwaka CaveMiddle Earth CavePerseverance Cave System, Takaka Hill. Map: N26; Classification: B3. Significance: One of the deepest cave systems in New Zealand (Greenlink -394 m). Total system has hydrological depth of c. 700 m.

Haidinger Bluffs. Map: M25; Classification: C3. Significance: Spectacular bluffs, prominantly viewed from Aorere Valley.

Hamama sinkholes, Takaka. Map: N26; Classification: C3. Significance: Most concentrated and most representative easily accessible examples of sinkholes within a 0.5km-wide belt of dolines stretching 12km from Uruwhenua/Washaway Creek area to west of Hamama, charting the phreatic underground flow of the Arthur Marble - Takaka Limestone aquifer.

Harwoods HoleStarlight Cave, Canaan Valley, Takaka Hill. Map: N26; Classification: B3. Significance: New Zealand's largest pothole at 176 m deep; spectacular speleothems - calcite deposits, large scour pools.

Heaphy Track hornfels. Map: M26; Classification: C3. Significance: Unusual example of fresh andalusite and cordierite in a contact aureole.

Hebberd's prehistoric metasomatised argillite quarry, Collins Valley. Map: O27; Classification: B3. Significance: Prehistoric quarry for obtaining dark to grey metamorphosed argillite for stone adzes. A large site that demonstrates how the stone was quarried. One of the most easily accessible exposures of Nelson metasomatised argillite.

HH Cave, Mt Arthur. Map: M27; Classification: B3. Significance: Third deepest cave system (1989) in New Zealand (-623 m), vadose development.

Holyoake Valley wollastonite-rich hornfels. Map: N26; Classification: B2. Significance: Largest known occurrence of wollastonite rock in New Zealand.

Honeymoon Bay orbicular granite. Map: N26; Classification: B3. Significance: One of two best examples of orbicular granites in the Kaiteriteri area and best examples of multishelled orbicules.

Hope Saddle glacial/interglacial sediments. Map: M28; Classification: B3. Significance: One of best exposures of Moutere Gravel sequences in the northern South Island, allowing correlation with sequences in the Wanganui area.

Howard Valley gabbronorite. Map: M29; Classification: C3. Significance: Excellent exposure of unusual gabbronorite and anorthosite rocks containing primary igneous layering.

Iron Ridge Cambrian section, Cobb Valley. Map: M26; Classification: B3. Significance: Biostratigraphically unique section through a large part of the New Zealand Cambrian sequence.

Isel House, Stoke. Map: O27; Classification: C3. Significance: Best of two known buildings made of Richmond Group greywacke.

Johnston's United (formerly Perseverance) Gold Mine. Map: M25; Classification: C2. Significance: First battery in the north of the South Island.

Kaihoka dune-dammed lakes, Whanganui Inlet. Map: M24; Classification: C3. Significance: Two of the best examples in Nelson of lakes formed by sand dune dams.

Kaihoka Lakes solution runnels, Whanganui Inlet. Map: M24; Classification: C3. Significance: Excellent example of solution weathering. Photographed as representative example of rinnenkarren as a New Zealand landform.

Kaihoka Lakes tilted pavement, Whanganui Inlet. Map: M24; Classification: C3. Significance: Most spectacular extensive example of limestone pavement development on Tertiary Takaka limestone in the Paturau area.

Kairuru marble quarry, Takaka Hill. Map: N26; Classification: C3. Significance: Source of historic Kairuru Marble, used on many important New Zealand buildings.

Kaka clay mine. Map: M28; Classification: C3. Significance: Possibly the only example of an underground clay (kaolin) mine.

Kaka lime kiln and quarry. Map: M28; Classification: C1. Significance: A good example of a kiln built to burn local limestone.

Labyrinth Rocks karst, Takaka. Map: N26; Classification: C2. Significance: Very accessible limestone public reserve displaying features typical of a karst landscape.

