Question 1

Bryozoans

Accepted Answer

https://static.wixstatic.com/media/332577_943c4c38200d46cb96c79aaba9652c53~mv2.jpg
These tiny animals make up our Oamaru Stone.  Just how did these sea creatures become limestone – and what do they tell us about the past?

Resources:
 • Colouring in and fact sheet - VIEW (https://3f907d9e-738e-4340-8149-5b05e6e04ef2.usrfiles.com/ugd/90046d_33666a0aa8684f8c9435a55253ee24ee.pdf)
 • Video - Oamaru Stone made from Bryozoans - VIEW (https://youtu.be/2U0NM6xHOYQ)
 • Information and activity sheet (The geological story of Oamaru) - VIEW (https://www.whitestonegeopark.nz/_files/ugd/332577_b3ec77c87e064050944e65d114d35914.pdf)

Image credit: Ruth K Baldwin

Question 2

Diatoms

Accepted Answer

https://static.wixstatic.com/media/90046d_95a6406bad2f4b038688ff71b58d1a02~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg
The diatom - a fossilised algae and focus of parlour games during Victorian times.  So what’s the story with diatoms?

Recourses:
 • Video – Why are diatoms found in rock when they live in water - VIEW (https://youtu.be/_D2ETpshjjk)
 • Video – The story of the Waitaki Diatom - VIEW (https://youtu.be/Lt1UYGu15rA)
 • Activity sheet – colour in and arrange like a Victorian scientist - VIEW (https://www.whitestonegeopark.nz/_files/ugd/332577_98ca29fae2784aeeb14c4c3dcf2ab4cd.pdf)
 • Information and activity sheet – create your own diatom - VIEW (https://3f907d9e-738e-4340-8149-5b05e6e04ef2.usrfiles.com/ugd/90046d_645d0fd8d33a49bcbcee934a5d92e8cd.pdf)
 • Diatom images to print, colour and display - VIEW (https://3f907d9e-738e-4340-8149-5b05e6e04ef2.usrfiles.com/ugd/90046d_3634d763833f46ee8f107fb1febfb81e.pdf)
 • Visit the Waitaki Museum (https://culturewaitaki.org.nz/north-otago-museum/display/moa-and-other-extinct-birds)in Oamaru to learn more about diatoms and have a go at creating your own diatom display on their light table 
Image credit: Wayne Barrar

Question 3

Elephant Rocks

Accepted Answer

https://static.wixstatic.com/media/332577_9b716bada850436aaf0251841aafc669~mv2.jpg
Large limestone formations scattered across this rural paddock – but how did they get there?

Resources:
 • Information sheet - VIEW (https://3f907d9e-738e-4340-8149-5b05e6e04ef2.usrfiles.com/ugd/90046d_569be995df2a40d88ee29e2f7ff68e52.pdf)
 • Geosite webpage - VIEW (https://www.whitestonegeopark.nz/elephant-rocks)
 • Elephant Rocks soundscape:

Elephant Rocks
https://static.wixstatic.com/mp3/90046d_5fb3b267c12c4cbd9ff33da72a6a81b1.mp3

Question 4

Geology of Oamaru

Accepted Answer

https://static.wixstatic.com/media/90046d_353d7df6717442069c44366361726ef1~mv2.jpg
Long ago, the area of Oamaru was under the sea.  It was home to volcanic eruptions and ancient sea life.

How did our landscape form, and where did the resources used for building the Whitestone City of the Victorian era come from?

Resources:
 • Information and activity sheet - VIEW (https://www.whitestonegeopark.nz/_files/ugd/332577_b3ec77c87e064050944e65d114d35914.pdf)
 • Oamaru soundscape:

Oamaru
https://static.wixstatic.com/mp3/90046d_af5d480da9e34a1c87d6e5b6683a4b04.mp3

• Also see topics bryozoans, diatoms, and volcanoes.

