Sites to Visit

Sites to Visit

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.

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 - the bookshops at the local museums are a good source for these. Department of Conservation 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 archaeological sites.

On the web:

New Zealand Archaeological Association guide for cultural tourists (with only partial coverage of NZ as yet) Link.

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.