Pillow Lava Bay

The next bay south of the southernmost parts of popular Muriwai is Pillow Lava Bay. But there is nothing soft or hot about it.

Here you can see the remnants of the geological processes which formed this part of the coastline, some 17 to 50 million years ago. The Waitakere Volcano was the force in place here. It was actually one of a chain of offshore volcanic islands, which forced lava inland through massive tubes which cooled rapidly when affected by seawater as they transported the molten rock. What's left to be seen can be said to look like pillows.

Of course much of the earth is formed in this fashion, but seeing the cross sections up close is a rare thing, here made possible by millions of years of the Tasman sea pounding upon this shore creating the neat slices of cliff face. Similar examples are seen at Maori Bay and Collins Bay either side of Pillow Lava Bay. New Zealand Geographic explains the process in full.

NZPlaces would love some more images of Pillow Lava, it's easy to send them in, just Click Here.

Image Credit: BHutt