Gemstone Beach in June was, as expected, a cold mixture of overcast, sunny and wet days for tumbling stone hunting. The Taunoa Stream and Waimeamea River didn’t experience any significant changes in between my fossicking adventures but more stones have returned to the beach. It doesn’t appear to be getting any less busier at this popular tourist spot but it does feel like it’s getting harder to find really interesting stones to tumble. I am definitely coming home with less stones to tumble and polish!
Fossick #1 – Monday 2 June, 2025
What better way to spend a public holiday (King’s Birthday) than fossicking in my favourite place – Gemstone Beach. Low tide would be at 11:36am so my arrival at 10:25am in the carpark was perfect timing. There were already six cars in the carpark which I wasn’t surprised by given it was a long weekend. It was a cool 11 degrees and a perfect winter’s day in Southland with a bright blue sky and few clouds.
Beach Conditions
There weren’t that many people on the beach in front of the carpark but I could see at least 4 people across the Taunoa Stream already and quite a way down the beach towards the Waimeamea River. As Ohla dog and I made our way down the beach, after an easy Taunoa Stream crossing, I found a small poppy jasper.
I could see the Goldman (and Tig the dog) in their usual spot. Tig and Ohla had a bit of a play as they usually do as the Goldman and I exchanged a few words. A little further beyond the Goldman I recognised a couple of SGLC members (not sure of their names) and said hello on the way passed. They had also found a decent sized poppy jasper!
The Waimeamea River
Whilst not fossicking together as such, we all slowly made our way down towards the Waimeamea River. A few seepages were evident with a couple of them quite deep and close to river opening. I’d reached the Waimeamea River opening at 11:35am, right on the low tide. I didn’t cross the river as it already looked a little too deep for my liking and would only be getting deeper on the turning tide. There were, however, three other people already fossicking just on the other side too! That’s the most people I have ever encountered in one go down the beach this far.
Picked up four pieces of plastic on the beach today – all plastic drink bottle lids! I really hope the drink bottles are not still in the ocean! It had obviously been quite busy with cars in and out of the carpark while I was down on the beach. When Ohla dog and I got back to the car there were six cars in the carpark but driving out there were four more cars parked along the side on the way in. There was still plenty of room to park down in the carpark which made me think that these cars came in when the carpark was more full than it was now. A busy public holiday down at Gemstone Beach!
Favourite Finds of the Day – Fossick #1
Fossick #2 – Monday 9 June, 2025
Monday’s seem to be the day I get out for a fossick although I did leave it a little later in the day (last minute decision) to head down to Gemstone Beach. When I arrived at 2:09pm there were just three cars in the carpark. It was still sunny but only 8 degrees. The days are definitely getting shorter and cooler now. I still had about three and a half hours before low tide (5:19pm) so I wasn’t expecting to do more than a couple of hours of fossicking.
Ohla dog was good company and there were three people on the other side of the Taunoa Stream too. Of course one of the three was the Goldman and Tig which Ohla was happy to see! I also said hi in passing to the other two people on the beach.
Beach Conditions
The Waimeamea River was open but it was looking too deep to cross. There was still an hour and half til low tide but the light was fading making it not a good idea to cross over anyway. It was 4:45pm when I got back to the carpark so I’d managed to spend a good two and half hours on the beach. There were only two other cars in the carpark alongside mine.
Favourite Finds of the Day – Fossick #2
Fossick #3 – Monday June 23, 2025
My third and final fossick for June was an afternoon one. When I arrived at the carpark at 2:15pm there was one huge camper parked across the end of the carpark and one other car. Low tide was scheduled for 4:32pm so I knew the tide was on it’s way out. As Ohla and I made our way down towards the Taunoa Stream, one couple on their way back to their car said hello in passing. Down at the water’s edge was a man and his child giggling as they dodged the waves coming into where they were looking for stones
Conditions
It was a rather cool 9 degrees, overcast with some bits of blue sky trying its hardest to poke through. Occassional showers were forecast so I had my new wet weather gear from Hunters Element on. There was a winter special on so I bought the Storm Jacket plus Obsidian Pants. This pair should last me well and there will definitely not be wet pants and wet back now!
The Taunoa Stream
The Taunoa Stream was fairly shallow, easy to cross and still snaking its way past the cliffs still. I had a quick chat to the Goldman while Ohla played with his dog Tig. Apparently Tig “waits” for Ohla when they are on the beach.
The Waimeamea River
It was 4pm by the time we got down to the Waimeamea River which was open and flowing swiftly out to sea. Since it was still half an hour til low tide both Ohla and I crossed the river quite close to the waves and fossicked on the other side for that half hour. The flow was quite strong and it was a little deep in places so I didn’t want to be trying to cross back on the incoming tide. I am glad I ventured across, as scary as it was, because I found a couple of nice hydrogrossular garnets and a nice deep red poppy jasper!
Favourite Finds of the Day – Fossick #3
If I’m naming the stones in the captions, please note that I am by no means an expert and they are my “best guess” with some being more confident guesses than others. That being said, I am really keen for any thoughts, corrections, suggestions on my favourite finds from Gemstone Beach so please leave a comment – it’s greatly appreciated!
Next in the Series:
Gemstone Beach in July: Stones, Waves & Whispers Part 10
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Much appreciated catching up with the beach and your finds.
Such a great blog, your photos are really gorgeous.
I took a screenshot of the chrome Diopside stone, so I can ask you about it.
Do you think you are finding Less stones, because you are becoming fussy over what you pick up😊??
Love your blog
Thank you for being my audience!