Question 5

Geologic timescale

Accepted Answer

https://static.wixstatic.com/media/90046d_3176ffd09002435ca05d216fc717d23f~mv2.png
The geologic timescale is a timeline that shows the order of geologic events that have formed our land.  It spans millions of years.  
Earth scientists can work out how old a rock is by:
 • Measuring the decay of special elements in a rock (radiometric dating)
 • Certain fossils in sedimentary rocks
 • Superposition – younger rocks are on top of older rocks (there are exceptions to this i.e. where rocks are deformed and some igneous rocks)

Resources:
 • WWG geologic timescale – this shows some special features in our geopark and when they were formed - VIEW (https://www.whitestonegeopark.nz/_files/ugd/90046d_6387f057f11f471bba340a821015236a.pdf)

Question 6

Gondwana

Accepted Answer

https://static.wixstatic.com/media/90046d_137e008012f141c0b43bcf48564ccbed~mv2.png
Our story begins with Gondwana, an ancient supercontinent that broke apart into new lands.  Zealandia is one of these fragments – the 8th continent of the world, and the foundation of modern New Zealand.

Resources:
 • Gondwana colouring in puzzle and information sheet - VIEW (https://www.whitestonegeopark.nz/_files/ugd/90046d_dfa67e26a8104116b97c1808544fc449.pdf)

Question 7

Haast's Eagle

Accepted Answer

https://static.wixstatic.com/media/90046d_d17267df8c974747997124b848bc8898~mv2_d_2391_2154_s_2.png
Probably the largest eagle to have ever lived – and was native to New Zealand.  Learn more about this ancient predator.

Resources:
 • Information sheet - VIEW (https://3f907d9e-738e-4340-8149-5b05e6e04ef2.usrfiles.com/ugd/90046d_360be74b12824505a3a86883346bd002.pdf)
 • Moa Trail - VIEW (https://download-files.wixmp.com/ugd/90046d_7537b1fbd42547d9a6702cfd6b815bed.pdf?token=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpc3MiOiJ1cm46YXBwOmU2NjYzMGU3MTRmMDQ5MGFhZWExZjE0OWIzYjY5ZTMyIiwic3ViIjoidXJuOmFwcDplNjY2MzBlNzE0ZjA0OTBhYWVhMWYxNDliM2I2OWUzMiIsImF1ZCI6WyJ1cm46c2VydmljZTpmaWxlLmRvd25sb2FkIl0sImlhdCI6MTY5ODg5Mjg0NiwiZXhwIjoxNjk4OTI4ODU2LCJqdGkiOiJjMjEzMmFlYy04YjNlLTRhN2YtYTRiZS1kZDUwYWRlMTA0NTMiLCJvYmoiOltbeyJwYXRoIjoiL3VnZC85MDA0NmRfNzUzN2IxZmJkNDI1NDdkOWE2NzAyY2ZkNmI4MTViZWQucGRmIn1dXSwiZGlzIjp7ImZpbGVuYW1lIjoiTWFwX1dhaXRha2lfTW9hX1RyYWlsX0ZpbmFsLnBkZiIsInR5cGUiOiJhdHRhY2htZW50In19.9Qvj6i9k-yQptpe0iq6woJ1_Mq_YrQ27rmVnQqcN02Y)

Question 8

Kororā / Little Penguin

Accepted Answer

https://static.wixstatic.com/media/90046d_48b94d5cd0ec448a92eb209616f1e1d3~mv2.jpg
The smallest penguin in the world and native to New Zealand.  Learn more about this modern-day treasure.

Resources:
 • Information sheet - VIEW (https://3f907d9e-738e-4340-8149-5b05e6e04ef2.usrfiles.com/ugd/90046d_31a151778cbd46dfb032f811c67f3383.pdf)
 • Video – Ancient giant penguins to the modern day - VIEW (https://youtu.be/DPzAGFRxD74)
 • Make a penguin mask - VIEW (https://3f907d9e-738e-4340-8149-5b05e6e04ef2.usrfiles.com/ugd/90046d_b659f9c0ada048d39561d737cbb50c85.pdf)
 • Also see topic ‘Geology of Oamaru’

Question 9

Local fossils

Accepted Answer

https://static.wixstatic.com/media/332577_2fed56d88d01429a846d486837a62a9c~mv2.jpg
Marine (sea) fossils of international significance have been found in the rocks of the Waitaki Whitestone Geopark.  Learn more about the ancient world they lived in and where to see casts and displays of our prehistoric sea life.

