This itinerary suggests a tour around the Nelson and Tasman area, where you can see some of the key features of the geology. As well as geological interest, sites have been selected:

• to show every geological period represented in the area;
• that are easy to access (on public land)
• that are classified as not vulnerable to study - though whenever doing field work make sure that you follow the fieldwork guidelines
• that are safe to visit, so long as sensible precautions are taken. (Always be aware of traffic, tides, steep slopes/cliffs, and the possibility of falling rocks). 

​​The map below shows the location of the sites, in relation to the geology of the area. Follow the links for more information.

​For more details, click on the site names below or see the Sites and Sections page:

Number	Location	Features	Period
1	Nelson Boulder Bank	Coastal boulder bank	Recent
2	Magazine Point	Bedded and fossiliferous siltstones and sandstones	Oligocene/Pliocene
3	Kina Cliffs	Moutere Gravels (flysch)	Pliocene/Plestocene
4	Split Apple Rock	Orbicular granite	Cretaceous
5	Takaka Hill	Mount Arthur Marble and karstic features	Ordivician
6	Baton River	Fossiliferous mudstones	Devonian
7	Cobb Reservoir	Glacial till and landforms (moraines, rock moutonees)	Pleistocene
8	Bottom Rock	Fossiliferous limestone	Cambrian
9	Canaan Downs	Polje (charts solution feature)	Pleistocene/Recent
10	Canaan Downs	Hornfels	Ordovician
11	Canaan Downs	Scheelite​	Ordovician
12	Champion Creek	Hydrogrossular	Permian
13	Cobb Valley	Slate	Cambrian
14	Cobb Valley​	Talc magnesite	Cambrian
15	Copperstain Creek	Porphyry and skarn	Ordivician
16	Harwood Hole	Limestone solution hole and cave	Ordivician
17	Ligar Bay	Quartz diorite	?Ordivician
18	Whispering Falls	Travertine on serpentine	Recent
19	Roding River	Breccia, sandstone and limestone	Permian
20	Pupu Springs	Tidal charts spring	Recent
21	Hackett Valley	Chromite	Permian

Note: Itinerary is under development. More sites will be completed soon.

Would you like to suggest a site? Contact the website manager: [email protected]