Discover ancient Ngāi Tahu Māori rock art on a tour in and around the southern city of Tīmaru.
Tucked away on a farm 30 minutes’ drive from Tīmaru town centre is a secret valley of dreams where you can explore ancient cave paintings.
Here, in limestone caves and granite overhangs, shapes in deep red and faded black dance along walls and ceilings. When you think of indigenous rock art, you usually think of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island cultures across the Tasman in Australia. Most New Zealanders aren’t aware it exists within their own country!
Ngāi Tahu, the Māori tribal group whose lands are in the South Island, have identified 761 Māori rock art sites within their boundaries and you can experience them first hand with guides from the area.
Ngāi Tahu Māori Rock Art team leader Rachel Solomon is a descendent of those who once walked these valleys. Rachel and other Ngāi Tahu guides will walk you through the caves, as well as the beautiful valley where they reside. Her team have been working hard on a restoration project to reintroduce native plant species such as tarata, koromiko and makomako that will make the area look as it did when the paintings were made many centuries ago.
The replanting of these trees has seen the return of the kahukura, a beautiful, native red-winged moth. Native birds such as riroriro and korimako have also returned to the valley, their melody welcoming as you descend the green paths.
