The Fascinating Elephant Rocks in Waitaki
Elephant Rocks, located near Duntroon in the Waitaki Valley, are captivating limestone formations. These intriguing rock features were formed from a single platform of uplifted limestone, dating back 25 million years. Over time, water eroded the softer material, leaving behind these striking shapes. The rocks are set in a grassy field, offering a unique landscape that resembles modernist sculptures more than elephants.
Walking Among the Rock Formations
When you visit Elephant Rocks, you can enjoy an easy walk around the formations, which vary in size and shape. Some of the formations resemble elephant-like shapes, which gave the area its name, though others appear as abstract sculptures or whale-like forms rising from the grass. Size varies, with some rocks being as big as a modest house.
The Elephant Rocks sit on private farmland but are accessible to the public via a short walking track. The site was used as a filming location for The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005). It also lies on the Alps2Ocean Cycle Trail, making it a popular stop for cyclists exploring the region.
The rocks are part of the Vanished World Trail, a geologically rich area tied to Waitaki Whitestone and the Waitaki Whitestone Geopark, where fossil beds and marine limestone reveal a long history of underwater life and tectonic uplift. You can get more information by visiting the Vanished World Centre in Duntroon.
How to Get There
To reach Elephant Rocks, drive from Duntroon on State Highway 83 along Livingstone Duntroon Road for five kilometres. Turn left onto Island Cliff Duntroon Road, and continue for about two kilometres until you reach the car park. From there, you can see the field of "elephants" and an information panel.
Other nearby geological features include Taikora and Murewhenua Māori Rock Art, Earthquakes Waipata, Anatini Fossils and Island Cliff.
