Alpine Fault Tours

Alpine Fault Tours is a guided educational tour company that offers visitors the opportunity to explore the natural exposure of the Alpine Fault, located at Gaunt Creek near Whataroa, South Westland, New Zealand. The tours are 2.5 hours long and require walking. Visitors will have the chance to see where the Pacific and Australian continental plates meet, and learn how they have shaped the Southern Alps. The tour departs from the Alpine Fault Tours office on the main street of Whataroa and follo

The Alpine Fault is a natural wonder of our planet that until recently has only been accessible to international geologists studying and monitoring the site.Visitors will have the opportunity to see the drilling site and learn how it plays a vital role in seismic monitoring. They will also see how two active plates come together and shape the land around them. In 2017, researchers discovered beneath Whataroa, a small township on the Alpine Fault, "extreme" hydrothermal activity which "could be commercially very significant". One of the lead researchers said that it is likely to be globally unique.If you want to do something different and have a passing interest in geology, then this is a ‘must do’ tour. Elisabeth, your guide, has a good knowledge of the Alpine Fault, and to be able to straddle 2 tectonic plates was a real moment to remember. Visitors will have the chance to explore the natural wonders of the Alpine Fault and learn about its geological significance. The tour is a unique and educational experience suitable for all ages.