Lake Killarney sinkhole lake, Takaka. Map: N26; Classification: C3. Significance: Most easily accessible example of numerous plugged sinkholes in lower Takaka Valley.

Lake Matiri debris dam. Map: M29; Classification: C3. Significance: Excellent example of a lake ponded behind a debris dam.

Lake Matiri rock block slide. Map: M29; Classification: C3. Significance: Very good example of a rock block slide and associated debris.

Lake Otuhie dune-dammed lake. Map: M25; Classification: C3. Significance: One of the best examples in the region of a lake dammed by sand dunes.

Lake Stanley debris dam. Map: M26; Classification: B3. Significance: One of the best examples of a debris dam formed during the Murchison Earthquake, 1929. Resulted in formation of Lake Stanley.

Lake Sylvester cirque field. Map: M26; Classification: C2. Significance: A well developed cirque field in a particularly scenic setting.

Ligar Bay quartz diorite. Map: N25; Classification: C3. Significance: Well exposed quartz diorite containing xenoliths.

Ligar Bay tourmaline. Map: N25; Classification: B2. Significance: Good tourmaline crystals to be seen in-situ.

Little Ben chromite. Map: N28; Classification: B3. Significance: The best example of nodular chromite in New Zealand.

Little Ben Sandstone. Map: N28; Classification: B3. Significance: Type locality of the Little Ben Sandstone.

Lockett Range limestone gendarme. Map: M26; Classification: C3. Significance: Gendarme of Summit Limestone emplaced as a thin tectonic slice along Anatoki Fault.

Magazine Point Tertiary sediments and fossils. Map: O27; Classification: C3. Significance: Good exposures, handy to schools showing many sedimentological features, and minor structural features (faults) in Oligocene and Pliocene rocks. Good section of marine sediment gravity flow deposits, storm redeposited sandstone and some debris flows. Site (The Cliffs) of first recorded fossil find in New Zealand.

Maitai Valley lawsonite-bearing rocks. Map: O27; Classification: B3. Significance: The first-described examples of lawsonite-bearing metagreywacke and marble in New Zealand.

Mangarakau Wetlands. Map: M25; Classification: C2. Significance: Some of the largest freshwater wetlands in the northern South Island.

Marahau salt marsh. Map: N26; Classification: C2. Significance: One of the largest and most accessible salt marshes in the Nelson area.

Marybank lawsonite-bearing rocks and plant fossils. Map: O27; Classification: B3. Significance: One of the best examples of metamorphosed siltstones with well-preserved plant fossils.

Matakitaki imbricate thrust sequence. Map: M30; Classification: C3. Significance: Good example of an imbricate thrust sequence, at a constraining bend of the Alpine Fault.

Meroiti doline field, Whanganui Inlet. Map: M25; Classification: C3. Significance: Best example of rare doline development in extensive karst landscape.

Meroiti limestone pavement, Whanganui Inlet. Map: M25; Classification: C3. Significance: Best example of limestone pavement development on Tertiary limestone in New Zealand. Visible as spectacular bluffs from main road on opposite (eastern) side of Whanganui Inlet.

Miner River travertine (calcite) waterfall. Map: N28; Classification: B2. Significance: The largest travertine deposit in New Zealand. It is deposited from a spring fed stream from Wooded Peak Limestone.

Moonsilver Cave, Takaka. Map: M27; Classification: C3. Significance: Geomorphology - length, longest cave in Tertiary limestone in the region (other than Honeycomb Cave).

Motueka sandspit. Map: N27; Classification: B2. Significance: Unusually shaped, multiply stranded sandspit. One of the fastest-growing sandspits in New Zealand.

Motupiko Valley fault trace (Kikiwa Fault). Map: N29; Classification: C3. Significance: Easily seen example of Quaternary displacement of river terraces by the Kikiwa Fault.

