 |
| Looking up beautiful Tairua Valley towards head of valley - photo courtesy Chris Ball 2016 |
"The Tairua Valley is one of the most beautiful and romantic parts of the Hauraki
Peninsula.” (New Zealand Herald, 11 March 1914, Page 6) This written by a reporter visiting the area in 1914.
Peninsula.” (New Zealand Herald, 11 March 1914, Page 6) This written by a reporter visiting the area in 1914.
From the western End of this Valley up about 2,200 feet (759 m) at the Pinnacles to sea level the eastern end. Along with the Pinnacles, other tall hills tower above the valley ( Mount Kaitarakihi ) Through the valley winds the Tairua river, with its four branches - from " the wires" near the headwaters of the Tairua, there is a plateau at about 1500 ft.
 |
| Looking towards the Pinnacles - left side top of photo - courtesy Chris Ball 2012 |
The Tairua valley, borne out of volcanic origins of millions of years ago, has many rugged steep hills surrounding the outer edge of the valley. From many points within the valley, can be seen a maze of low peaks and rolling ridges spread out in all directions - representing the dissected volcanic mass from the days of intense volcanic activity and lava flow.
 |
| low peaks born of volcanic activity - photo courtesy Chris Ball 2012 |
Rhyolite and andesite deposits are reminders of the volcanic activity throughout the valley:-The low peak as viewed on the Woody Hill track lower Tairua valley as in the above photo.
The rhyolitic dome at the harbour entrance to Tairua known as Paku. The development of "Island" which Homer and Moore wrote in Vanishing Volcanoes , began 7 or 8 million years ago ( Homer & Moore,p64)
 |
| Paku Island - photo 1950's unknown |
Paku " Island " is a dome within a dome. From the seaward side, can be seen the steep rhyolite eroded by the sea.
On the Southern side of the valley at the Tairua harbour mouth ( known in 2021 as Tairua Bar) and ocean lies Pauanui and what is known as South Beach Pauanui. Beyond South Beach on the forested hills between Pauanui and Ohui lies
a huge rhyolite dome, said to be formed 7 to 8 million years ago ( long, long ago).
Several parts of the dome cooled slowly, the outcome being the spectacular columnar jointing, particularly at low tide, seen in 2021.
Spectacular columnar jointing South Beach Pauanui photo courtesy Chris Ball 2012 - above, below
