Location

Located on the Eastern most point of the South Island of New Zealand Marlborough's East Coast Landscape has evolved through a variety of processed.

Located on one of the most complicated tectonic plate boundaries that area has been subject to large numbers of earthquakes both ancient and recent.

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Exposed directly to the southerly winds means that the power of the ocean has shaped the inner shore with numerous coastal rock outcrops, wave-cut platforms and reefs that extend outwards from the coast.

Tectonics

Marlborough straddles the boundary between the Pacific and Australian tectonic plates, where the Pacific Plate is slowly moving under the Australian Plate creating continental collision.  Limestone cliffs and tilted reef outcrops are a feature of the area.

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Recently the area was at the centre of an intensive period of earthquake activity that saw some areas lifted as much as 3m exposing more of the wave cut platforms.

Wave cut platforms

Wave cut platforms are created as the soft mud and limestone cliffs are eroded away due to weathering and power of the sea.  Once the cliffs have been eroded to below sea level marine algae and seaweeds grow on the surface and slow the erosion of the basement rocks. 

The spit that extends north of Cape Campbell is the largest wave cut platform in the area. 

Landforms

The Coastline of Marlborough's East Coast provides the greatest visual drama in the south Marlborough landscape. The spectacular rocky outcrops of the Needles and Chancet Rocks along the Limestone Coastline south of Cape Campbell are extremely memorable and display very high levels of naturalness.

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Narrow accumulative debris slopes at the foot of abandoned former sea cliffs and narrow basal cliff beach sand dune belts are frequently present.  

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Extensive sand dune fields are present between Willawa Point and the Waima River. North of the Waima River from Mirza Creek to Needles Point and south of Cape Campbell strong south-easterly winds drive migrating sand dunes up onto the toe and mid slopes of abandoned former sea cliffs to elevations of more than 40 m.

Tectonics

Marlborough straddles the boundary between the Pacific and Australian tectonic plates, where the Pacific Plate is slowly moving under the Australian Plate creating continental collision.  Limestone cliffs and tilted reef outcrops are a feature of the area.

​

Recently the area was at the centre of an intensive period of earthquake activity that saw some areas lifted as much as 3m exposing more of the wave cut platforms.

Wave cut platforms

Wave cut platforms are created as the soft mud and limestone cliffs are eroded away due to weathering and power of the sea.  Once the cliffs have been eroded to below sea level marine algae and seaweeds grow on the surface and slow the erosion of the basement rocks. 

The spit that extends north of Cape Campbell is the largest wave cut platform in the area.