Best Māori Experience in Southland – Murihiku Māori Tours
Authentic Māori Cultural Tours in Bluff, New Zealand
Murihiku Māori Tours offers one of the best Māori experiences in New Zealand, delivering a high-end, mana whenua-led cultural journey woven through whakapapa (genealogy), whenua (land), and manaakitanga (hospitality).
This is not tourism as performance. It is Māori knowledge shared by Māori hosts, grounded in lived experience, relationships, and deep ancestral connection to Murihiku.
Why Murihiku Māori Tours Is One of the Best Māori Experiences
Mana whenua-led
Our stories are grounded in our whānau’s ancestral connection to Awarua and the surrounding whenua.
Small-group, personalised tours
Intimate experiences designed for meaningful connection and conversation.
High-end cultural experience
Luxury transport, carefully curated routes, and seasonal whānau-prepared kai (food).
Authentic Māori values
Experience karakia (opening and closing rituals), manaakitanga, and whenua-based learning shared naturally and respectfully.
No tokenism
No costumes. No staged performances. Just Māori hosts, Māori stories, and genuine Māori hospitality.
Signature Murihiku Tour – A Premium Māori Cultural Experience
Duration: 3 hours (including pick-up and drop-off)
Guided experience: 2.5 hours
Location: Bluff and the wider Murihiku landscape
This premium small-group tour is shaped by the whenua itself — the tides, seasons, and histories that have defined Awarua for generations. You’ll travel through culturally significant landscapes, learning about early Māori settlement, industry, and place-based knowledge, shared through connection and kōrero (conversation).
What You’ll Experience on This Māori Cultural Tour
Cultural Highlights
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Stirling Point Signpost: An iconic meeting place of journeys, carrying deeper meaning for locals and mana whenua.
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Motupōhue / Bluff Hill: A site of deep cultural significance with expansive coastal views and ancestral landmarks.
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Awarua Harbour: A historically rich landscape shaped by ecology, industry, and ancestral narratives — the traditional gateway into the region.
Along the way, you’ll learn simple Māori words, pronunciation tips, and gain an understanding of local Māori tribal structure, shared in an easy, relaxed way.
What’s Included
- Luxury van transport
- Hosting by Keri Milne-Ihimaera and David Ihimaera
- Whānau-prepared seasonal snack box
- Water
- Pick-up and drop-off as arranged
Tour Season & Group Size
Season:
Pilot season – February to April 2026
Two tours per week (Fridays & Saturdays)
Group size:
Maximum of 9 guests for comfort and quality
Minimum numbers apply
Our Story – A Whānau-Led Māori Experience
Our whānau traces its ancestry through Awarua and the wider Murihiku rohe. These landscapes hold the stories of resilience, settlement, movement, and innovation that define our people.
Murihiku Māori Tours is part of our whānau journey of indigenisation — re-centering Māori identity, values, and leadership in all that we do. We welcome manuhiri (visitors) into our home region, sharing stories appropriate for guests while protecting sacred knowledge that remains with whānau and rūnaka.
Our Commitment
- To host with warmth, integrity, and care
- To offer visitors a genuine insight into Māori values and worldviews
- To represent our rūnaka respectfully
- To uplift our whānau through meaningful employment and contribution
A Truly Whānau-Powered Venture
Keri and David personally guide every tour. Whānau prepare the seasonal kai, and as the venture grows, Murihiku Māori Tours aims to create further employment opportunities within our wider whānau.
This is the best Māori experience for travellers seeking authenticity, respect, and meaningful cultural connection in Southland.
