Fossil Point is at the north end of Takapuna Beach, immediately below the campground. As you start along the North Shore Coastal Walk / Te Araroa, you will see a small strip of sand and what looks like a pretty typical rocky point. But if you explore further as the tide goes out, you will notice the fossil remains of an ancient kauri forest. The forest was buried by the Pupuke eruption (nearby Lake Pupuke is an ancient volcanic crater) about 150,000 years ago.
Subsequent erosion has left behind a series of small arches where the lava flowed over logs and reasonably obvious fossilised tree stumps, some complete with tree rings and interior rock pools. There is a very good information sign beside the walkway which explains it all.
7 images