Motupipi lime kiln. Map: N25; Classification: C1. Significance: One of several, and best preserved, lime kilns in Golden Bay.

Motupipi limestone hogback and karst, Takaka. Map: N26; Classification: C3. Significance: Prominent ridge of Takaka Limestone, dragged up along Pikikiruna Fault.

Moutere bluffs. Map: N27; Classification: C3. Significance: A highly visible sea cliff readily seen from much of the Nelson coastal area.

Moutere Inlet barrier-enclosed estuary, Motueka. Map: N27; Classification: C2. Significance: A complex double-spit and barrier island-enclosed estuary.

Mt Arthur marble karst. Map: M27; Classification: A3. Significance: One of the best areas of glacio-karst in the southern Hemisphere.

Mt Arthur tablelands. Map: M27; Classification: B2. Significance: The best New Zealand example of an uplifted "peneplain".

Mt Burnett dolomite. Map: M25; Classification: B2. Significance: Only significant occurrence of dolomite in New Zealand.

Mt Burnett uvarovite and Zn-chromite. Map: M25; Classification: B3. Significance: A good occurrence of an unusual mineral, associated with the world's second highest Zn content in a chromite.

Mt Mytton early Paleozoic section. Map: M27; Classification: B3. Significance: Unique section through late Cambrian to middle Ordovician sequence. Part of the basis for New Zealand's national conodont zones.

Mt Owen marble karst. Map: M28; Classification: A3. Significance: One of the two best areas of glacio karst in the southern Hemisphere (Williams, 1987).

Mt Owen, Bulmer Caverns. Map: M28; Classification: A2. Significance: New Zealand's longest (34.57 km May 1990) and second deepest cave (-742 m). Unusually large and varied helictites and anthodites predominantly of aragonite. Speleothems are amongst oldest landforms in NZ. Spectacular geomorphology.

Mt Patriarch limestone summit folding. Map: M28; Classification: C3. Significance: A good example of deformation in calcareous units of the Eastern Belt of NW Nelson.

Mt Patriarch to John Reid Hut Paleozoic fossils. Map: M28; Classification: B3. Significance: Unique section through upper Cambrian and lower Ordovician carbonate facies with excellent conodonts, trilobites and molluscs.

Mt Snowden oolitic limestone. Map: M26; Classification: B3. Significance: Only oolitic limestone formation in New Zealand.

Nelson boulder bank. Map: O27; Classification: A2. Significance: Best known boulder bank spit in New Zealand. A large and unusual boulder barrier with associated gravel ridges.

Nelson Haven estuary. Map: O27; Classification: B2. Significance: A prominent, easily accessible and highly visible estuary created behind a boulder barrier spit.

Nettlebed Cave, Mt Arthur. Map: M27; Classification: A2. Significance: Geomorphology - magnitude, currently (1989) deepest in southern hemisphere (889m), the second longest cave (24.25 km), contains the largest chamber in New Zealand and has the deepest karst circulation in New Zealand; multi-level phreatic development, speleothems - calcite, blue stalactites. Speleothems are amongst oldest landforms in NZ.

Nguroa to Paturau limestone coastal features. Map: M24; Classification: C3. Significance: Spectacular stretch of coastal features eroded out of mostly Oligocene limestone.

NW Nelson offshore faults. Map: ; Classification: C3. Significance: NW trending normal faults associated with moderately tight folding of Tertiary (Landon-Paeora) sediments. Faults cross cut an inferred Pleistocene shoreline area. Maximum apparent dip on anticline limbs c.15 degrees.

Onekaka Iron Works complex. Map: M25; Classification: B1. Significance: Relics of only iron ore mining and processing operation in New Zealand.

Owen Ice Cavern. Map: M28; Classification: B3. Significance: Best known ice cave in New Zealand, with ice speleothems. Cave old enough to preserve moa flesh for DNA analysis.

