Maerewhenua Maori Rock Painting Site

The Maerewhenua Maori Rock Painting Site is a historic place located in the Maerewhenua Historic Area in New Zealand.

The site is the main caged rock art site in the area and is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in history and art. The site consists of a deep, partly stone-floored shelter that has been decorated with many drawings. The drawings are made using charcoal and ochre and date back to before the arrival of Europeans. The site is sheltered by an impressive limestone overhang that offers amazing views over the valley.

The Maerewhenua Maori Rock Painting Site is located in the Waitaki Valley, east of Duntroon. To get to the site, visitors need to head east from Duntroon and take the first right after crossing the Maerewhenua River. The site is on the left after about 400m down the road to Elephant Rocks. The site is one of only two such sites in the South Island open to the public. The site is of highest cultural and spiritual significance to the Ngai Tahu Whanui. The region that this historic area is located within has many early traditional stories associated with it.

The Maerewhenua Maori Rock Painting Site is part of the heritage of New Zealand. The rock art that remains here is extremely vulnerable to changes in the environment. Erosion, wind-borne dust, animal rubbing, and modern development in the area have all contributed to the deterioration of the artworks. Human activities ranging from graffiti damage to drawing over the art with modern products all threaten the survival of the artwork, and the fencing has been installed to help protect the art. Visitors to the site can also check out other nearby attractions.

The Vanished World Centre is just 0.48 miles away, where visitors can dig out their own real limestone fossils or check out the 25-million-year-old shark-toothed fossils. The Takiroa Maori Rock Painting Site is 2.48 miles away and is hidden within the honeycomb cliffs lining the highway. It is of special significance to the Ngai Tahu. The Elephant Rocks are 2.66 miles away and are huge limestone boulders sculpted by wind, rain, and rivers. They were used as Aslan’s Camp in the NZ-filmed Narnia movies. In conclusion, the Maerewhenua Maori Rock Painting Site is a unique and fascinating destination that offers visitors a glimpse into the rich history and culture of New Zealand. The site is of highest cultural and spiritual significance to the Ngai Tahu Whanui and is one of the most well-known sites with extant Maori rock art in Aotearoa New Zealand. Visitors should be respectful of the site and take care not to damage the artwork.