Māori Rock Art Walk at Waikari

From either of these entrances, you’ll find yourself on an old railway formation that used to connect up with the Weka Pass Railway. Halfway along that is an obvious set of signs, a bench, and a stile to cross. After the stile, the path is simply a grassy/muddy trail through fields. Just stick with the fenceline up over the top of the hill and down into a valley. The fence is dotted with yellow markers to show you you’re on the right path.

At the top of the hill, you’ll be tempted to think the rock art is part of the large section of limestone rock features that appears to your left, but you’ll soon see a DOC sign and another stile, showing that the rock art can actually be found on the lone section of rock to the right instead.

From the rock art, it’s an about-face back the way you came. You’ll see another stile that leads further to the south, but I believe this just takes you to a farming access road and then back to the town via a longer – but more road-based – loop.

Note that the trail is on private farming land and dogs are not permitted at any stage.