Omarama Clay Cliffs
Your Nature Guide
Marios Gavalas
Author And Researcher
Nau mai, haere mai
Nau mai, haere mai
I'm Marios, delivering the best of Aotearoa's nature walks to your device.
I've personally walked hundreds of New Zealand's tracks and spent months in libraries uncovering interesting information on New Zealand/Aotearoa. And you'll find a slice of that research on this page - enjoy!
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Photos
Information
Badlands hoodoos in the heart of the MacKenzie. Its like been in a big sandcastle
The Clay Cliffs of Omarama are an amazing semi-arid `badland` of deep ravines and pinnacles eroded into ancient river gravels and lake silts situated on the active Ostler Fault Line.
Access
From Omarama at the junction of SH83 and SH8, continue north towards Twizel.
After 4.5 km, Clay Cliffs is signposted to the left along Qualiburn Road.
After 3.8 km Clay Cliffs is again signposted to the left along Henburn Road (unsealed).
After 3.4 km there is a gate on the left, which enters private land. A $5 per car donation is asked for to help maintain the road.
It is a further 3 km to a wide parking bay. Don’t be tempted to drive further as even for a 4WD its dodgy on the slippery clay.
Track
There are no formal tracks here.
Beware of falling rocks especially during rain. Your best bet is to walk along the 4WD track until it peters out and head right through the ramparts into the hidden world within.
Don’t try and fight the matagouri and hawthorn as you get scratched to buggery and no other place competes with these masterpieces.
Geology
The earth pillars, or ‘hoodoos’, form by rain washing off the soil surface, exposing a resistant layer of rock or large boulder, which forms a cap, protecting the rock beneath. When this cap is punctured the surrounding material is washed away until another resistant layer is encountered. This gives rise to pillars of differing heights. Where a cap still exists a fluted pinnacle forms. Heavy rain removes the softer silty matrix binding the conglomerate of gravels to expose the individual rocks.
Feature
They have counterparts in the North Island at Putangirua (see Pinnacles Walk, Wairarapa).
Details
| Feature | Value | Info |
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Organisation |
Waitaki District CouncilCouncil organisation |
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Location |
South Island ▷ Mount Cook - MacKenzie ▷ Omarama |
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Categories |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
Walking
Scenic Attractions
Reviews
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4.5/5
I went to Clay cliff.
I enjoyed everything and felt very good.
But a Chinese man picked a natural stone and carried it to his car and left.
I was very disappointed.
Is it illegal to pick up any natural material in reserve area?
But thereis no warning signage.
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4.0/5
Great natural context that is different than New Zealand.
A risky narrative could happen if you don't have a proper shoes.
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4.0/5
Was a really nice change of scenery.
Bumpy, dusty road is not too bad. Nice track that lets you get in amongst the cliffs and get a really close look. Definitely worth a visit if you are passing.
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4.5/5
Really different from most NZ scenery, quite impressive in its own way and less crowded than other places.
You have to pay an entrance fee which I is pretty fair, considering the site is on private land.
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5.0/5
Stunning site the sheer grandeur of which makes you feel 'very small' as you wind your way through the impressive formations.
A photographer's and geologist's dream-come-true ....
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1.5/5
I don't know why there is a fee of $5, because this 7.5 km gravel road is ridiculous and gets worse after paying the fee.
The view is nice enough, but you can have a quite good overview from the highway as well.
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5.0/5
Very interesting rock formations - but see for yourself!
Long and bumpy gravel road - absolutely worth it.
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5.0/5
Totally worth the trip!
The cliffs are on private land and the scenery is amazing. So the $5 for the road usage is a good deal for a view and an astounding walk. Be sure to walk all the way to the end of the road.
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5.0/5
Awesome hidden gem of New Zealand.
A true NZ must do, it really proves New Zealand has it all.
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4.0/5
$5 to get on the land, is worth it!
Very different scenery. It was nice to walk around/in the cliffs.
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4.0/5
A little off the beaten path, but the clay cliffs were worth a visit.
Very interesting formations accessible by a walking track. $5 entry per vehicle.
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4.5/5
I went to Clay cliff.
I enjoyed everything and felt very good.
But a Chinese man picked a natural stone and carried it to his car and left.
I was very disappointed.
Is it illegal to pick up any natural material in reserve area?
