Elephant Rocks — Attraction in South Island

The Elephant Rocks near Duntroon in North Otago, New Zealand, are a collection of large weathered limestone rocks. They are located on a private farm 5 kilometres (3 mi) south of Duntroon, in the Maerewhenua Valley. The wider area around Duntroon is known for its interesting geology and preserved fossils.

View across the Elephant Rocks area The Elephant Rocks are the weathered remnants of the Otekaike Limestone formation which lies above the Oligocene Kokoamu Greensand. The rock formations of the Elephant Rocks vary from 1–10 metres (3–33 ft) across and are naturally scattered around a grass paddock on a gentle hillside over an area of about 200 metres (660 ft) across. The rocks themselves are rounded and pockmarked from weathering, but do not specifically resemble elephant shapes. The pasture is part of a private farm, and sheep may be present. Access is permitted via a 5-minute walk across the farmland from opposite a parking bay on the Island Cliff-Duntroon Road. The Alps to Ocean Cycle Trail passes the site.

Elephant Rocks The Elephant Rocks area has been used as a filming location for the first Chronicles of Narnia movie in 2005 when it was transformed into Aslan's camp.They also appeared in Jet Lag: The Game Season...

Elephant Rocks Review This is a free and easily accessible natural attraction that’s well worth a visit if you're in the area. Located just a short drive from Duntroon, the site features massive limestone boulders scattered across a wide open field, creating a surreal and scenic landscape.

Photos don’t do justice to the scale of the rocks — it's only when you're standing beside them or climbing to the top that you realise just how huge and impressive they are. From the top, you're rewarded with sweeping views across the field and out toward snow-capped mountains on the horizon.

There’s ample parking and a couple of picnic tables at the entrance, and even on a busy day the space is vast enough that it never feels crowded. It’s an ideal spot for a leg stretch, a peaceful walk, or snapping some truly one-of-a-kind photos.

While I wouldn’t suggest making a long drive just for this one stop, it's absolutely worth the short detour if you're passing through or exploring nearby. A refreshing and memorable place to enjoy the outdoors and take in the natural beauty of these unique...

Amazing! This is a fantastic area full of easy and fascinating stops within just a few minutes of one another near Duntroon. Like Castle Hill west of Christchurch, Elephant Ricks has dozens of huge wind sculpted limestone formations that seemingly pop out of the surrounding land on their own. The area is not as big as Castle Hill, and it is quite manageable to walk the gentle downhill/uphill sloping path in just a few minutes. It’s just wonderful.

When we were there, almost no one else was, which added to the feeling that we had suddenly landed on some other very green, rocky planet.

A parking area accommodates a few cars. The site is on private land and is pastureland for lots of sheep. Please be respectful of the sheep, the owners, and the land.

We also visited the nearby Anatini Fossil site, Waipata/Earthquakes site, Brewery Hole geosite in Duntroon, and the Takiroa Māori Rock Art site. All were...