Elephant Rocks near Oamaru New Zealand

Have you seen The Chronicles of Narnia?  If so, then you will have been nearby before – in Aslin’s Camp.  Once sand at the bottom of the ocean a mere 25 million years ago, then compressed into limestone, Elephant Rocks have been shaped by wind and water erosion into this mammoth collection.

Elephant rocks are in Section 8 of the Alps to Ocean Bicycle Tour that begins at Mt. Cook and ends at Oamaru.  This section from Duntroon to Oamaru takes 4 to 5 hours.

Although the rocks are supposed to look like elephants, just use your imagination and they look like many different things.

If you are wondering about the cattle, Elephant rocks are on private property, so it is important to take notice of any signed directions the farmer may have in place.

The movie set built in a nearby field is for the Jesus movie Kingdom Come, meant to be filmed in 2009, but put on hold when the company experienced financial difficulties.  It is rumoured the movie is going to be filmed in 2013 and the set is currently being checked for structural safety.

Things to Know:

Entry is Free.

Visit the Vanished World display in Duntroon first, or the Information Centre in Oamaru, for more information.

The direct route from Oamaru to Elephant rocks (near Duntroon) is a 40-minute drive on State Highway 83.  This is a family friendly attraction and an easy half day car trip from GUMTREE FARMSTAY in Oamaru.  Pack a picnic and soak up the fantastic scenery and let the children and young at heart do a spot of bouldering.

Another option would be  to combine Elephant Rocks with the KUROW WINERY in the Waitaki Valley at the gateway to the high country.  It’s limestone soils are comparable to those in Burgundy, France, with their signature wine being a Pinot Noir.  The cafe is well known for good food and can be extremely busy, so it may  be best to ring ahead.

Rocks and Otago seem to go together.  We also visited MOERAKI BOULDERS south of Omaru.  This post is linked to BUDGET TRAVELERS SANDBOX.