Separation Point Granites

The Separation Point Granites are a strip of granitic bedrock in the order of 10 kilometres wide that extends for over 100 kilometres from Abel Tasman National Park in the north to Mt Murchison in the south. 

At the land surface this rock is deeply weathered.  This weathered surface can be up to several metres in depth and is extremely erodable and readily breaks down to its constituent components forming a course sand.  It is sand derived from these rocks that form the golden beaches of Abel Tasman National Park.

Because of the highly erodable nature of the Separation Point Granites particular care is need when undertaking any form of land disturbance.  In particular, all stormwater needs to be appropriately controlled and any areas of exposed soils stabilised. 

The extent of the Separation Point Granite terrain is mapped as Land Disturbance Area 2 in the Tasman Resource Management Plan planning maps.  There are specific rules pertaining to land disturbance activities undertaken on this geology. 

Land Disturbance and the Tasman Resource Management Plan

Tasman Resource Management Plan - Area maps