The detailed itinerary:
Firstly we visit an extinct volcano, named Maungakiekie – also known as One Tree Hill. It was originally the site of the paramount Auckland Maori fortified village. See stunning views of the Hauraki Gulf, Auckland City and Rangitoto Island. You can see the harbours coming in from the East Coast (Pacific Ocean) and the West Coast (Tasman Sea) from this spot, which is one of the highest points in the city.
As we sit with you on Maungakiekie we will explain to you about the traditional history of this sacred mountain and point out evidence of the 5,000 member Maori community who lived in this area, tell stories about the reason why this hill is so significant to local Maori and explain about the controversial history of more recent times.
Next we drive out to a boutique village in a gentrifying trendy little local neighbourhood. There you can buy your lunch at an excellent cafe, and we can enjoy mixing with the locals over a tasty lunch and some great espresso coffee (your guide will point out the unique NZ options on the menu). We will also take time to view some authentic Maori and NZ made arts and crafts in a contemporary Maori design store and art gallery.
After lunch we set off for the West Coast, driving through a few suburbs to illustrate the different architectural styles of the city. However most of the drive is on 'Scenic Drive', through the beautiful native rainforest. We will stop for a photo opportunity overlooking the rainforest. As we drive we will tell you the origin of our company name and related stories about the exploits of Maui Potiki. Plus we share a few of our own personal experiences of growing up Maori, our unique sense of place in Aotearoa (New Zealand), the Maori education system etc.
Our next stop will be a bush walk in the rainforest. Here you will be able to walk amongst the plants and trees and learn some of our ancestral knowledge of the traditional Maori medicinal and practical uses for them. Hopefully we will spot some of the variety of birdlife that live in the valley – for example the enormous native Kereru (wood pigeon), Tui, Fantails etc. Learn about the Maori Creation stories and Tane Mahuta - the God of the Forest. We choose different walks to suit the group we have on the day, to ensure a great experience for everyone.
We finish the day in the realm of Tangaroa God of the Sea with a walk along the velvety sands of one of Auckland's famous black sand surf beaches. There will be time to take plenty of photographs of the beautiful scenery, and your guide will be with you to take photos of you and explain what you are seeing.
Throughout the day we will use personal anecdotes to help explain contemporary Maori culture and it’s unique place as a valued part of New Zealand culture.
This is a brilliant tour to start your Aotearoa (New Zealand) exploration as it will give a context for many things you will see and hear, and help you to see things you may otherwise miss. If however you only manage to fit us in at the end, then hopefully it will help you to make sense of many of the things you have seen and experienced during your travels around our country!
[Saturday only]
We start our tour by driving to South Auckland and visiting the renowned Otara Market. This is the South Pacific's largest Maori and Polynesian market. Be personally guided through the market and see great locally made arts and crafts, buy tasty fresh fruit, find unique souvenirs and feel the rhythm of the Pacific as you weave your way through this vibrant community. (NB: We still do the rest of the usual tour, but slightly reduce the time spent in each location.) |
