Waitakere Super Volcano 2: Pillows (Auckland) Muriwai Beach, North Island, New Zealand
By funkymunkyzone on 20-Nov-09. Waypoint GC20WXT

Gorby messaged me to see if I was interested in going to Muriwai for an earthcache. Well why not, Im always keen for an adventure. I picked him up from the Silverdale parknride and we headed off in my new car. There was the occasional spit of rain and a bit of a blustery wind but otherwise the weather was holding out for his. We arrived about 1 1/2 hours before low tide and headed to the first WP. We had to race up the beach a couple of times to dodge incoming waves which made us think wed got the tides wrong as the water level was pretty high for low tide. A quick check of the tide charts confirmed low tide was an hour away. Well there was no way we would be able to safely get around the rocks to the next WP as the waves were still crashing over them. A decision was made to abandon our plans as no cache is worth risking lives. We spent sometime at the first WP and Gorby sent our answers to that to the CO.

( ) I have been meaning to do this EC like.... for YEARS! Never quite got around to it. But as the C.O is aware, it's EC weekend, a souvenir in the balance. So I contacted merlot58 (living up Orewa these days) to see if she might be interested in doing this, she hasn't done it and it's been like 2 months short of 3 years since it has been found, and I like finding caches that are a bit extinct. A bit like finding dinosaurs...lol.( ) So I hatched a plan with merlot. I don't have a vehicle at the moment, a van that can't get a WOF anymore and I can't afford another vehicle, so off on the bus (NX1 from downtown) I went to meet up with merlot at Silverdale. It was an early start, and we met up about 8:40am, then off in her brand new car to Muriwai. It was a fun day. When I left home it was pouring down, almost thought of cancelling the day, but as I got closer to Silverdale, the weather came perfect!( ) So off we go to Muriwai we went. But as soon as we got there, we were concerned!! The low tide was at 11:41am as I pre-searched on Met service, we were a little early at 9:42am, but what the heck! It was like high tide or something! We checked and re-checked we had the right time and yes, it was correct, merlot loaded the same page just to check, and she came up with the same info as me, but there was no way we could attempt to get to the other WP's apart from WP1. It was just far too dangerous, and who wants to lose their life attempting a cache! Not me or merlot. ( ) So if the C.O doesn't mind we're going with the info we sorted at WP1 and claim a find here. We really DID make a serious effort here. Answers added shortly. Then we went off to have a well earned coffee!

A kind low tide timing this week and I fancied an E K O from work to make the most of meant that this afternoon we headed out Muriwai way. I'd eyed up this EC a few times recently but the times etc never lined up and so was pleased to head here this afternoon after knocking off at 1445 and in the car underway just after 1500. Arrived at Maori Bay and headed down first to the littoral cave to attempt to replicate Georick's Youtube effort, nah water a little too deep still, I did it after the EC adventure.
Headed to WP1 where we had admired this feature last time visiting and did the required detail. At this point mrs capperz deferred from joining me at WP2 and 3 and so I ventured past the relaxing crabs (so many of them) and on to gather the required details. All good and time to take a moment and enjoy the huge variety of geological features. Back to meet up and head into that cave next, then off for a couple of nearby trads as Goldie's bush track was closed for KDD.
T F T C fmz, FP here of course, an awesome experience, thanks. Pics to follow, answers sent.

With the earthcache weekend in mind Evilno9 and I checked the tides for the this earthcache, which lined up around 6pm. Made our way out to WP1 and wished the weather will hold.
Just arrived to collect the first information when the rain got in. Started hopping over the rocks to get to WP2/3, getting more and more wet. But such times are special fun as the waves and scenery is stunning during a rainy day. TFTEC

Out here on this moody evening with alpenmilch80 to collect this one specifically and grab the souvenir. a80 had confirmed the tides so no issues here and though it was rainy it was still pretty cool to be out here.

Did the required estimates and hypothesising (including an alternative theory or two) and then made a hasty retreat to the warmth of the car.