But thereis no warning signage.
-
4.0/5
Great natural context that is different than New Zealand.
A risky narrative could happen if you don't have a proper shoes.
-
4.0/5
Was a really nice change of scenery.
Bumpy, dusty road is not too bad. Nice track that lets you get in amongst the cliffs and get a really close look. Definitely worth a visit if you are passing.
-
4.5/5
Really different from most NZ scenery, quite impressive in its own way and less crowded than other places.
You have to pay an entrance fee which I is pretty fair, considering the site is on private land.
-
5.0/5
Stunning site the sheer grandeur of which makes you feel 'very small' as you wind your way through the impressive formations.
A photographer's and geologist's dream-come-true ....
-
1.5/5
I don't know why there is a fee of $5, because this 7.5 km gravel road is ridiculous and gets worse after paying the fee.
The view is nice enough, but you can have a quite good overview from the highway as well.
-
5.0/5
Very interesting rock formations - but see for yourself!
Long and bumpy gravel road - absolutely worth it.
-
5.0/5
Awesome hidden gem of New Zealand.
A true NZ must do, it really proves New Zealand has it all.
-
4.0/5
$5 to get on the land, is worth it!
Very different scenery. It was nice to walk around/in the cliffs.
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5.0/5
Totally worth the trip!
The cliffs are on private land and the scenery is amazing. So the $5 for the road usage is a good deal for a view and an astounding walk. Be sure to walk all the way to the end of the road.
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4.0/5
A little off the beaten path, but the clay cliffs were worth a visit.
Very interesting formations accessible by a walking track. $5 entry per vehicle.
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5.0/5
I have never heard of the Clay Cliffs before, but on my way from Mt Cook to Dunedin I stopped there.
I did not expect a lot but was mindblown when I saw them. They are totally worth a visit.
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2.5/5
Spectacular cliffs in the middle of nowhere, very nice landscape and views.
But $5 road fee per van for a gravel road and no toilets?? That is not nice.
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4.5/5
Feb 2016: $5 per vehicle - access road is gravel with nasty potholes (pay to bring exact change).
Walk is relatively easy on the main path. Plenty of animal tracks can be followed to find your own private cathedral of wonder. Fascinating place, worth stopping off it you are passing through. Bring water and sunscreen! No toilet.
Jan 2018: Same price, same potholed road, much worse camper to drive in (much larger and only 2wd). Last time we parked at a small turnaround near the river and had to walk past a locked gate, down a very rough, "4wd only", single-lane dirt road (we thought it would be fun to have a quad bike along here). The road end carpark is now through those gates, the 4wd track now being wider and ok for 2wd - expect to be challenged with a large motorhome, but it's do-able. Carpark is much larger, plenty of turning space and closer to the 'Cathedral'. Still no toilet or shelter...doesn't need it, just go prepared. 2 years ago we had the place almost to ourselves...this time, a dozen other people around.
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4.5/5
Very annoying unsealed road towards it, but so worth it!
Large yellow sand/clay formations that really stand out from the surroundings - special!
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5.0/5
Very cool cliffs, $5 entry per car.
Great views and good place to scramble up the cliffs.
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4.0/5
The gravel road to the cliffs is tricky but it's worth driving there.
From the carpark it is an easy walk to the cliffs. Actually there are no walkways between the cliffs. The paths can be very steep.
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4.0/5
Pales in comparison to similar places around the world on a larger scale, but worth a visit, still very unique, explore as many ravines as you can!
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5.0/5
Short walk.
very interesting place You will see the signs before heading to Omarama ( to Queenstown) Just follow the signs until you see the gate with honest box $5 per car. It's unsealed road. Park your car when you see sign 4WD only ( I've been there on september 2013 I think 4WD cant drive through as well, there was a very big hole . 15mins walk from car park
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4.0/5
Well worth a visit!
Almost nobody there, and surprisingly impressive!
Very... different :)
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4.0/5
Beautiful place although it wasn't written on our map but we just followed the signs.
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4.0/5
These cliffs are worth stopping.
Not mentioned in many travel guides they offer some spectacular views. Cliffs are on private property and a little fee applies, but it's worth it....
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3.5/5
Awesome rock formations, you can walk all around and inside - worth a stop off to break up a drive to Wanaka/QT.
