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Tauranga History and Culture | 5 hours 30 minutes

15 Reviews | Tauranga
From $113.01 per person Lowest Price Guarantee
Select Date and Travelers
You can select up to 9 travelers in total.
Adult (12-85) Minimum: 1, Maximum: 9
2
Child (3-11) Minimum: 0, Maximum: 9
0
Free Cancellation For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Tauranga Māori History and Culture
2 Adults x $113.81
$227.62
Approx Total
$227.62
Small group: To ensure a personal experience this tour is restricted to a maximum of 9 manuhiri (guests)
Duration: 5 hours: The tour will take approximately 5.5 hrs including drive time between stops at places of significance.
Local food and drink: Locally produced water infused with traditional mānuka honey. Optional stop at a popular Māori/Japanese fusion eatery
Mount Maunganui & Tauranga: Guests will go around the harbour from Mount Maunganui to Tauranga and Papamoa, including through kiwifruit growing region
Small van: Comfortable and spacious fully air conditioned van
Personal Experience: Each guest becomes a part of our whānau whānui (extended family). Your guide will embrace you as part of our community.
Pickup included

Inclusions / Exclusions

  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English
  • Air-conditioned vehicle
  • All Fees and Taxes
  • Locally produced natural Mānuka sparkling water
  • At the Historic Village you are able to purchase hot or cold beverage and bakery food

Overview

Travel Ed is a Māori whānau (family) operator, steeped in the ancestry of the Tauranga tribes and beyond. With education backgrounds, both international and in Aotearoa (NZ), our experiences are based upon real-life experiences, and tailored to value learning outcomes across cultures. Your authentic Māori guide is a storyteller, geared to take you on a journey of cultural discovery, connecting you with culturally signigficant sites, stories, and ancient tribal customs. Feel the presence of our ancestors as we take you on a journey dating back to 925AD. This is not just a window to our culture, you are immersed in it. Travel Ed is an experience of a life time. In your small intimate group your warm friendly and knowledgable guide will ensure you are part of the family by journey’s end. Experiencing our Tauranga Māori cultural tour will provide you with a deep understanding and appreciation of our history. It is a wonderful day of conversation, reflection and learning.

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

Please stand outside the pick up point so that you are visible from the road. Your guide will be looking for you and will find a safe and convenient place to park. Your guide will meet you and accompany you to your transport.Please note: This tour requires a minimum of ... 3 travelers to operate. Read more ▼

OR

Meeting points

Flagpole area outside the port gates. Find our van in the carpark next to the Port gates. We will meet you there. Be there at least 15 mins prior to departure.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

  • N/A (Pass By)

    As we drive by your local tribal guide will tell you ancient stories of our well known ancestral mountain, Mount Maunganui. You will take in the beauty of the beaches as we make our way to Tauranga, a short 30 minute drive.

  • N/A

    Learn about the arrival of Kupe in 925AD, the first known Polynesian explorer to arrive in Aotearoa (NZ) from our historic homeland of Hawaiiki. You will experience the example of a Polynesian compass (Te Kāpehu) that he used for navigation to these shores. This provided the navigational blueprint for our ancestors arrival in Aotearoa (New Zealand)

    25 minutes

  • N/A (Pass By)

    A short 10 minute drive will take you on a journey taking you back to the year 1828. The site of inter-tribal conflict, the arrival of settlers, missionries and the British colonial forces. It is here that you will learn of the local Māori tribes

  • The Elms (Pass By)

    A chance to see the Mission House which has relevance for the conflict that was to follow. Situated there also is the oldest free standing library in New Zealand. We stop momentarily.

  • N/A

    A chance experience an icon of New Zealand cullinary delights, the humble pie. Patrick's Pies Gold Star Bakery has been a 9 times New Zealand pies supreme award winning bakery. It is a must to try.

    30 minutes

  • Gate Pa Memorial Reserve

    We will walk you through the battle on the site of one of the most significant conflicts between the colonial troops and our local Māori tribes of 1864. Learn about the carvings, the conflict and what it meant to Tauranga and surrounding district. Learn about what came from this conflict that connected with future world conflicts.

    45 minutes

  • N/A

    Experience a local traditional marae where you will be immersed in the local traditions, connections and stories. You will leave having a greater understanding of the history of the local Māori culture and sense of community.

    40 minutes

  • N/A

    Awesome views of Tauranga Harbour and coastline from the surrounding hills

    30 minutes

Sample Menu

Additional Info

  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Specialized infant seats are available
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Infant seat may be available on request when booking
  • Travel time is included on the total tour duration.
  • Could be challenging for those who find walking for 20 minutes or more

Free Cancellation

October 26100% refund
October 27No refund

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
  • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews

4.9

15 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
  • 5 stars
    14
  • 4 stars
    1
  • 3 stars
    0
  • 2 stars
    0
  • 1 star
    0

Reviews by TravelOne travelers

Showing 1-5 of 14 reviews with 5 stars

Incredible Māori Immersion Experience

Published on Oct, 2024

Les made this tour awesome! If you want to immerse yourself into the Māori lifestyle, who better to learn from than a reapected Māori teacher? Les expertly melded his family ancestry, his tribal connections and Māori traditions into an informative and enjoyable 6-hour to Rotorua and around Tauranga. The concert in Rotorua provided another dimension to the stories Les told and complemented the tour nicely. Les explained the significance of a woko and his marae. In my opinion, this is probably one of the best excursions from the cruise port to learn about the history of the Māori people in New Zealand!

A tour of Tauranga, given by a Maori elder

Published on May, 2024

We booked a 4 hr tour with Les during our port stop in Tauranga. Les was a great guide showing and explaining the cultural significance of many sights, the tour explained Maori history in general and in the Tauranga more specifically. As well he talked of the linkages to greater Polynesian culture. We went a little overtime and Les kindly finished the tour, and got us back to the shop on time. I can't say enough about how generous he was with his time.

highly recommend, many beautiful sights and opportunities to learn about NZ history

Published on Apr, 2024

Our experience was without a doubt eye opening, during the tour we were given insight on the history of the land and were given information about the history which would only be accessible through native peoples. During the tour Les our tour guide shared many stories that were shared with him by his elders that helped us to gain connection with New Zeland land and people. The sights we saw were like nothing seen before. HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS TOUR

Special way to experience Māori culture , thanks Les

Published on Apr, 2024

Absolute awesome day. Les shared us his culture and stories with us with a personal touch. Visiting his own Marea was special

Very informative day and perfect for a wet day.

Published on Mar, 2024

Les was a wonderful guide. He has an amazing knowledge of Maori history and culture and is passionate about imparting it.He also went above and beyond and took us to the shops to buy a jacket as it was raining. Took us to the most amazing pie shop for lunch. Highly recommend.

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