Auckland's West Coast | Muriwai - Maori Bay Pillow Lava

If you've tiki-toured around the South Island you may have come across the Pancake Rocks of Punakaiki, or perhaps the Victory Beach Pyramids of Otago.  And, while the study of rock "isn't my gig" necessarily, I'm certainly of the voice that "a rocky cliff is not just a rocky cliff", particularly after my recent backyard discovery tour to check out Maori Bay's pillow lava.

Looking up at the cliffs, it was as if tonnes of fireworks had exploded underground leaving lava starbursts frozen in rock. I had a "wow" moment. 



This was right before I misjudged the incoming wave that got my Nikes wet, which became another moment altogether.  I digress.

The Maori Bay pillow lava is the result of the Waitakere Volcano which erupted off the coast of Muriwai some 17-50 million years ago.

The scientific explanation goes something like this, according to our friends at Wikipedia: Pillow lava is the lava structure typically formed when lava emerges from an underwater volcanic vent or subglacial volcano or a lava flow enters the ocean ....The viscous lava gains a solid crust on contact with the water, and this crust cracks and oozes additional large blobs or "pillows" as more lava emerges from the advancing flow.



Maori Bay, with its volcanic cliffs and rock-littered foreshore, is in stark contrast to black sand dunes of Muriwai Beach just a few minutes walk to the north.  The gannets soaring at Otakamiro Point (aptly named 'Gannet Rock') watch over this special slice of Auckland's west coast.


Photo: Gannet Rock


Photo: Maori Bay

To the south of Maori Bay, further around the rocks, you will find Collins Bay and Pillow Lava Bay.  As the name suggests, expect to see more offerings of pillow lava the further south you go. There had been a recent rock slide (small and insignificant in the scheme of things), however with my wet trainers and rocks to battle, I decided not to venture too far south this visit.

The small tribe of half-pint explorers with me, chanting that the ice-cream shop at Muriwai Beach would still be open if we hurried, didn't sway my decision one bit. 

The mint-chocolate chip was quite divine, apparently.

Where on Earth is Maori Bay?
Auckland, NZ


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