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Tags : Historical Site
Time Required : 2-3 hrs
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Rich in historical and cultural significance, the breathtaking Otatara Pa, perched on a commanding elevated site to the south of the tranquil Taradale, receives visitors all year round. Offering excellent views of the surrounding areas, including Napier, the glorious Cape Kidnappers, and, on a clear day, even Mount Ruapehu, Otatara Pa is one of the most prized destinations in New Zealand, and rightly so.
This revered Pa (Maori Settlement) is one of the most ancient sites formerly inhabited by the Maori in Hawke’s Bay and is home to an Upper Pa, known as Hikurangi, and a lower pa, which is referred to as Otatara. Even though Otatara Pa is devoid of any residents at present, tourists throng this place to take a look at what remains of the dwelling sites, the terraces, the strategically built food storage pits, and the clusters of architectural remnants, which gives them a deeper insight into the living communities that Otatara Pa used to be in the previous years. This beautiful site is also of great archaeological importance because it has retained its cultural heritage over several centuries.