Half Day Tour - Caves, Moai, Topknots
Other Half to Orongo
1st October 2024

First stop, a walk to some caves (collapsed lava tubes) used as dwellings


Grazing cattle - had to watch out under foot!


Tree growing out of collapsed lava tube


Carving on stone at entry - fish

Around the other side...


Bees (our first sighting on the Island) and other plants

  


Descending the cave


Living area


opening to collapsed roof

    
Cave dwellers (Louise and Suzanne)

   


At the end of the park

On to..


Sign and siite


Ahu Akivi


Full frontal

   
Close-ups of some


Wide view showing visitor limited access line - possible burial area


Rear view (bit obvious, really)


Ahu + Moai


More of the platform view


Arty picture


The Hill is called Maunga Tangaroa
These three crosses were originally erected here in the 90s
They serve as a reminder of the three that were erected by by the Spanish in 1770,  who were hoping to convert the islanders to Christianity.
Originals were elsewhere (Summit of Poike, n the East)

Quarry where the Topknot stone is extracted

   

    


Hill side showing exposed red rock


Looking back to the site


Looking out over Hanga Roa

    
Flowers on entry - Hibiscus

Half Day tour GPS track

After the  half day tour, we managed to get a guide for a trip to the Ceremonial Village of Orongo

House (Casa) numbers used here are from:  Rapa Nui Journal v.26(2), 2012, p.73 (see plan)


Un-restored house
Much of the site restored by William Molloy and a group of islanders in 1974


First view of the restored site and we head to Casa/House 3 on the left...


Casa 3: Part of the roof has been removed to provide a view into one of the dwellings


Tour Guide Ryngo describes the scene


Part removed roof


View inside 


Entrance to Casa 3

No entry to other so a walk down to see other Casa (houses)


L-R: Casa 6 (in the corner) and Casa 7


Panorama -nearest house is Casa 7


L-R: Casa 9, Casa 10, Casa 11 (top of grassy ramp)


L-R: Casa12, Casa 13, Casa 14 (x2), Casa 19 and Casa 20 (probably)
The [stolen] Moai sent to London was reported at that time to have been removed from Casa 13.
Casa 13, on a K Routeledge plan, sat behind the currently labelled Casa 15 (see plan)


L-R: Casa 15, Casa 16, Casa 17, un-numbered Casa, Casa 19    


Panorama from the above, then the entrances to Casa 21 and Casa 22


Casa 23


L-R: Casa 24, some entrances hidden by curve in wall, Casa 27


Looking Back L-R: Casa 24, Casa 25, Casa 26 (round the corner)

No entry to the bottom end for some years, so limited access to the petroglyphs, though a telephoto lens helped a little

 
Birdman images can be just about seen
Better views when up close (as in 2004)


Left to right: Motu Nui (big islet), Motu Iti (Small Islet) and Motu Kao Kao ("Thin Islet)


View from the end looking at a dip in the Crater Rim


Rano Kao Crater


Crater rim and end of Orongo


View from the craterHill and Rock peak somewhat similar!


The village overlooks the Rano Kao crater


The visitors and their guide


Thought to have some astronomy purpose - aligned N-S


Remains of a small Ahu, some reports suggest that this was the original location for the Moai Hoa Hakanananai.
The Moai was removed in 1868 (from Casa 13) as a gift to Queen Victoria


Outside the visitor centre entrance


A view of the crater from near the viewpoint


The Oheho - the bar of choice on the Island (so far)

       
Suzanne with friend  +  Sunset from the sea front (Ahu Hotake)]

Stargazing (or not)

After sunset was a stargazing [optional at a cost] excursion at an ancient observatory site in Ho'onu area
It was dark so couldn't see anything so could have been anywhere
It was quite cloudy, a bit disorganised, and/so saw very little.

No pictures but the highlighted track is to the site (Hanga Roa on the left)
Un-highlighted tracks are the tracks for the other days.

Route to Sargazing sit
GPS Coordinates are: -27.0881, -109.2889 (copy and paste into Google)
[GPS coordinates also known as: 27°05'17.2"S 109°17'20.0"W

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© 2024 Suzanne and Andrew