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Accessibility: MODERATE
WHAT'S HERE?
Tokatoka Peak is a volcanic plug that has been exposed by erosion.
Volcanic plug is exhumed part of the shallow plumbing of a 19-17 million year old volcano that has been completely eroded away.
Panoramic views from the top.
Panoramic views from the top.
LEARN ABOUT IT
Tokatoka Peak volcanic plug viewed from West. Photo Bruce Hayward, 2015.
Around Tokatoka there are many examples of hard volcanic rock (andesite, basalt) sticking up above the level of the eroded softer sedimentary rocks (muddy limestone) through which they were intruded. These are the eroded remnants of some of the shallow plumbing system beneath a relatively small stratovolcano that erupted here 19-17 million years ago. Since then the entire volcano has eroded away and erosion has worn down into the rocks that were beneath it. Tokatoka is the most prominent remnant of the plumbing system and consists of solid andesite rock that once formed a plug of magma that solidified in the throat of one of the volcano's vents.
HAVE A LOOK!
Tokatoka Peak is a volcanic plug that has been exposed by erosion. Photo Bruce Hayward
Have a look at the andesite rock as you climb up over it on the way to the summit.
From the summit look around and see how many small hills you can see sticking up that were also probably part of the volcano's plumbing system.
Can you see the prominent blade-like dike of Maungaraho to the north?
Can you see the sand barrier of North Kaipara Peninsula that built up across Kaipara Bay in the last 2 million years creating the Kaipara Harbour?
From the summit look around and see how many small hills you can see sticking up that were also probably part of the volcano's plumbing system.
Can you see the prominent blade-like dike of Maungaraho to the north?
Can you see the sand barrier of North Kaipara Peninsula that built up across Kaipara Bay in the last 2 million years creating the Kaipara Harbour?
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Directions/Advisory
Park on side of Tokatoka Rd at signposted entrance to walking track up Tokatoka Peak, about 1 km west of turnoff from highway 12 at Tokatoka, halfway between Ruawai and Dargaville.
The top of Tokatoka Peak has no safety fences, so do not go too close to the edge which drops away sharply. Children need to be well supervised on top. The steeper part of the track can be slippery when wet. Stay on the track. Watch out for cars when walking from the car to the track start.
Google Directions
Accessibility:
MODERATE
Gentle walk through forest on bush track becomes steeper later with minor amounts of easy rock climbing to reach top. About 30-40 mins return.
Features
Volcanic
Landform
Geological Age
The rocks that Tokatoka Peak is made of were formed in the Early Miocene, 19-17 million years ago.
Zealandia Evolution Sequence
Māui Supergroup (Emergence): 25 – 5 million years ago
Links