Shag Gallery

About Shag Point

Shag Gallery is only a kilometre along Shag Point Road. Beyond this, only a short drive you’ll find home to the yellow eyed penguin and NZ fur seal. While fur seals can be viewed at any time, dawn and dusk is when the penguin is likely to be seen. A dedicated viewing area is only meters from the car park.

 

The historical significance of Shag Point is evidenced by the vast representation held on permanent display at the Museum of Otago. A complete skeleton of a plesiosaur was removed from Shag Point and painstakingly reconstructed to now hold pride of place in the museum.

 

Evidencing also the strong cultural significance of Matakaea (Shag Point) to Maori, and their historic tie to this land, is the extensive representation of Shag Point in the museum.

 

Shag Point’s most recent history relates to coal mining. It is the first place in New Zealand where coal was used for commercial purposes. Mine shafts ran kilometres out under the seabed. Mining ceased in 1974. 34 years on the only black stuff sought after at Shag Point is the VIVACE espresso at the Shag Gallery.

 

Yellow eyed penguins, New Zealand fur seals and spectacular views are not the only visitor attraction at Shag Point.

 

Moeraki boulders (concretions), pale in comparison to those (pictured below) at Shag Point.

The boulders at Shag Point are millions of years older than those at Moeraki, and unlike the Moeraki boulders, have their origin linked to marine reptiles of the Jurassic period. A visit to the Shag Gallery will afford an opportunity to view the monster of all concretions 53 ft, or 18 meters around the base will be a photo opportunity for sure.