• First Sunrise in the World

First Sunrise in the World

The first place in the world to see the sun is the beautiful Tairawhiti Gisborne area in New Zealand. It’s a completely surreal feeling to experience that first birdsong and serene rays – as one of the first people to do so on the whole planet.

You have your pick of places to head to pre-dawn – whether that’s four wheel driving up Maunga Hikurangi, tackling the steps to the East Cape lighthouse, walking the Tolaga Bay Wharf, surfing Wainui Beach or camping at Anaura Bay.

Sunrise at Maunga Hikurangi

Sunrise atop Maunga Hikurangi

Of these, the very first place to see the sun is Maunga Hikurangi, the highest non-volcanic peak in the North Island. This mountain is steeped in Maori legend. One of the best stories is of course How Maui Slowed the sun, which describes a time where the sun flew quickly across the sky, leaving no time for humans to get anything done. Maui – a Ngati Porou ancestor – trapped and fought the sun, forcing it to slow down.

The Maunga is sacred to Ngati Porou and is a key part of the tribe’s identity. It was returned to Ngati Porou from the crown in 1990, and a working farm owned by the tribe covers its foothills. The legend of Maui and sun, and others, are brought to life at dawn by the guides on the Te Urunga-Tu Sunrise experience.

There are so many options on where to head to for the Tairawhiti sunrise, many wild and remote, others easily accessible – and the likes of Maunga Hikurangi Sunrise Experience will add a profound cultural experience to your morning (as well as first-to-see-the-sun bragging rights).

 

October 4, 2020

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Meet Irawhaaki - Maui’s father. In other versions of the Maui stories he was also known as Makeatutara. It was Irawhaaki’s mistake in performing karakia upon Maui that was to render him mortal and lead to his ultimate demise at the hands of Hinenui-te-po, the goddess of the spiritual realm. Book your tour now to learn about the story of all nine carvings https://maungahikurangi.com/experiences/
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Subscribe to the Nāti Growth newsletter at www.natigrowth.com before November 30 for your chance to sweeten your day! Don’t miss out—existing subscribers are automatically entered!
What people say about our Sunrise Tour...

"An experience never to be forgotten or surpassed... To say that it as a special moment would be an understatement."🌄 

Book your Sunrise Experience now! https://maungahikurangi.com/experiences/
Aside from the beautiful views and landscape, our tours also offer a taste of local cuisine and produce. Lunch for our Haramai Day tours include kumara salad, kangawaru (a sweetbread made from kumara, corn grit and flour), fruit and juice is a welcome bite after pushing to the top of our maunga! Book your tour today 🥪🌱https://maungahikurangi.com/experiences/
🌟 Meet the Grandmother of Maui, ‘Te Kauwae o Murirangawhenua', whose magical jawbone features in many stories—from slowing the sun to fishing up the North Island (Te Ika a Maui). Don’t miss the chance to experience this rich heritage! Book your tour today to connect with our stories and breathtaking landscapes at www.maungahikurangi.com. 🌊🛶
Introducing 'Te Waka Hourua' – the double-hulled canoe, also known as 'Te Waha o Ruaumoko', which signifies the Eastern point of the compass. This canoe serves as the gateway to our site and represents the migration of many waka to Te Tairawhiti.

Book your tour now to learn more!
Be one with Maui, his people, land sea & sky. Maui Tikitiki-a-Taranga the person who slowed down the sun, the person who brought us fire, the person who fished up Aotearoa from the sea, come hear his story, come see his lands, meet this people and feel his presence through his descendants, Ngati Porou.
Road tripping the East Cape? Stop over on State Highway 35 for an awe-inspiring experience off the beaten track that you’ll never forget: Maunga Hikurangi
Each of our nine breath-taking carvings has a unique story to tell, and each of those stories is an important piece in the overarching legend of Maui, a founding member of the Ngati Porou tribe. Here is Hine-rau-ma-ukuuku, a wife of Maui. Hinerau has the significant responsibility of welcoming all manuhiri (visitors) to our sacred maunga. Her warmth radiates even on a misty morning, as you climb to the top to greet the sun ☀
Happy New Year! While each and every sunrise is a magical moment we never get tired of, there’s something extra special about the first sunrise of the year, a sign of a prosperous and fulfilling year ahead 👐☀🌄

#tairawhitigisborne #maungahikurangi #mthikurangi #firstlight #gisborne #sunrise #aotearoa #newzealand #nzmustdo #happynewyear
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