• PLAN YOUR TRIP
    TO MAUNGA HIKURANGI

Your journey to Maunga Hikurangi

Is a once in a lifetime experience that will you bring to the heart of our people.

With both the sunrise and day tours commencing from the base of Maunga Hikurangi at Ruatoria, you will traverse remote backcountry and cross a private working farm known as Pakihiroa Station.

Whether you arrive from Rotorua in the Bay of Plenty or central Gisborne in Tairawhiti, your trip to Maunga Hikurangi will be an unforgettable one.

Haere mai, welcome!

Self Drive

Driving north from Gisborne

Make your way to Ruatoria via a stunning 2-hour coastal drive up along the iconic State Highway 35. Pass stunning beachside communities, epic surf and rural countryside with the vast Pacific Ocean hugging the pristine coastline.

Driving east from Rotorua

A 5-hour drive from central Rotorua through the beautiful Bay of Plenty, you can journey to Ruatoria through coastal communities with spectacular beaches, bays and flourishing orchards.

ACCOMMODATION

Te Puia Springs Hotel

The historic grounds of Te Puia Springs Hotel offers comfortable, country accommodation that boasts hot mineral pools and bush walks just as a short drive from the local beach. With a range of hotel rooms, backpacker and camping options available, Te Puia Springs Hotel is also only a 25-minute drive to Ruatoria.

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Hicks Bay Motel

Situated about an hour north of Ruatoria, at the northern most point of the Tairawhiti region is the picturesque seaside community of Hicks Bay. Also known as Te Wharekahikia, Hicks Bay offers a range of accommodation options available including the Hicks Bay Motel and Lodge, Nga Puriri Bed and Breakfast and Te Araroa Holiday Park. Conveniently located along State Highway 35, the drive from Hicks Bay to Ruatoria takes about an hour and is a popular and scenic coastal route to explore.

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Te Puka Tavern

The iconic Te Puka Tavern is beachfront accommodation in Tokomaru Bay that capture the spirit of the East Coast through and through. Fantastic food, accommodation with million-dollar ocean views and friendly service makes this a top accommodation option along State Highway 35. Situated 40 minutes away from Ruatoria, this is a great base for travellers exploring the hidden gems of Tairawhiti.

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  • My husband and I have just done the early morning sunrise tour. It was a very special experience for us and we would highly recommend it to everyone.

    WendyG84
    Whakatane, New Zealand

  • He gave us an informative and interesting talk about the carvings, and the history of Ngati Porou - both distant and recent. Everyone in the group was very impressed.

    8Hazel8
    Auckland, New Zealand

  • At the site of the phenomenal carvings, Monty shared the stories of Ngati Porou - just fascinating. The picnic was delicious and elegantly presented. A most excellent adventure for visitors from far and near.

    Elisabeth E
    Auckland, New Zealand

FOLLOW US

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/
Want to win 1 of 5 Mānuka Honey packs? 🍯 

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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