The Elephant Rocks Are Not What You Expect

I drove out to the Elephant Rocks thinking I’d find some secret, untouched corner of New Zealand. Instead, it was a field—sheep, fences, and boulders that looked more like forgotten playground equipment than anything ancient or epic. The wind was sharp. The sky was too big. I stood there, trying to feel moved, but mostly I just felt out of place, like I’d shown up to a party hours after everyone left. No crowds, no magic hour light, just me and the rocks and the low, insistent hum of disappointment. Sometimes the photos lie. Sometimes the quiet is just quiet. #Travel #TravelExpectations #NZMoments