Northland is known as the birthplace of New Zealand. Learn about the Māori creation story or walk in the footsteps of the intrepid ancestor Kupe.

Footprints Waipoua

northland

Northland & Bay of Islands

The birthplace of New Zealand

Highlights

  • Come up close with the god of the forest
  • Learn about the Māori creation story
  • Hear stories from local Māori guides

Explore the Waipoua Forest

Home of Tāne Mahuta, New Zealand's largest Kauri tree.

Book a tour

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Embark on an intimate and spiritual tour through the Waipoua Forest with Footprints Waipouaone of two New Zealand experiences featured in Lonely Planet’s guide to authentic travel ‘Code Green: Experiences of a Lifetime‘. Experience the ancient forest with local Māori guides, learn about the Māori creation story, and come face to face with Tāne Mahuta – Lord of the Forest and New Zealand's largest Kauri tree.

Manea Footprints of Kupe

northland

Northland & Bay of Islands

The birthplace of New Zealand

Highlights

  • Hear the stories of Kupe
  • Watch a live theatre show
  • Stunning natural landscapes

Walk in the footsteps of Kupe

Through art, film, performance, digital interaction and the splendour of Hokianga’s natural surroundings.

Visit Manea

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Journey into Te Ao Māori, the Māori world at Manea Frontprints of Kupe. On the shores of the Hokianga Harbour, Manea shares the stories and traditions of the great ancestor, Kupe. Walk in the footprints of Kupe through guided storytelling, art, tāonga (cultural treasures), film, performance, digital interaction, and the splendour of Hokianga’s natural surroundings.

Waitangi Treaty Grounds

northland

Northland & Bay of Islands

The birthplace of New Zealand

Highlights

  • Guided tour around the Treaty Grounds
  • Māori cultural performance
  • Live carving demonstrations

The treaty of Waitangi

Learn about the founding document of New Zealand.

Visit Waitangi Treaty Grounds

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As the founding document of New Zealand, the Treaty of Waitangi holds great importance in New Zealand's history. Take a guided tour through the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, explore the heritage buildings, and get close to the historic war canoe. With so many things to see in the museum, take advantage of the Waitangi Experience Pass, which gives you entry to all areas for two consecutive days, so you can take your time exploring the museum.

Tu Tika Tours

northland

Northland & Bay of Islands

The birthplace of New Zealand

Highlights

  • Guided tour of significant sites
  • Interactive weaving experience
  • Indulge in your favourite Kiwi Kai

Spend the day with Tu Tika tours

An intimate tour of Whangārei with a local māori whānau (family).

Book a tour

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Experience receive your call of welcome by the indigenous people, learn a well-known waiata (māori song) that will help with pronunciation of Māori words, make a flower from kōrari (New Zealand flax), indulge in some delicious Kiwi Kai (food) and go on a guided tour(opens in new window) around some of Whangārei's culturally significant sites hearing stories of history along the way.

Awesome Adventures Hokianga

northland

Northland & Bay of Islands

The birthplace of New Zealand

Highlights

  • Explore the Hokianga harbour on a jetski
  • Visit sites of cultural significance
  • Gather kaimoana (seafood)

Jetski the Hokianga Harbour

Follow experienced guides as they tell the stories of each settlement along the way.

Find out more

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Captain your very own Jet Ski along the historic Hokianga Harbour with Awesome Adventures Hokianga. Follow experienced guides as they take you on a journey back in time, telling the stories of each settlement along the way. The stories they share are not all in the history books – they have been passed down generation by generation by the people of the Hokianga.

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