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Tu Tika Tours: Intimate and Spiritual Māori Experience in Whangārei, New Zealand
5.0
25 Ratings
Whangārei
Experience an intimate and spiritual Māori tour in Whangārei, New Zealand. Learn to weave flax flowers, explore culturally significant sites, and enjoy a delicious kiwi lunch. Book now!
Experience an intimate and spiritual Māori tour in Whangārei, New Zealand. Learn to weave flax flowers, explore culturally significant sites, and enjoy a delicious kiwi lunch. Book now!
Duration:
3 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Whangarei i-SITE Visitor Information Centre - Begin your journey of exploration with a warm welcome. Experience a whakatau, an informal welcoming ceremony, that will connect us as we embark on this adventure together.
- Whangarei Falls - Experience the spiritual connection of the stunning Otuihau waterfall, one of six in the area. Discover the…
- Whangarei i-SITE Visitor Information Centre - Begin your journey of exploration with a warm welcome. Experience a whakatau, an informal welcoming ceremony, that will connect us as we embark on this adventure together.
- Whangarei Falls - Experience the spiritual connection of the stunning Otuihau waterfall, one of six in the area. Discover the significance of this site and others to the indigenous people of Aotearoa New Zealand.
- AH Reed Kauri Park - Immerse yourself in the enchanting native forest, home to the majestic Kauri Trees, our living ancestors. Be captivated by their grandeur and the stories that link us to them.
- Mount Parihaka War Memorial - Discover why this mountain was once the largest Māori Pa site in New Zealand. Enjoy breathtaking views over Whangarei City and harbour as the storyteller guides you on another journey of discovery. Please note, the road to this site may be closed due to cyclone damage.
What's Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Bottled water
- Pickup and drop-off from designated meeting points
- Live commentary and singing on board
- Lunch
- Driver and guide
- All activities
- Transport by luxury Mercedes Benz
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Bottled water
- Pickup and drop-off from designated meeting points
- Live commentary and singing on board
- Lunch
- Driver and guide
- All activities
- Transport by luxury Mercedes Benz
Additional Information
Experience an authentic Māori adventure. Allow us to be your gateway to the magnificent land of the long white cloud.
This tour is so personal that only one booking is accepted each day (up to 10 guests), ensuring an intimate and spiritual experience. It is unique, private, and exclusive. Embark on a journey of a lifetime, engaging with locals and…
Experience an authentic Māori adventure. Allow us to be your gateway to the magnificent land of the long white cloud.
This tour is so personal that only one booking is accepted each day (up to 10 guests), ensuring an intimate and spiritual experience. It is unique, private, and exclusive. Embark on a journey of a lifetime, engaging with locals and enjoying the genuine hospitality and wisdom of your local Māori hosts.
Husband and wife team, Mervyn and Rangimarie, eagerly await your visit to their home in Whangārei, New Zealand’s northernmost city. Immerse your mind, body, and soul on this journey of discovery. This is an experience that truly connects you to the land and its people.
Food holds great significance for us, so we will conclude our time together with a shared lunch featuring our favorite kiwi kai - freshly cooked local fish and chips, solidifying our connection and time together. (Dietary requests are welcome)
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
- A minimum of 2 adults per booking is required
- A maximum of 10 people per booking
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
Location
Tarewa Park
Otaika Road
Entrance to the Whangarei i-site visitor centre
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(25 Ratings)
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Pam
Nov 21, 2024
Authentic and knowledgeable - We wanted an intimate and authentic introduction to the Maori culture and this was exactly what we got.
From the welcome with their tribal blessings, being taught traditional crafts and songs, to open conversation about subjects from ancestral beginnings to the recently completed 9 day peaceful protest, it was an amazing and humbling experience.
Merv and Rangimarie obviously care deeply about their Maori culture and taking the time to share this with us was something we will treasure.
Whakawhetai koe
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jackb667
Jun 26, 2024
A Meaningful Maori Experience In Whangarei - Mervyn and Rangimarie were an engaging and informative couple as we dove into the Maori experience. Their Maori welcoming ceremony was very personal and certainly made us feel welcomed. They discussed the Maori culture in depth as we visited waterfalls and hiked into the forest explaining how the Maoris honored and respected the Kauri tree in particular. They guided us in using the flax to create a flower which we were instructed we should give away as a sign of friendship.
They also treated us to a fabulous fish lunch with a chance to simply have a wide ranging conversation. This led to a chance to learn a song that taught us Maori words similar to what the school kids learn at a young age.