Resources
 • Information sheet - VIEW (https://3f907d9e-738e-4340-8149-5b05e6e04ef2.usrfiles.com/ugd/90046d_ca2252b70bfa481796679e4995c2ee7b.pdf)
 • Also see topics ‘bryozoans’, ‘Diatoms’, and ‘Geology of Oamaru’

Question 10

Moa

Accepted Answer

https://static.wixstatic.com/media/90046d_153ed7d2b9f74d02a253d17f533c9338~mv2_d_1600_1603_s_2.png
One of the biggest birds to have ever lived (up to 3.6 metres tall) and native to New Zealand. Moa remains have been found in locations in the Waitaki Whitestone Geopark.

Resources:
 • Information sheet - VIEW (https://3f907d9e-738e-4340-8149-5b05e6e04ef2.usrfiles.com/ugd/90046d_89960ff890b944078e6f918ff74c4c1a.pdf)
 • Moa Trail - VIEW (https://download-files.wixmp.com/ugd/90046d_7537b1fbd42547d9a6702cfd6b815bed.pdf?token=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpc3MiOiJ1cm46YXBwOmU2NjYzMGU3MTRmMDQ5MGFhZWExZjE0OWIzYjY5ZTMyIiwic3ViIjoidXJuOmFwcDplNjY2MzBlNzE0ZjA0OTBhYWVhMWYxNDliM2I2OWUzMiIsImF1ZCI6WyJ1cm46c2VydmljZTpmaWxlLmRvd25sb2FkIl0sImlhdCI6MTY5ODg5MzE1NSwiZXhwIjoxNjk4OTI5MTY1LCJqdGkiOiJiMDdmZTExNi0zNmYwLTQ1YzYtYWUwMi0xZWIwNTQzNWI0NDkiLCJvYmoiOltbeyJwYXRoIjoiL3VnZC85MDA0NmRfNzUzN2IxZmJkNDI1NDdkOWE2NzAyY2ZkNmI4MTViZWQucGRmIn1dXSwiZGlzIjp7ImZpbGVuYW1lIjoiTWFwX1dhaXRha2lfTW9hX1RyYWlsX0ZpbmFsLnBkZiIsInR5cGUiOiJhdHRhY2htZW50In19.KzJwXpXd_su_XYZTy_lLP9DpdCmaLxvGuRyspWG-3TQ)

Question 11

Paritea / Clay Cliffs

Accepted Answer

https://static.wixstatic.com/media/90046d_c89b1c49250348578c29b7e85e250591~mv2_d_4992_3328_s_4_2.jpg
Formed by ancient lake and rivers, the gravels and sand have been pushed up by the active Ostler Fault to form cliffs.

Resources:
 • Information sheet - VIEW (https://3f907d9e-738e-4340-8149-5b05e6e04ef2.usrfiles.com/ugd/90046d_1b70d0b62d7146289ebf65dde0af252c.pdf)

Question 12

Plesiosaur

Accepted Answer

https://static.wixstatic.com/media/332577_96fe7d2b1b064170b5c473fc568e7072~mv2.jpg
The plesiosaur – a huge creature that lived in our seas around 70 million years ago.  Plesiosaurs died out with the dinosaurs around 66 million years ago.  A plesiosaur fossil was discovered in the Waitaki Whitestone Geopark and you can see this in the Otago Museum.

Resources:
 • Colouring in - VIEW (https://www.whitestonegeopark.nz/_files/ugd/90046d_5ede7ee2381146578e2866bbf525f06f.pdf)
 • Information sheet - VIEW (https://3f907d9e-738e-4340-8149-5b05e6e04ef2.usrfiles.com/ugd/90046d_13a850ae09b2489f98dff86394aafedf.pdf)

Question 13

Rock identification

Accepted Answer

https://static.wixstatic.com/media/332577_43ee3abf540c45c5871a993cb9924264~mv2.jpg
Rocks that make up the earth’s crust are categorised into three different rock types – sedimentary, metamorphic and igneous.  Each rock type is formed in a different way.  Learn more here and become a rock detective.