Parapara hematite quarry. Map: M25; Classification: B3. Significance: One of New Zealand's best exposures of iron-ore. A unique example of a hematite quarry for paint in New Zealand. An early and significant supplier of paint (New Zealand Hematite Paint Company).

Parapara Peak Permian fossils. Map: M25; Classification: A3. Significance: Only fossiliferous Permian locality in western (Tuhua) belt.

Parapara Quarry tourmaline. Map: M25; Classification: B2. Significance: Brown and green tourmaline, rare in New Zealand.

Pariwhakaoho River kyanite. Map: M25; Classification: B3. Significance: A good example of kyanite in its natural setting in outcrop.

Paturau marine terraces. Map: M25; Classification: C3. Significance: Best series of marine terraces in the Nelson region.

Paynes Ford stalactite bluffs, Takaka. Map: N26; Classification: C1. Significance: One of the best and most easily visible examples of stalactites formed on exposed bluffs. Good examples of hooked biokarst.

Pearse Resurgence, Mt Arthur. Map: M27; Classification: B2. Significance: The deepest water-filled cave in Australasia. The most challenging cave to explore in Australasia.

Pepin Island intrusives. Map: O27; Classification: C3. Significance: Well exposed coastal sections through several acid to intermediate intrusions.

Pig Valley Triassic fossils. Map: N28; Classification: B3. Significance: Rich and diverse Triassic fossils. Only Etalian Stage macrofauna outside western Southland.

Puponga Mine and Cretaceous fossil macroflora. Map: M24; Classification: C2. Significance: Rich late Cretaceous macroflora and site of largest coal mine in North West Nelson.

Puponga Paleocene conglomerate and bluffs. Map: M24; Classification: C2. Significance: Spectacular conglomerate bluffs and dip slopes.

Rabbit Island barrier island. Map: N27; Classification: B2. Significance: One of New Zealand's best examples of a barrier island.

Rameka Track skarn minerals. Map: N26; Classification: C4. Significance: A good and accessible example of a contact skarn and of skarn minerals, including diopside, epidote, wollastonite and the garnet group minerals grossular and andradite.

Rangihaeata fossil forest, Takaka. Map: N25; Classification: C1. Significance: Prominent remnants of forest tree trunks and roots exhumed by coastal erosion, and preserved by sea level rise or local subsidence, of educational and public interest.

Rangihaeata Head coal measures. Map: N25; Classification: C3. Significance: Best exposure of Eocene coal measures in North West Nelson.

Rawhiti (Mansons) Cave, Takaka. Map: N26; Classification: C2. Significance: One of the largest cave entrances in New Zealand. Possibly the most diverse and outstanding twilight-zone flora of any cave in New Zealand. Unusually angled stalactites growing towards the sunlight. Large stalagmites with very unusual biokarst features.

Richmond Flat tourmaline. Map: M25; Classification: B3. Significance: Sprays of tourmaline and corundum (or sapphire).

Riwaka wollastonite. Map: N26; Classification: B3. Significance: Rare occurrence, and one of the larger known masses of wollastonite rock in New Zealand.

Rockville lime kiln. Map: M25; Classification: C1. Significance: Good example of a local lime burning kiln.

Roding River rodingite with garnet and diopside. Map: O27; Classification: A3. Significance: Type locality from which the rock rodingite was first formally described. Impressive grossular garnet and diopside.

Rolling River (Blue Creek) gold mining area. Map: M28; Classification: C3. Significance: A good example of an early attempt at quartz gold mining.

Rua Ruru Cave, Mt Arthur. Map: M27; Classification: C2. Significance: Numerous fossil moa bones; 7 species.

Rushpool prehistoric argillite quarry. Map: O27; Classification: B3. Significance: The first described and most important quarry site in the Nelson area for obtaining dark to grey metasomatised argillite for adzes in the early period of New Zealand prehistory.

Sam Creek Ordovician coral fossils. Map: N26; Classification: B3. Significance: Best locality in New Zealand for upper Ordovician corals.