Some really cool shapes out here, glad to have finally knocked this one off. TFTC

We thought we'd be at a perfect time but arrived to find 3 bus loads of secondary school students waiting to get onto the very first platform just past wp1. A woman in bare feet went through (and we never saw her again?!) we waited a further half hour and when the students began clambering onto our platform mr j started his journey to wp2 and mrs j retreated back onto the beach. An hour later the students were gone and mr j was back. It was just after official low tide but there had been little change in water levels in that time and he'd had a tough hike. Answers have been sent. Really enjoyed the rocks, experience and the description. NINO TFTEC

The tide was perfect for an afternoon stroll to look at this earthcache. Amazing how many people are unaware of this feature along the coast. I enjoyed doing this one so gave it a fav.
Answers have been sent to CO

Pretty sweet

I thought it was time I signed off this cache. I remember coming out here a few years ago but the tides weren't right, today they were. I got to all the places okay and didn't come across any seals. They are amazing rock formations and what is more amazing is that the rocks that have fallen down onto the beach haven't been broken down much by the sometimes tremendous wave action that occurs on this coastline. Though it must be said that igneous rocks are a tad hard.

Have emailed the CO my answers to the questions.

Trips often are planned around a geocache and often around earth caches. We look forward to visiting. We may not make this cache, but I found the cache page very informative!

Was not sure if was going to grab this one as I was running late to get the nearby cache but after failing to negotiate the last few metres I enjoyed this earthcache instead. My Oregon doesnt load the pictures but I think I know what I was looking for.
Always nice to learn some more about what is around us.
TFTC

Staying at Muriwai beach for orienteering over Easter. Was lucky enough to have a low tide in the afternoon after one of the events. This was a wonderful walk and the volcanic rocks were truly amazing in the afternoon light. This earthcache deserves more visits! Thanks funkymunkyzone for setting up this interesting exercise to show us such unique volcanic geology - recommended! Answers submitted.

We (my sister, brother-in-law and I) had a good time coming along this beach to find the clues. My sister lives just a few km from here and she's never been along this beach (but uses the one on the other side of the Gannet headland nearly every day!).

A great earthcache - with a great walk along the beach.

Thanks for setting this up,
Sean

11.00am. Joined the geocaching event group this morning to walk along the shoreline and view this earthcache. The detail on the cliffs was fascinating and all the more meaningful with the earthcache notes. Have sent the answers to the questions to the cache owner. Photos logged below.
TFTC
[8d] M.

Joined the band of event cachers for the walk down the beach stopping for the points of interest and photo shoots on the way. There were all sorts of theories about the why, how and when questions so we imagine there will be some amusing emails to FMZ . Thanks for sharing this place and setting up the Earthcache T4TC.

11:15 found with crew after event. Answers are emailed.

Nice morning walk with a big group as part of our Gannet BBQ campout event.
Beautiful walk and interesting location.
Thanks for bringing me here.
Logged with permission.
TFTC

11:22 AM What a real interesting EC. Had no idea these were even here or anything about their formation.
Found on an enjoyable walk with other cachers from the nearby event.
Sadly we didn’t see any seals but plenty of crabs, starfish and shags were seen.
TFTEC
Cheers M+S [:O)] (1521)

Absolutely stunning rock formations and great looking surfers. Forgot my camera, so No fixed Aboder took photos instead. TFTC

Found with 20-odd other cachers some of whom may well have had a hang-over like me too. The fresh sea air was nice as was paddling along the edge of the cool sea. GPS immediately decided to pack a sad and turn itself off at power-up everytime (since sorted out - phew!). Kids were still tired from the shameless revelry going on from outside their tent last night and just wanted to stop and play with the starfish rather than help dad with the earthcache. Had left the proper camera at home in favour of the work-issued-cheap-and-nasty-Backerry-piece-of-&%$#!, so all in all was feeling quite challenged. But hey, the geoology is spectacular and the fellow cachers leant a hand so we got there.

Thanks for the geo-lesson and taking uis to a nice spot

Amazing rock formations along this coastline. Beatuiful day, calm seas, & great company from the Camp Out Event. Joint photos with " And Mum". TFTC

Another one of the big crowd from the Waitangi Day BBQ, and loving it.

