Waka
Taiamai Tours Heritage Journeys Bay of Islands - New Zealand
NEW
PRODUCT 2010 !!.....exclusive coach tour group Waka experience
Starting in season 2010 we are introducing a new Waka tour program
aimed at providing an exclusive Maori cultural experience for
individual tour groups visiting the Bay of Islands. Unlike other
visitor activities in the Bay of Islands where competing tour
groups are all herded together into one activity forming part
of a larger audience, we can guarantee that individual tour groups
will be the only participants during their exclusive interactive
Waka voyage and Maori experience. What a fantastic point of difference!!
WAKA
TOURS - TE HOENGA WAKA - HARURU FALLS
"The Bay of Islands" home of the Ngapuhi, New Zealand’s
largest Maori tribal group. A rare and unique insight into the
beauty of our ancient customs, rituals and traditions awaits you.
If
you want to know the real facts about Maori culture then hands
on, interactive and engaging participation is the only way you
will ever really truly understand our unique and most ancient
of Polynesian cultures. Join Taiamai Tours on our Waka voyage
and we promise you will participate in a Maori cultural encounter
of which memories will remain written in your heart for the rest
of your life. Meet with tribal members of the local Ngapuhi tribe
whose traditional knowledge and non scripted story telling skills
are legendary in the Bay of Islands. Our ancient histories and
stories overlay our beautiful landscapes and these we share willingly
with you as you voyage with us aboard our traditional 50 ft Waka
Taua (Maori war canoe) on the tidal river estuaries of the Waitangi.
We cannot claim to have the best Maori guided tours and neither
will we claim to be the most experienced Maori cultural tourism
show and performance however we will!... confidently stand by
our claim when we say that Taiamai Tours is “The best Maori
cultural tourism experience!... in Northland”
Details:
This tour activity is an interactive and educational Waka (Traditional
Maori war canoe) experience with customers learning traditional
paddle techniques, Waka manoeuvres, chants and Haka whilst absorbing
the breath taking natural beauty of the Waitangi river eco systems
and native flora and fauna landscapes
The
first leg of our voyage has our ornate waka gliding up the beautiful
tidal estuaries of the Waitangi. In no time you will come to realize
this activity is more than just a product, it is indeed an experience
unlike any other in New Zealand. Engage in conversation with your
Maori host who will share with you, personal tribal and family
histories from an ancient past. With the splendour of panoramic
views, vibrant and stunning colours from the native forest stretching
the length of the river banks and beyond, the first leg of our
voyage culminates with our arrival in the pool of the sacred and
spiritual Haruru waterfalls. The magic of this place is brought
to life by the skilful oratory of our story tellers who accompany
you. Although it may seem like 5 minutes you have actually been
on voyage for over an hour.
Again
we take up the paddle and the voyage continues passing by our
family Marae and sacred shrine of worship, nestled on the riverbank
of the Waitangi. If fortune is with us we will meet with local
tribal members at the Marae. We may even have time for a quick
hello and some photo opportunities then we must continue our voyage.
See the native bird and fish wildlife, or maybe stop by our fishing
net and check to see if we have caught a fish? Practice you’re
new found traditional Maori paddling skills, learn a haka all
while engaging in meaningful unscripted discussion with your Warrior
host’s. How quickly time flies and it has been 2 ½
-3 hours. Where did the time go you may ask? You will depart from
us with indeed a deeper understanding of our culture and knowing
that your journey with us has indeed been a Journey of Discovery,
a Journey of Distinction.
Nau
mai, haere mai, We welcome you!......
