Omarama Clay Cliffs
Omarama Clay Cliffs
Tall pinnacles of yellow clay rise from the dry landscape, split by deep ravines and narrow passages that disappear between the walls. Outside, snow-covered mountains stretch across the horizon, but step inside the cliffs and suddenly there's nothing but towering rock in every direction. This is the Omarama Clay Cliffs.
Quick Details
Total Length: 1km
Elevation: 100m
Grade: Easy
Best season: Autumn and Winter
Suitable for kids: Yes
Starting the Trail
Jess and the boys were back on the road, heading south towards Omarama. The little town sits amongst the wide open landscape of the Mackenzie Basin, surrounded by mountains and seemingly endless stretches of golden grass. The town itself wasn't their destination today. Instead, they were heading just 15 minutes away for more than one incredible experience.
They drove out of town on an old gravel road, across private farmland, and towards the stunning Clay Cliffs. There's a small fee to enter, paid at the gate, before the road continues towards a parking area near the beginning of their hike.
Long before you're standing underneath them, great walls of yellow and cream rise high above the surrounding grass. From a distance they look a little like enormous termite mounds, with dozens of narrow pinnacles pressed together along the hillside.
The first part of the walk is easy, following the track through dry grass and low scrub. Bright red rosehips grow thickly along either side, while behind you the landscape stretches all the way across the basin to the snow-covered mountains in the distance.
What looks like one solid formation from a distance quickly starts breaking apart as you get closer. Deep grooves appear between the pinnacles and narrow gullies disappear into the hillside. Then the track leads you straight inside those narrow corridors.
The wide open landscape is suddenly replaced by towering walls of yellow clay and gravel. Some rise almost vertically beside you, their surfaces carved into long ridges and folds, while others have been worn into narrow spires standing on their own.
There isn't really one single trail to follow from here. Smaller tracks weave between the formations, leading into gullies, around pinnacles and through gaps in the cliffs. You can wander as far in as you like, turn down whichever little path looks interesting and generally spend a while poking around to see where everything goes. Which, unsurprisingly, suited two adventurous boys just fine.
They disappeared into narrow gaps between the walls, scrambled their way along rocky gullies and investigated just about every opening they could find. Although one of them had chosen this particular morning to wear almost entirely white.
Not wanting to cover himself in yellow clay, he'd pulled his pants all the way up to turn them into makeshift shorts and spent most of the walk carefully negotiating the cliffs while trying to keep his clothes out of harm's way. An interesting fashion choice, perhaps. But surprisingly effective.
The further you wander into the cliffs, the more impressive they become. Some passages narrow until there's barely enough room to walk between the walls. Others suddenly open into huge rocky chambers, surrounded by pinnacles rising high overhead.
Eventually, after exploring as many of the little tracks and gullies that they could find, Jess and the boys began wandering back towards the van. The cliffs slowly opened around them until they were back amongst the rosehips and dry grass, those strange golden walls disappearing behind them.
Hot Tubs of Omarama
Another great reason for visiting Omarama is the hot tubs. Having arrived the afternoon before, they headed straight for the Hot Tubs, where private wood-fired cedar tubs sit beside the water with the mountains rising behind them. Although I think the boys wouldn’t have minded another stop off at the tubs before leaving to wash off any clay still clinging to them.
The tubs are filled with fresh mountain water and there are no chemicals added, so each tub is filled specifically for your session. Jess had booked a two-hour session for late afternoon, which turned out to be rather good timing. As the sun dropped behind the mountains, the grey sky slowly changed to pink and purple above the snowy peaks. Not a bad way to spend an evening after several days of hiking. And certainly warmer.
Getting There
Omarama Clay Cliffs are around 15 minutes from Omarama on New Zealand's South Island. From State Highway 8, turn onto Quailburn Road and follow the signs towards the Clay Cliffs before turning onto Henburn Road. The final section is unsealed and road conditions can vary, particularly after wet weather.
Tips and Tricks
The cliffs are located on private property and an entry fee is payable at the gate.
The Clay Cliffs themselves are fairly easy to reach, but once you begin exploring inside, the ground becomes much rougher. There are loose rocks, steep little slopes and uneven gullies, so enclosed shoes with decent grip are a good idea.
The cliffs are still actively eroding, so it's also worth remembering that those enormous walls aren't as solid as they look. Avoid climbing the formations themselves and take a little extra care after rain.
And finally, perhaps don't wear all white. Unless you're prepared to hike your pants up to your thighs and spend the morning desperately defending them from the clay.