Did with group from compout event. Really enjoyed seeing and learning about the rock features - facinating. TFTC

We just loved the shoreline and the rock scrambling. Visited with team YuGeo4, and had a great walk late in the day. Heaps of starfish on the rocks. The rock pillows are just amazing, never seen anything quite like them before. Excellent cache thanks. Answers emailled. TFTC

3977
Joined forces with Tramper Ted... What a fascinating earthcache, with lots of interesting landforms. We really enjoyed this one, many thanks for showing us.
MTFTEC

Enjoyed this one, very nicely done earthcache. Good fun getting to some of the waypoints, we were a little early getting here.

TFTC

What a great day to spend at the beach. We were a bit suspicious of the clouds when we arrived at Muriwai, but with the sun breaking through more and more, we soon were more worried about the amount of applied sunscreen.
Anyway. This earthcache was a lot of fun to us. With boring scientific facts not being enough, we soon made up our own legends about how certain structures came about. And who knows. Science can be wrong...
Thanks for bringing us out here again and doing a way better job on the geological facts than we would have done (yes, we had planned an earthcache like this out here, too). We looked at everything we thought we already knew with different perspectives.

I've been coming to these beaches since I was a lad, and still I manage to learn more and more about the place, I'd heard about the famous pillow lava, but with so many other neat features around wasnt sure until now what it was, thanks heaps for the lesson!

This time I combined a spot of fishing with some friends ( and of corse a spot of caching).

Out with Gadget-tron, Funkymonkeyzone and The Wonderstuff.


Logged answers to questions in realtime with the owner.

Great walk around the coast here. And moved some cobwebs off some dormant volcanology knowledge in the process.

Great examples of the lava for sure. I remember distinclly having to sketch most of it around 1992.

Thanks a million. Great Earth Cache.

Yep, the pillow lavas are all still there...

Did this EC with the Cache owner/creator, TWS and -OGP-. Questions were debated real time with -OGP-'s superior geological knowledge coming to the fore. Was a truly enjoyable EC. TFTC

Cruised along to this one with the cache owner and OGP and Gadet kid.

Rather interesting, and pleasantly surprised on OGPs knowledge on this sort of stuff.

Answered the question in real time.

Thanks for setting up and the fun.

TFTEC

Kiwicouple's First to Find Geocoin visiting.

We were awoken at some ungodly hour (3.38am) by the text alert for this cache. A quick check of the tides for Muriwai revealed that low tide was just before 7 am (perfect timing for us) then set the alarm for 5.30 and back to sleep. We have been expecting this earth cache ever since we saw the name Pillow Lava Bay while preparing for FMZ's 'Know Your Limits' cache. All the interesting rock formations we saw that day confirmed that this is a great earth cache site.
It was a bit of a wild morning at Muriwai when we arrived at the first waypoint. Took the required photos and inspected the formations. Had a slight handicap at Wp2, in that the cache page photos were not yet displaying, but the description was clear enough for us to (hopefully) find the right rock. The highlight of the morning came on the way to Wp3 when we saw a seal on the rocks in front of us. We skirted higher up the rocks so as not to disturb it, and it soon yawned and went back to sleep. At Wp3 the pillow lava lobes are certainly clear to see. Did the required tasks here and then continued on the short distance to inspect the 'chasm' we had to cross for 'Know Your Limits'. Much less water here today with the spring low tide.
Answers to the questions have been emailed to the cache owner. Thanks FMZ for this interesting earthcache. We certainly learned a bit researching for it. We found some great video footage (Google pillow lava images and select the video) showing pillow lava forming underwater in Hawaii.

# 1008

What an incredible set of pics! Was thinking of placing an earthcache here myself (will have to settle with a Trad now) but this far better than what I had envisioned, well done Chris & Vera!

Published

Waitakere Super Volcano 2: Pillows (Auckland) was transferred from geoaware to user funkymunkyzone

photos will be uploaded later...