Gemstone Beach near Orepuki is famous for the semi-precious stones that wash up along its sands — garnet, quartz, jasper and even the occasional sapphire.
The best fossicking is after a good storm, when the surf reshapes the beach and turns over a fresh scatter of stones. Wet pebbles show their colour best, so a splash of seawater helps the good ones stand out from the grey.
At the western end the beach is watched over by Monkey Island — a small, grass-topped islet sitting just offshore on a bed of boulders. At low tide you can walk out across the rocks and climb the wooden stairway cut into its side for a view back along the coast.
Further along, wind and sea have carved the dunes into overhangs and sandy hollows, with wind-bent trees leaning out of the cliff above a hidden little shelter — worth the wander if you have the time.
Getting There & Safety
Gemstone Beach is signposted about half a kilometre north of Orepuki, roughly a 15-minute drive from Tuatapere on the Southern Scenic Route.
Time your visit around low tide — it's when the best stones show up on the beach and when Monkey Island's boulder causeway is walkable. Cross on an outgoing tide where possible, and keep an eye on the time so you're back before the water rises over the path. The open coast here has powerful surf and strong currents, so it's not a swimming beach — admire it from the sand instead.
Photos courtesy of Rarakau Lodge guests.