What tremendous experience and two of the best guides we have ever had.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Scott_b
Mar 29, 2024
Wonderful tour and forever memorable🥰 - We had an amazing experience with Merv & Rangimarie of Tu Tika Tours!!! The tour was wonderful and forever memorable for our group of four. We learned a great deal of information about the Māori past and present. We walked together in the ancient footsteps of the Māori and their wisdom of the world. They made us feel welcome and honestly humbled to share the day with them. We all would love to come back to the North Island and see them again!!! Until next time our new friends. Love you both from your new Canadian friends🇨🇦🇨🇦🥰🥰😎🇳🇿🇳🇿
Review provided by Viator
Vjaggatrici
Mar 21, 2024
Great experience! - Great opportunity to learn about the Māori culture thanks to Merv who happily shared his knowledge about his ancestors. We really had a great time during this activity.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jack
Feb 23, 2024
An Informative/Creative Māori Cultural Experience - One reason we traveled to NZ was to learn more of the history and culture of the indigenous people. Tu Tika delivered beyond our expectations. Mervin and his wife have knowledge that only Māori descendants could have been able to discuss with deep personal knowledge.
We were met at the meeting point with a traditional Māori greeting and ukulele rendition. We immediately felt welcome and knew this would be an exciting tour.
Visiting the Whangārei Falls, not only was it a beautiful sight, we were told about the deep Māori connections with nature. The conversation continued as we took a walk later into the forest where we learned much more about their ancestral connections, their culture as well as current day Māori life. While traveling in their very comfortable van, we learned some Māori words and even participated in a Māori children’s song while Mervin played the ukulele adding fun to our very enjoyable experience.
They were a wealth of knowledge, fun to be around and gave us the in depth look into their traditions and culture we had hoped for.
After a perfect day, we were treated to a delicious New Zealand fish and chips lunch next to the famous Te Matau A Pohe bridge. We were treated to the opening of the lift bridge while eating lunch!! By the time we were done, we felt like family
This is a must do tour with our highest recommendation!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jmcsweeny
Feb 22, 2024
A most interesting and informative tour. - Merwyn and Rangimarie were excellent guides and host who gave us a most interesting and informative tour and personal introduction to the Maori history and culture. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone who would like to learn more about these fascinating people.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Marinabv4804ku
Oct 17, 2023
Connect and reflect - Definitely a highlight of me and my daughters trip.
RangiMarie and Mervyn's love of land whanau and ancestry shine throughout the time we had with them. Communicating and connecting through their illuminating stories and songs as we walked along the beautiful waterfront.
We will definitely go on another when next we are in beautiful Whangarei
Nga Mihi Nui! and Ka Pai
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kylee_e
May 26, 2023
An absolute must. - Merv and Rangimarie provide a beautiful and spiritual introduction to Aotearoa and Whangārei, the meeting place of whales. Starting at the spectacular Otuihau, Te Wai Tiketike o Waiangā, or Whangārei Falls. Their honesty, openness and love of their culture radiated and as an Australian Indigenous woman together we built a whakawhanaungatanga that will always stay with me, and I will return one day with a friend to introduce my new Whānau (family). I shared the joy of song, weaving, beautiful kai that met my dietary needs and traditional welcome and farewell. Most importantly I was introduced to O Te Iwi O Tane Mahuta and many other beautiful kauri descended from the Lord Of The Forest, he who gave light to the place we stand. I cannot recommend this beautiful couple enough. If on a limited budget for tours, don’t do a whole pile of cheaper tours, just do this one. You will get more out of your few hours than in any other experience. You will discover the true stories, the spirit and hospitality that can only be shown by the first people of this nation.
Review provided by Viator
371jonf
May 6, 2023
Tell us some more, Merv - My wife and I were the only two on the tour on this occasion, which was great, as we had Merv all to ourselves. As hosts, Mervyn and Rangiemarie are excellent and support each other for the duration of the tour, which in our case, took a little more than the advertised duration. But that is not a complaint - they gave us so much attention and information that the tour seemed to just fly by.
We stopped at a number of locations and were regaled with a lot of historical and cultural information, with some personalised connections to our hosts' histories.
Our tour vehicle was comfortable and I don't think anything would have been too much trouble for our hosts.
This tour was the main reason we came to Whangarei on our tour of the North Island and I would have to say if you are ever in Whangarei - do this tour!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lovetoexplorenz
Nov 2, 2022
A grounding and awakening experience! - This is a must tour to do when in Whangarei!
Your exceptional and amazing tour guides Mervyn and Rangimarie offer an experience of culture, history and connectivity through their amazing storytelling of their culture and Māori history in Whangarei and the Northern island. Don’t miss out on this spiritual and educational tour! Would recommend to all travelling through this beautiful and sacred land!
Review provided by Tripadvisor