Omarama Clay Cliffs
Clay Cliffs
Pinnacled gravel and clay formations in the Ahuriri Valley, with jagged gullies and spires that look like another planet.
The Clay Cliffs lie about 10 km northwest of Omarama. Formed when gravel and silt were uplifted along a fault and then eroded by rain, they consist of pinnacles and clay columns tens of meters tall, with narrow gullies between them that you can walk into. The site is on private farmland. To drive in, you pay by coin at the gate (about NZD 10 per vehicle), and the final stretch is gravel road. It is about a 1-hour drive from Tekapo and can be combined with Twizel and Lake Benmore. Summer heat is intense with no shade, so bring water.
Opening hours
Open during the day
Nearby sights
- Lake Pukaki
- Mt Cook Alpine Salmon Shop
- Peters Lookout
- Aoraki Mount Cook Scenic Flights
- Tekapo Springs
- Dark Sky Project
- Mount John Observatory
- Lake Tekapo Lupins