NEW ZEALAND ARCHAEOLOGY
www.nzarchaeology.org/cultural_tourist.htm
New
Zealand Archaeological Sites
for the Cultural Tourist
A
page of the NEW ZEALAND ARCHAEOLOGY Site 
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NEW ZEALAND ARCHAEOLOGY www.nzarchaeology.org/cultural_tourist.htm New
Zealand Archaeological Sites A
page of the NEW ZEALAND ARCHAEOLOGY Site |
WELCOME - HAEREMAIWhy visit archaeological sites? - Its the closest we can come to time travel, travelling in both space and time. It exposes other ways of being human in a landscape which may have a modern use that is familiar and unremarkable. And it often takes one away from the common tourist destinations, to where happenchance delivers cultural experiences of today's world that become unique experiences for a traveller. This listing is arranged around the regions on the map. The map regions are hot-point linked to the list. Unless specifically noted the sites are normally open to the public, but there may be exceptions for particular events or site maintenance or restoration work. There are many more archaeological sites in New Zealand than listed here. We have not covered shipwreck sites. Where we mention travel times they are by car. At most places only a modest level of fitness is required to see the site. Where more vigour is required it is flagged. Virtually none have paved paths to wheelchair standard. Our 'other recommended activities' are a sample only. There will be an entry charge for most of these. Our star system - based on visitor experience rather than purely archaeological significance.
There are many more historical things to visit than have been listed here. Where there are primarily standing buildings or structures still serving their original purpose they have not been included on this website. This is not to say they are not historic or valuable, or even that they cannot be investigated archaeologically, but just they are not commonly thought of as archaeological sites. |
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Maps:To find the location of places try LINZ on line maps - use the searchlight button in the toolbar to find places by name.
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There are icons beside the names of many of the sites - they give a quick indication of the nature of the site:
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Maori sites - other than defensive ones. The icon is a decorated gourd (hue). | Te Wairoa Village |
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Maori defensive sites - Pa. These are found commonly throughout the North Island and in the north of the South Island but become rare further south. The icon is a stone club (patu). | Maungakiekie |
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Coastal defence sites - on the major harbours. The icon is a 19th century coastal defence gun. | Taiaroa Head |
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New Zealand Wars sites - by both Maori and the colonial forces. These are mostly in the northern North Island. The icon is an Armstrong breech loading gun used in the wars by the British troops. Landscapes of Conflict, A Field Guide to the New Zealand Wars. Nigel Prickett, (Random House. 2002) NZ Redoubts, Stockades & Blockhouses 1840-1848. A Walton (pdf on-line) |
Ruapekapeka |
| Gold / bullion mining sites - Coromandel, West Coast and Central Otago are the main centres for these. The Coromandel mines produced more silver than gold. | ||
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Other mining sites Tin, sulphur, copper, tungsten, mercury, asbestos, iron, kauri gum andcoal are among the minerals mined in the past. | |
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Industrial sites Nigel Smith Heritage of Industry. (Reed, 2001) |
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Railway heritage David Leitch and Brian Scott's Exploring New Zealand's Ghost Railways (Grantham House, 1998) is recommended for the NZR lines. Euan McQueen Rails in the hinterland, New Zealand's vanishing railway heritage (Grantham House 2005) is good too. Department of Conservation rail heritage sites. (pdf) |
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| On the Web | Books |
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NZ Tourism Awards check out the Heritage Attractions and Cultural Tourism categories. Historic Places Trust check out the Places You Can Visit category. dayout.co.nz has many heritage resources listed - use the heritage search facility.
AA 101 Must-do's for Kiwis - look at the Heritage / History set. |
The Penguin Field Guide to New Zealand Archaeology, Kevin L. Jones (2007 Penguin Books). AA Book of New Zealand Historic Places. (1984, Lansdowne Press). |
The List
North Island South Island Hawkes Bay
Taranaki
Wanganui, Manawatu
Wellington
Nelson, Marlborough
West Coast
NELSON(More coming - come back soon)
Aniseed Valley Smelter
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Guides: Stepping Back, Exploring South Island History. Mark Pickering, 1998, Shoal Bay Press. |
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Marlborough
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WEST COAST(Coming - come back soon) Denniston Incline Waimangaroa. 15 km from Westport on the north road Conns Creek Road. Brunner SH 7 east of Greymouth Foundations Seddon's House |
Guides: Stepping Back, Exploring South Island History. Mark Pickering, 1998, Shoal Bay Press. |
Tours which are only to cultural sites are not common in New Zealand but almost all general tours will include some cultural sites.
We are happy to list providers here in exchange for a reciprocal link: www.nzarchaeology.org/cultural_tourist.htm email us
| Paste: <a href="http://www.nzarchaeology.org/cultural_tourist.htm"> Archaeological Sites for the Cultural Tourist</a> |
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Bargain
Wheels car hire |
© NZAA Last Update: 27/04/2008
What: Railway
tunnel, bridge, platforms. Near the southern end of the ill-fated
Nelson railway - part of the Midland Railway which proved beyond
the means of its investors. Abandoned 1931. Interpreted.
