Fauth family free fun - exploring the rock art at Valley of the Moa, Maungati. Photos Roselyn Fauth
Valley of the Moa (Maungati) (near Pareora Gorge)
Access is by a short walk from roadside parking. Features: Viewable drawings under shelter, with interpretation panels. Maungati means “mountain of cabbage tree” in te reo Māori, derived from maunga (mountain) and tī (cabbage tree). Once known as Timaunga, the name changed to Maungati, and the local school followed suit in 1979. This rural area in the Waimate District features notable Māori rock art in its limestone formations. Park at the gate, and over a 1 km in-and-back trail. This quiet walk leads you through farmland to a limestone overhang with ancient rock artwork, including drawings of what is thought to be the now-extinct moa. The walk takes around 19 minutes and is suitable for hiking or gentle walking. It is open to the public outside of lambing and calving season (August and September). Please also be respectful of surroundings and do not venture off the marked path. .
92 Moa Road, Maungati Google Map
Ancient charcoal drawings, including three giant moa, were created 700 to 1000 years ago by the Waitaha people in limestone shelters in the Valley of the Moa (Ō Wāhi Moa). These images, located near Craigmore, also depict the extinct Haast eagle, dogs, and other figures, whose purpose—whether spiritual or practical—remains uncertain. Theo Schoon began formally copying and studying the artwork in 1946, emphasising its spiritual significance. Since then, the South Island Māori Rock Art Project has extensively documented both known and newly discovered drawings at the site. To protect the cultural and natural heritage of the area, the Elworthy family placed several QEII covenants in the late 1980s and beyond, safeguarding not just rock art but also rare native plant habitats. Visitors are welcome by arrangement, with access to the Moa Valley caves via Moa Road and possible visits to the Cave of the Wedge-Tailed Eagle coordinated through local contacts. - Craigmore Estate, craigmore.co.nz/maori-wall-art
Did you know over 500 Māori rock art sites have been found in the South Island?
South Canterbury and North Otago hold the largest concentration of Māori rock art in Aotearoa, with more than 500 recorded locations. However, around 95% of these are on private land and not easily accessible to the public.
Where does the name Maungati come from?
Maungati means “mountain of cabbage tree” in te reo Māori, derived from maunga (mountain) and tī (cabbage tree). Once known as Timaunga, the name changed to Maungati, and the local school followed suit in 1979. This rural area in the Waimate District features notable Māori rock art in its limestone formations.
What can you find just 30 minutes from Timaru?
The rock art site is in a scenic valley about half an hour’s drive from central Timaru, Maungati offers an easy 1 km out-and-back trail. This quiet walk leads you through farmland to a limestone overhang with ancient rock artwork, including drawings of what is thought to be the now-extinct moa. The walk takes around 19 minutes and is suitable for hiking or gentle walking.
What makes Te Manunui’s birdmen and fish drawings unique?
Although limestone outcrops are common across the Timaru and Waimate Districts, this site is one of few clearly visible Māori rock art sites that are open to the public. Here, birdman and fish figures potentially centuries old have survived, offering a rare visual record of ancestral storytelling.
How did early Māori leave their mark on Maungati?
Seasonal visitors came to Maungati to harvest kauru, a sweet food made from the cabbage tree. They created rock art using charcoal, soot, iron oxide, and natural binders like fat or gum. These pigments were applied dry or as paint. Sadly, many artworks have been lost over time due to erosion and livestock damage. Māori rock art has bonded well to limestone cliffs because the porous, chemically receptive surface of limestone allows pigments like charcoal and iron oxide to embed securely. Sheltered locations protect the art from weather, and traditional binders like fat or gum helped the paint adhere over centuries.
Can you visit this site today?
Yes, though the site is on a private working farm. It is open to the public outside of lambing and calving season (August and September). The rock art is about a 5–7 minute walk from the car park via a gentle farm track, with two shelters located uphill. There are stairs and a narrow path leading to the caves. Visitors are advised to wear sturdy shoes, follow the marked trail, and respect livestock and surroundings.
What is the story behind Theo Schoon’s involvement?
In the 1940s, artist Theo Schoon documented and sometimes enhanced rock art at various sites across the South Island. At Maungati, Schoon redrew some figures and added his signature—usually tucked discreetly near the artwork. His work helped bring wider attention to these cultural treasures, though his alterations remain controversial today.
Why is a visit still such a powerful experience?
Despite growing recognition, visiting a rock art site remains a quiet and moving experience. Sitting in the shelter, surrounded by silence, many visitors reflect on the journeys of the original Māori artists and the meanings behind their marks. The sense of presence and connection is strong.
Want to explore more?
For a deeper understanding of Māori rock art, a visit to the Te Ana Ngāi Tahu Māori Rock Art Centre in Timaru is highly recommended. The centre houses original pieces, including the Takiroa reproduction mural, and offers guided tours to selected sites. Learn more at: www.teana.co.nz
92 Moa Road, Maungati
Google Map
Directions:
Timaru Information Centre
2 George Street, Timaru Central, Timaru 7910
Take Stafford St to King St in Parkside
2 min (750 m)
Take Beaconsfield Rd to Brasell Rd in Pareora West
10 min (10.2 km)
Turn left onto Brasell Rd
4 min (3.9 km)
Continue on Pareora River Rd to Maungati
13 min (15.0 km)
Continue on Limestone Rd. Drive to Moa Rd
5 min (4.4 km)
Moa Road
Maungati 7972