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Taiamai Tours Heritage Journeys

Taiamai Tours Heritage Journeys

Taiamai Tours Heritage Journeys
4.5
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Taiamai Tours Heritage Journeys captures the spirit and essence of an authentic Maori cultural experience with a 2.5/3 hour voyage through the mangrove estuaries of the Waitangi River up towards the Haruru Waterfalls onboard a 50ft Waka Taua (Maori war canoe). This unique cultural experience provides a rare insight into our ancient tribal customs, rituals and traditions through interactive immersion in our culture and ancient art of storytelling. In 2011 National Geographic Traveller recognised our visitor experience as being in the world's top 50 tours of a lifetime. Our Qualmark-endorsed activity is a perfect combination of eco tourism and interactive Maori culture. We are the Ngapuhi tribe of the North, New Zealand's largest Maori tribe, and we invite you to join us on a once-in-a-lifetime voyage
Bay of Islands, New Zealand

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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles106 reviews
Excellent
87
Very good
12
Average
2
Poor
3
Terrible
2

shazbuck66
Melbourne, Australia7 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Friends
Learning how to paddle a waka with our two Maori guides was a highlight of our trip to the Bay of Islands.
Taking this tour gave us such a valuable appreciation of the importance of the waka and it’s significance in New Zealand’s cultural heritage, particularly in an area the has such a rich history.
Judy handled our booking and questions with humour and professionalism and Ari and Wade delivered the experience with knowledge and passion for their culture. Paddling a waka along Waitangi River to the falls was an experience not to be missed.
Written 6 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mary Ann L
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Couples
My husband and I joined a group of thirty people over the age of fifty for this unforgettable experience. At 83, I took more paddling breaks than most, but was able to hold my own. Our guide was an incredible story teller who brought to life the Maori (and pre-Maori) heritage of profound respect and love of the earth and all her inhabitents.

After a brief lesson on paddling in cadence (called in Maori), we were amazed to find ourselves at the stunning Haruru Falls. In my long, eventful life, I rate this experience among the top four.
Written 20 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Borong R
12 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2022 • Friends
Rowing a Maori canoe is a thrilling experience. The guides were excellent, we get an interesting explanation of the history of the Maori of the region. The songs by the guides and their explanation were excellent. We reached a magnificent waterfall. We were about 30 rowers per boat (from the "Celebrity Éclipse " cruise ship).
Written 19 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Carmen P
Santa Fe, NM165 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Couples
This was scheduled to start at 9am and last 3 hours. One group of 4 didn’t show up so the guys intended to wait for them for up to 1 hour. We protested and finally left at 9:30. The guides were pleasant and the paddling instructions they gave were clear. We partly paddled and partly motored to an unspectacular water fall about 30 minutes Wauwatosa, seeing some cormorants along the way. We were back by 11:15.
Written 6 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

arizona3
Cranbrook, Canada10 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Solo
This tour made my whole trip worth it. The presentation by the chief on the oral history of the natives peoples was awe inspiring and the experience of almost traveling back in time to the regions place in history was magical. If you appreciate history and cultural experiences this is a must.
Written 1 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Maree Wilson
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2022
The whole thing....very well-done excellent stories/korero beautiful waka, amazing being surrounded by nature and a little bit of a workout. The guides were really entertaining, well informed and put everyone at ease. Our entire group were buzzing.
Written 7 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

vicki l
Perth, Australia6 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2023 • Couples
We had a fabulous few hours learning traditional knowledge with a lovely family company. We got onto a Waki and headed along the river. Ended up at a beautiful waterfall and backed right up for shots. Thank you for sushi an awesome experience and the knowledge we gained fantastic. Beats sitting on a cruise boat for sure.
Written 11 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Thackeray
England, UK534 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2013 • Couples
If your ambition is to paddle a Waka then as a tourist this may be your only opportunity. A few words of warning – check out how many others will be joining you, it is a far better experience with a full (16 persons) canoe; there were two others in mine and it was altogether very disappointing as 95% of the time we were propelled by outboard motor – check the tide, a low tide it is sometimes not possible to land at the village – your feet will get wet on embarking and disembarking, and the boat will have an inch or two of water in it. Even by Paihia standards an expensive tour so make sure you are going to get the most from it.
Written 13 March 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jerry S
Perth, Australia9 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2015 • Couples
We had the chief on our canoe and he was excellent. He talked for hours about the history of NZ and his people and family. Enjoyed it thoroughly. A couple who were elderly and could not paddle, he carried them into the boat and they were allowed to just sit and not paddle. Make sure you bring a hat and be prepared to sit on a wooden seat for a long period. Bring your camera on the boat even if they warn you it might get wet as it is worth it when you get to Haruru falls.
Written 6 April 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

WorldTravellor2014
Albuquerque12 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2014 • Couples
Our "journey" was on Saturday, Nov 15 (2014) and was planned as a 2 hour paddle in a Maori waka [war] canoe ... well a traditional canoe made from hollowed, shaped logs. This was to be about 2 hours in length and to go in a sheltered bay to a waterfalls on the local river/stream. The Maori waka "captain" lets the "public" paddle (there is an outboard motor if needed!) and he tells us Maori history.

Forget the 2 hour story. By chance our "journey" followed a major political statement (the previous day in Paihia in the Maori sacred grounds [just opposite to our waka launch site]) that the Maori had NOT given up their sovereignty in the 1840 treaty AND the arrival (today) of 2 ocean going native peoples catamarans (from Tonga) in the Bay of Islands with the goal to anchor just off the beach next to the Maori sacred grounds in Paihia.

So after some discussion of what was "about to happen", our waka "captain" asked IF we wanted our "waka paddle" to join with several other Maori wakas including the super big wakas from the nearby Waitangi Treaty Grounds that normally go out in the bay 1/year on some ceremonial day. So our 2 hour outing became a 3 1/2 hour outing AND included the ocean going catamarans arrival AND the giant waka [with maybe 160 paddlers all chanting as they paddled!] all within a few meters of our little "tourist outing" waka! Very funny but truly amazing to just happen to fall into the middle of this someone unique confluence.

So while your "journey" may not be so lucky, I am quite sure that you will find the waka "captain" to be a delightful story teller, a
very able seaman, and both knowledgeable and passionate about Maori history … and with your consent he will make your "journey" as meaningful and as much fun as possible.

PS there are no washrooms at the launch site … so be sure to visit the public washroom just before (Paihia side) the round-about [ie with the road going to the bridge to the treaty grounds].
Written 23 November 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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