Cape Wanbrow is a rocky headland overlooking Oamaru Harbour, New Zealand. Although it has been a commercial forestry area for a number of decades, the cape is now primarily a Council controlled reserve, and is gradually being replanted with native trees and shrubs.[3] It has a network of walking tracks and mountain bike tracks, and is popular with the public.

Cape Wanbrow
Cliff adjacent to Cape Wanbrow
Cliff adjacent to Cape Wanbrow
Offshore water bodiesSouth Pacific Ocean
AgeOligocene (38–34.2 Ma)[1]
Formed byErosion and volcanism
Geologybasaltic tephra deposits, tholeiitic pillow lavas, limestone,mudstone and siltstone[1]
Highest elevation133 m (436 ft)[2]

Cape Wanbrow was an important lookout point during the Second World War and hosts a gun emplacement and remains of the original magazine which served the fortified gun.[4] Below the cape on its north side is a protected area which is home to a blue penguin colony, and rare yellow eyed penguins are to the south of the cape.[5] New Zealand fur seals and occasionally elephant seals are found resting on the rocks.[6]

The geology of the rock making up the cape is complex as layered within the sedimentary rocks are no less than 6 Surtseyan volcanoes of the monogenetic Waiareka-Deborah volcanic field.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Moorhouse, BL; White, JD; Scott, JM (2015). "Cape Wanbrow: A stack of Surtseyan-style volcanoes built over millions of years in the Waiareka–Deborah volcanic field, New Zealand". Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research. 298: 27–46. doi:10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2015.03.019.
  2. ^ a b "NZTopoMap:Cape Wanbrow". Retrieved 1 October 2023.
  3. ^ "Cape Wanbrow revegetation project". www.waitaki.govt.nz. 21 December 2016. Archived from the original on 25 April 2017. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  4. ^ "Cape Wanbrow to reopen soon". Otago Daily Times Online News. 12 April 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  5. ^ "Innovative ideas for Cape Wanbrow". Oamaru Mail. 26 June 2014. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  6. ^ Laing, Steuart (16 September 2015). "Seals, seaweed and sightseeing on Oamaru's coastline". Stuff. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
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