Resources:
 • Information sheets - currently under development

Question 14

Te Kaihīnaki / Moeraki Boulders

Accepted Answer

https://static.wixstatic.com/media/332577_287f673a935e4f23ba899b3281e8aa06~mv2.jpg
These impressive boulders are made of mud cemented together by the mineral calcite.  They formed millions of years ago within muds under the sea.

Resources:
 • Information sheet - VIEW (https://3f907d9e-738e-4340-8149-5b05e6e04ef2.usrfiles.com/ugd/90046d_7009301e8e0f4851bd347e02148fa154.pdf)
 • Geosite webpage - VIEW (https://www.whitestonegeopark.nz/moeraki-boulders)

Question 15

Volcano

Accepted Answer

https://static.wixstatic.com/media/332577_e4d8244c9bd74914945af49eca311b49~mv2.jpg
Remnants of ancient volcanoes can be seen along the coastal section of the Waitaki Whitestone Geopark.  But when did they erupt, and what kind of volcanos were they?

Resources:
 • Make a volcano model - VIEW (https://www.whitestonegeopark.nz/_files/ugd/332577_5b5ad9c3ff3247119fc17a5df2be46a7.pdf) 
 • Colouring in - VIEW (https://www.whitestonegeopark.nz/_files/ugd/332577_0db6f90da7714887bfb675202d7a63bf.pdf)
 • Label a volcano - VIEW (https://www.whitestonegeopark.nz/_files/ugd/332577_429c78d8395f4937be749548d2d3aa89.pdf)
 • Geosite webpages 
    • Boatmans harbour - VIEW (https://www.whitestonegeopark.nz/boatmans-harbour)
    • Hutcheson's quarry - VIEW (https://www.whitestonegeopark.nz/hutchesons-quarry)
    • Puketapu - VIEW (https://www.whitestonegeopark.nz/puketapu)
    • Bridge point - VIEW (https://www.whitestonegeopark.nz/bridge-point)
 • Video – Pillow lava formation - VIEW (https://youtu.be/0xho-Xr7CnE)
 • Volcano information sheet - VIEW (https://3f907d9e-738e-4340-8149-5b05e6e04ef2.usrfiles.com/ugd/90046d_f55ffb52670f482fa23d9945723afaab.pdf)
 • Inside a volcano - VIEW (https://3f907d9e-738e-4340-8149-5b05e6e04ef2.usrfiles.com/ugd/90046d_00f2f5f00f2d47498d2ad73876af4c21.pdf)
 • Volcanic rock – spot it - VIEW (https://3f907d9e-738e-4340-8149-5b05e6e04ef2.usrfiles.com/ugd/90046d_9063acfcb8e3499cbd4aee51820ed46e.pdf)
 • Also refer to the topic ‘Geology of Oamaru’

Question 16

Waitaki River

Accepted Answer

https://static.wixstatic.com/media/332577_6e475e62d57243168dd75ef56ea8426b~mv2.jpg
Braided rivers not only flow from the mountains to the sea, but can sweep across their floodplain – their active channels changing with flooding and sediment buildup.  Learn more about some of the features of our very special Waitaki River.

Resources:
 • Information sheet - VIEW (https://3f907d9e-738e-4340-8149-5b05e6e04ef2.usrfiles.com/ugd/90046d_eb1b3dc2723b41d4a290af3cbf996578.pdf)

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"What a fantastic window into the past. Today we saw fossil bones in limestone at two different sites. One set were whale bones. Just awesome that this trail has been put together, maintained and promoted."

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"What a fantastic window into the past. Today we saw fossil bones in limestone at two different sites. One set were whale bones. Just awesome that this trail has been put together, maintained and promoted."

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OUR Touring
APP

News &
Events