Hampden is a small town on State Highway 1, about three km north of Moeraki Boulders on the North Otago Coast. The main highway has a popular cafe, fish and chip shop, hotel restaurant, and historic buildings. As such, it is one of the more accessible options for food and drinks between Ōamaru and Palmerston. But its main feature is Hampden Beach and nearby Moeraki Boulders Holiday Park. However, the only boulders here are the concrete recreations in the playground.
From the main highway, turn east onto Lincoln Street or Derby Street to the reserve and playground in front of the beach. To the north and south of the reserve, cliffs surround the beach. As the tide goes out, you can walk three km south along the beach to the actual Moeraki Boulders. Hector’s Dolphins are common in the surf. However, the day we visited was too calm for much surf, and we were not able to catch a sighting.
