Tokangawhā / Split Apple Rock facts for kids
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Tokangawhā / Split Apple Rock is a famous rock that looks like a giant apple cut in half! You can find it in Tasman Bay / Te Tai-o-Aorere, which is off the northern coast of the South Island of New Zealand. This amazing rock is a natural wonder made of a type of stone called granite.
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Discovering Split Apple Rock
This unique rock formation gets its name because it truly looks like a big apple that has been split down the middle. It's a very popular spot for visitors and is located about 50 meters from the shore. You can find it between two towns called Kaiteriteri and Marahau.
How the Rock Formed
Split Apple Rock is made from granite, a very hard rock that formed a long, long time ago during the Cretaceous period. That was about 145 to 66 million years ago! The "split" in the rock happened naturally. Geologists call these natural cracks "joints."
Joints are like weak spots in the rock. Over many, many years, rain and ocean waves slowly worked their way into these cracks. This constant action of water wore away the rock, making the crack bigger and bigger until it looked like the apple was perfectly split in two.
The Māori Legend
The local Māori people have a special story about how Split Apple Rock came to be. Their traditional legend tells of two gods who were fighting over the rock. To settle their argument, they decided to break the rock apart, creating the two halves we see today.
Visiting Split Apple Rock
Split Apple Rock is a big attraction for people visiting the area. When the tide is low, the water around the rock becomes very shallow. This means you can sometimes walk or wade out to the rock!
Many tourist boats and other small boats also travel past the rock. They often stop so people can take photos and admire this incredible natural sculpture. The rock is a well-known landmark near the beautiful Abel Tasman National Park.
The Rock's Name
The name "Split Apple Rock" became official in 1988. Later, in August 2014, its name was officially changed to Tokangawhā / Split Apple Rock. This change includes its Māori name, Tokangawhā, alongside its English name.
