Category:Sites to Visit

Archaeo-Tourism - Sites to Visit for the Cultural Tourist

Free independent travellers seek authenticity in their travel experiences. Modern New Zealand values its history and cultural heritage. It has cities which are world class in their liveability, national parks of stunning beauty, a diverse productive and green countryside. It has too many protected sites from its historic heritage.

Maori, the first New Zealanders, found their own unique way of living here and after first seeking to accommodate the pressure of colonialism, many then confronted it and lost the resulting wars. New Zealand has moved from mono-cultural domination to accepting and then celebrating diversity. Maori have moved from having little influence outside their own affairs to a fuller share in the nation's wealth and a role in its decision making.

Colonial exploitation of minerals, of the ability to transform the land to exotic pasture and forests, of abundant water and energy and of remoteness from other nations have all left legacies. Under-valuing of energy, water and rights of waste disposal have consequences of excessive use and waste and are matters modern New Zealand is treating seriously as it seeks a sustainable future. As a remote and rugged country it has challenges for transport of people and goods. There is a record of endeavour in shipping, railways and air transport.

Much of this experience of modern New Zealand that a traveller can experience finds expression in the physical historical remains of the past - its archaeology. The past can validate the authenticity of experience of the present. Historic heritage is an important part of "Brand New Zealand". Just a tour of archaeological sites? - of course not - but include a few, chosen around your interests.

Why 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 less remarkable. And it often takes one away from the common tourist destinations, to where happenchance delivers cultural experiences of today's world that become stand-out experiences for a traveller.

New Zealand has many Maori and other archaeological sites that can be visited. Interpretive signs are not often a feature of sites and visitor centres are very rare so some prior research will often make visits more enjoyable. In some places there are tours that specialise in local cultural sites but they are not common. Independent travel is the best way to see these sites.

This listing is arranged around the regions on the map. The map regions are those with separate categories listed below. There are many more archaeological sites in New Zealand than covered here.

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.

Where travel times are stated they are by car. At most places only a modest level of fitness is required to see the site. Virtually none have paved paths to wheelchair standard.

Guides

Two published guides are particularly worth while:

The Penguin Field Guide to New Zealand Archaeology Kevin L. Jones 2007 Penguin Books.

Landscapes of Conflict, A Field Guide to the New Zealand Wars Nigel Prickett 2002 Random House.

Some regional guides exist and are listed on the regional category pages listed below. The bookshops at the local museums are a good source for these. Department of Conservation (DoC)visitor centres will usualy have information on historic sites in the DoC estate. Specialist publications on railway and industrial history can be found which often have information on such archaeological sites.

On the Web

New Zealand Historic Places Trust places to visit (only some of which are archaeological) Link.

Department of Conservation historic heritage pages Link.

Institute of Professional Engineers New Zealand engineering heritage - only some of the heritage sites have an archaeological presence Link.

Dayout.com is a commercial site - you have to join to see the detailed information - but for many sites this is very good. Look at the heritage / historic places category.