Sams Creek peralkaline granite and minerals. Map: N26; Classification: C2. Significance: Unusual peralkaline chemistry, early Mesozoic age and associated Au-mineralisation - a good exposure of rare minerals typical of peralkaline granites.

Separation Point headland. Map: N25; Classification: C3. Significance: A large and prominant headland of visual and landform significance.

Serpentine Creek talc. Map: M26; Classification: C3. Significance: Rare exposure of high purity talc.

Speargrass Creek fault trace (Alpine Fault). Map: N29; Classification: C3. Significance: Excellent exposure of Alpine Fault showing schist thrust over late Pleistocene gravels.

Split Apple Rock. Map: N26; Classification: C3. Significance: A spectacular large granite boulder split in two resembling a "split apple".

Spring Grove cob cottage. Map: N27; Classification: C1. Significance: One of the oldest surviving cob buildings in Nelson.

Tahunanui slump. Map: O27; Classification: C3. Significance: The biggest rotational slump in Nelson.

Takaka Hill folds. Map: N26; Classification: B3. Significance: Good exposure of recumbent folds in the Arthur Marble and Pikikiruna Schist.

Takaka Hill fossil cave. Map: N26; Classification: C2. Significance: Particularly rich terrestrial vertebrate and land mollusca faunal pitfall deposit, unusual in its preservation.

Takaka Hill marble karst. Map: N26; Classification: B3. Significance: The most extensive and best exposed marble formation in New Zealand. Most easily appreciated example of marble karst in New Zealand.

Takaka Hill Pikikiruna schist. Map: N26; Classification: B3. Significance: Well-exposed medium to high grade schist, locally with staurolite and sillimanite.

Takaka oxbow spring. Map: N26; Classification: C4. Significance: Crucial, large, permanently flowing spring which contributes to the full surface flow of the Takaka River downstream in dry times.

Takaka Valley asbestos quarry. Map: M27; Classification: B3. Significance: Asbestos (chrysotile), talc and serpentinite associated with the largest mass of ultramafic rocks in New Zealand. Only asbestos quarry in New Zealand.

Takaka Valley fold structures. Map: N26; Classification: C3. Significance: Macroscopic example of coaxial refolding.

Tarakohe cement works fossils. Map: N25; Classification: C2. Significance: Quarry contains the type sections for both the Takaka Limestone and the Tarakohe Mudstone, with a rich Miocene fossil fauna.

Tarakohe coastal karst and limestone natural tunnel. Map: N25; Classification: C2. Significance: Impressive towers and pinnacles along coast road. Two have fallen together to form a spectacular natural tunnel through cliffs. Possibly the most easily accessible and visual in the country.

Tata Islands coastal karst. Map: N25; Classification: C3. Significance: Stunning coastal karst features.

Te Anaroa/Rebecca Cave, Rockville, Aorere River. Map: M25; Classification: C2. Significance: A two level cave system with some exquisite straws and curtain speleothems.

Te Hapu collapse feature, Whanganui Inlet. Map: M25; Classification: C3. Significance: Unusually large example of collapse of unsupported Takaka Limestone cap rocks into a depression in underlying siltstone.

The Grove karst, Takaka. Map: N26; Classification: C2. Significance: Excellent example of karst developed in Oligocene Takaka Limestone. Still mostly preserved under native forest.

Thompson Creek Ordovician fossils. Map: M25; Classification: B2. Significance: Isolated limestone block with exceptional fossils of inarticulate brachipods and conodonts.

Thornes Creek middle Cambrian fossils, Cobb Valley. Map: M27; Classification: B2. Significance: Important fossil-bearing middle Cambrian succession.

Thousand Acres Plateau. Map: M28; Classification: B3. Significance: One of the best examples in New Zealand of an uplifted plateau surrounded by high limestone bluffs.

