Located along the west coast of New Zealand's North Island beneath limestone cliffs stand the Three Sisters, large vertical columns of rock jutting out of the sea. Walk across the dark sands of the beach for a closer view of the 82-feet (25-meter) rock formations.
You can only access the natural wonders on foot during low tide. The ground underfoot may be slippery so bring appropriate footwear with you.
This picturesque stroll will take you past rock pools, boulders and caves. In one of the caves, ancient inscriptions representing human footprints are etched into the walls. Some of the depictions have four toes, while others possess five and six. Look for sea life in rock pools.
Although the rocks are called the Three Sisters, there are only two. The third was eroded by the raw erosive power of nature a few years ago. It is expected that the sea will eventually take away the remaining two rock forms. Stand beneath them and look up.
Standing alongside the sisters is another dramatic formation known as Elephant Rock because of its apparent resemblance to an elephant. However, today it looks less like a large mammal because it lost the trunk part to erosion in 2016. From the beach, there is also a good view of Mount Taranaki in the distance.
The Three Sisters lie just outside the village of Tongaporutu. Take the signposted turn-off from State Highway 3, follow signs to the rocks and park in the free car park. There is no public transportation to the beach. If you plan to walk to the large rock stacks, be sure to check local guides for details of the tides and leave enough time to return to your vehicle before the sea returns. When you are back on the higher ground, look down as the waves crash into the rocks.
