Moeraki Boulders:

The are the big attractions which are unusually large and spherical boulders lying along a stretch of Koekohe Beach on the wave cut Otago coast of New Zealand between Moeraki and Hampden. They occur scattered either as isolated or clusters of boulders within a stretch of beach where they have been protected in a scientific reserve.

These huge, gray,spherical stones were formed in sediment on the sea floor sixty million years ago and were revealed by shoreline erosion. If we take the local Maori perspective, thatse are the remainings of calabashes (gourds), kumaras (sweet potatoes) and eel baskets washed ashore when the legendary canoe Araiteuru was wrecked. The boulders can weigh several tons and measure three meters.