Tomo Thyme cave system, Mt Arthur. Map: M27; Classification: B2. Significance: One of the longest systems in the country. Source of the Pearce Resurgence. Complex speleogenesis controlled by complex folding of marble and schist.

Tonga Bay granite quarry. Map: N26; Classification: C2. Significance: Remains of only granite quarry used for building stones in New Zealand.

Tophouse fault trace (Waimea Fault). Map: N29; Classification: C3. Significance: An easily accessible and seen example of lateral and vertical offset on the Waimea Fault.

Trilobite Rock. Map: M27; Classification: A2. Significance: Richest middle Cambrian fossil locality in New Zealand, especially common trilobites, brachiopods, micromolluscs and conodonts. Site of first Cambrian fossils found in New Zealand.

Turimawiwi River mouth valley-controlled longitudinal dunes, Paturau. Map: M25; Classification: C3. Significance: One of the most impressive regions of valley-controlled longitudinal dunes on the West Coast north of Karamea.

Twin Forks Cave, Paturau. Map: M25; Classification: C1. Significance: One of most spectacular speleothem formations in New Zealand.

United Creek-Roding River Permian sediments. Map: O27; Classification: B3. Significance: Good exposured section of basal Maitai Group and Upukerora Formation, the latter unconformable on Dun Mountain Ophiolite Belt.

Upper Tadmor valley Eocene-Oligocene sediments. Map: M28; Classification: C3. Significance: Good Eocene-Oligocene section, of marine and non-marine sediments on basal unconformity. Also a good example of stream capture.

Uruwhenua sinkholes. Map: N26; Classification: C3. Significance: Three adjacent areas of karst features in an unusual situation where reactivated marble paleokarst is overlain by karstic limestone. Rare discharge springs from the Arthur Marble - Takaka Limestone aquifer – most of the subterranean flow discharges about 9 km further north, at Waikoropupu Springs.

Wai-iti Valley fault trace (Waimea Fault). Map: N28; Classification: C3. Significance: Easily visible example of late Quaternary fault displacement.

Waikoropupu Springs, Takaka. Map: N26; Classification: A2. Significance: Largest tidal karst spring in the Southern hemisphere. A spectacular and picturesque tourist spot. One of the clearest water springs in the world.

Waimea River cut-off meander. Map: N27; Classification: C2. Significance: A locally important cut-off meander known as Challies Island.

Wairau Valley wairauite. Map: N29; Classification: A3. Significance: Type locality for the mineral wairauite, which also gets its nanme from here.

Wairoa Gorge Permian fossils. Map: N28; Classification: B3. Significance: Holostratotype of Waiitian Stage.

Wairoa River Stephens Formation limestone blocks. Map: N28; Classification: B3. Significance: Good example of large, probably allochthonous, limestone blocks within Stephens Formation.

Wet Neck Cave, Paturau. Map: M25; Classification: B3. Significance: Geomorphology, speleothems - formation, invaded by sea gravels, draining of cave present development, speleothems - calcite.

Whangamoa Fault trace. Map: O27; Classification: C3. Significance: Easily accessible late Quaternary fault scarp.

Whanganui (Westhaven) Inlet. Map: M25; Classification: B3. Significance: Second largest and one of most pristine tidal inlets in the South Island, with native forest margins in part.

Whanganui Inlet coal measures. Map: M25; Classification: C3. Significance: Most easily accesible exposures of late Cretaceous coal measure sequence.

Whanganui Inlet soft sandstone. Map: M25; Classification: C2. Significance: One of the most easily accessible exposures of Pakawau Group sandstone sequences.

Wharariki Rd Paleocene leaf fossils. Map: M24; Classification: B2. Significance: One of best examples of dicotyledon leaf fossil assemblages of Paleocene age in New Zealand.

Windrift Cave, Mt Arthur. Map: M27; Classification: B3. Significance: Geomorphology - ninth deepest (1990) in New Zealand (-362 m).