Experience a mystical journey through the sacred forests of New Zealand’s Maori people during this 4-hour evening forest walk in Waipoua with an indigenous guide. Walk beneath the giant Kauri trees of this forest sanctuary, including the majestic ‘Te Matua Ngahere’ tree, absorbing the site’s spiritual energy as you learn about the site’s significance to Maori beliefs.

Experience New Zealand's sacred Waipoua forest with an indigenous guide
Get steeped in the myths and origins of the Maori belief system
Commune with the giant Kauri trees of this ancient forest, some of which are several thousand years old
Marvel at the giant Tane Mahuta (Lord of the Forest) tree, which towers more than 150 feet (50 meters)
Great way to learn about the Maori belief system

What's Included

Local guide
Hotel pickup and drop-off within the Opononi/Omapere area
Local taxes
Use of a torch.
Access to insect repellant but we encourage you to bring your own eliminating potential reactions.

Food and drinks
Gratuities

Meeting and Pickup

You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup

Meeting point

The Heads Hokianga
State Highway 12 Omapere, Hokianga 0444, New Zealand
This is located next to the GAS Omapere Service Station.

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Pickup details

We conduct a free pick-up and drop-off service from other accommodation providers located in the Omapere and Opononi townships. Pick ups from outside of these areas may be possible but include a charge. Please enquire/check at the time of booking.

What To Expect

Receive an afternoon pickup from a location in the Opononi and Omapere area, or meet up with the group at the Tane Mahuta Carpark or Te Matua Ngahere Carpark. As you transfer to this special natural sanctuary, you’ll get an introduction to the protocols followed by visitors from your Maori guide.

When you arrive at Waipoua, you’ll likely be able to see the starry sky up above. These very same stars helped guide the Maori people across the ocean to New Zealand from their traditional homeland of ‘Hawaiki.’ Your walk through this sacred forest will take you past ancient trees that first grew from the ground long before these very first Maori legends.

Pay a visit to some Waipoua’s oldest ‘great ancestors’ including Te Matua Ngahere (Father of the Forest), a tree believed to be between 2,500 and 3,000 years old and spanning more than 15 feet (5 meters) in diameter. You’ll also marvel at ‘The Four Sisters,’ a collection of trees that grew and thrived living in close proximity, and see the giant Tane Mahuta (Lord of the Forest), which towers more than 150 feet (50 meters) above the forest floor. After enjoying this mystical experience, you’ll return to your original starting point.

Waipoua Forest

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not recommended for travelers with back problems
A minimum of 4 people per tour is required to operate.
Not wheelchair accessible
Free pick ups are conducted within the townships of Omapere and Opononi. Pickups start from 30 minutes before the tour departs. Enquire to see if pickups outside these areas are possible.

Not recommended for pregnant travelers
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Most travelers can participate
Not recommended for children under 5 years of age.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 25 travelers

Cancellation Policy

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.
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Reviews

5.0

159 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

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Showing 1-6 of 159 reviews

Magical journey into the kauri forest

Veronika_K, Mar 2024

A truly magical journey into the kauri forest, guided by an incredibly knowledgeable guide. We learned so much about these trees and also the local history and culture. Higher recommended

Once in a lifetime experience

Steen_J, Jan 2024

Outstanding experience, learning about the Kauri trees, the forests, and Mauri traditions, just wonderful!

Not to be missed

Angela_C, Jan 2024

Amazing, moving, enlightening and educational. Well worth the trip. Note however the pickup hotel had changed name to The Sands which caused a bit of confusion early on but nothing major. Leave time for a drink on the terrace before you go.

Kauri Magic

John_R, Mar 2023

This was a highlight of our travel in New Zealand's Northland. Our guide, Merepaea, was informative, engaging, friendly and gave all of our group a memorable shared experience. Our first sight of Te Matua Ngahere (Father of the Forest) was breathtaking, and was equalled when we saw the majesty of Tane Mahuta (Lord of the Forest). The age, size and significance of these trees in the Waipoua Forest is just amazing, and to have Merepaea's stories, song, sense of care and humour capped off our twilight walk.

Great experience, but a tall group, for the size of the group it is too expensive

Ika_H, Feb 2023

The moments of singing walking to the trees and the moment of silence. Billy Boy knows a lot about this beautiful forest.

Interesting insight into Maori culture and history

Janet_L, Feb 2020

Interesting tour. Tour leader Charlie was very engaging and knowledgeable. Might be better if it were held during the daylight to better see the big kauri tree