The Hokianga Day Tour is a day trip from the Bay of Islands to the rugged West Coast and historically significant Hokianga.
The Hokianga harbour is widely regarded as the home of Kupe, the very first voyager and Maori to discover New Zealand over 1,000 years ago. Kupe and his followers settled in the harbour with its protected waters and abundance of food. Later some of the earliest European settlers came to the Hokianga and small communities were formed on the harbour's edge.
This beautiful environment is rich in history and spectacular scenery: from the vast kauri trees in the Waipoua Forest to giant sand dunes. The landscape is also home to small communities and ancient sites of significant interest. It is a place that is as important today to modern Maori as it was to their ancestors hundreds of years ago.
Our tour departs Paihia and travels across upper Northland to Opononi with a culturally informative commentary of the area, culture, history and people - both Maori and Pakeha (European). Learn about the many myths and legends of the local hapu (sub-tribe) drawing you deep into this spectacular region.
Once in Opononi we meet up with a local Maori guide from Footprints Waipoua, who will explain about the area and its people through their stories, their history and their land. The spiritual environment of the Waipoua Forest provides a natural stage for an unforgettable encounter with some of the largest remaining kauri trees in the world.
Step into our world and our local guides will take you on a memorable journey through nature's stages of evolution whilst providing a mythological interpretation of life in the forest.
Meet our ancestors; the mighty Te Matua Ngahere, the Father of the Forest. Estimated to be 4,000 years old his mighty girth is over 5 metres in diameter. The Four Sisters are a graceful collection of kauri trees that have grown close together in sibling harmony and finally, Tane Mahuta, the Lord of the Forest, stands an impressive 51 metres tall.
After leaving the forest we return to Opononi for a lunch stop (boxed lunch option is available and able to be pre booked). This small town has been lovingly restored by the local people to reflect the way it was in the 1800's and provides an outstanding location to relax and enjoy the local cuisine.
An optional scenic cruise on the Hokianga Harbour cruise is available and is highly recommended.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Included Return coach transport, Tane Mahuta Encounter with local guide
Adult $105 / Child $53
Optional Extras Picnic Box Lunch $16
Hokianga Harbour Cruise $65 (approx 2 hours)
Coach travel only - one way Adult $45, Child $23
Crayfish Lunch at the Copthorne Hotel $65
Also see tour packages in:
Australia and Oceania
New Zealand
Cultural Journey
Rainforest
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