Anatini Fossils / Elephant Rocks

Day 2 of the South Island Safari.  Leaving behind the Moeraki boulders, we traveled inland. We need to get to Tekapo before 6pm, as we are going to the Observatory at Mt John. 

Between Oamaru and Duntroon, are fascinating limestone formations.  Of course, the urchins had to climb them.

The "Vanished World" trail has locations of fossils.  We visited the site of the Anatini fossil site.

The urchins explored the rocky formations. Several scenes from the Nania film; the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe were filmed here.

Perhaps, five minutes drive towards Duntroon, are the Elephant Rocks.

This one looked like a bird.

It's a rock, I climb it.

Before reaching the township of Duntroon, there is a rock art site.

Half a millennium ago the valley of the Waitaki River was a well-trodden seasonal hunting and fishing route. Takiroa occupied a strategic position, offering advance warning of the approach of strangers or bad weather.”   This site is item number 5 on the History of New Zealand in 100 Places list.

We stopped for a late picnic lunch at Kurow, then continued passed the dams of Aviemore and Benmore, on our way to Tekapo.