Te Urewera, Mahia & Gisborne
7 day small group tour to Te Urewera, Mahia and Gisborne
Join us on a special journey into a corner of the North Island travelling an eastward trail to the remote and primeval forests of Te Urewera to meet local guides and hear their stories. Along the way there are close up wildlife encounters as we explore the stunning coastline famous for surf breaks (and rockets at Mahia), visit eco-sanctuaries and have fun at Awakeri riding the railcarts along the tracks.
WHAT TRACY LOVES ABOUT THIS TOUR: It’s a pleasure meeting the locals – William Stewart in Whakatane, Nadine and Karl Toe Toe at Kohutapu Lodge with their commitment to the community, Brenda Tahi at Manawa Honey in Ruatahuna, where Tuhoe are creating a sustainable business on ancestral land, and Arthur, our guide to Mahia Peninsula. In Gisborne we meet guides at Tatapouri Bay and Waikereru and at Sanctuary Mountain in Maungatautari.
Day 1
Auckland - Paengaroa - Whakatane
Heading eastwards through the Karangahake Gorge to lunch at the Trading Post in Paengaroa.
In Whakatāne, with our guide William Stewart, we visit Kāpūterangi Pā, one of the oldest pā sites in the country, and Ngāti Awa sacred and culturally significant landmarks along the waterfront. We stay two nights at Awa Motel.
- The dramatic scenery of the Karangahake Gorge
- William Stewart introduces us to Whakatāne’s Ngāti Awa history
- Whakatāne - Awa Motel
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Accommodation
WHAKATĀNE - AWA MOTEL
On the waterfront opposite the Whakatāne Wharf, this four star plus motel is just across the road from restaurants and within walking distance of the town centre.
What we love about the Awa Motel – A great location to use as our launching pad for the Eastern reaches of the North Island. It makes for a relaxing evening strolling across the road for dinner or along the waterfront.
Day 2
Whakatane - Whirinaki - Kohutapu Lodge - Whakatane
At Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tane our guide welcomes us with a karakia and relates the legends of this primeval, podocarp rainforest. We stroll for an hour with our guide on a loop track through this beautiful forest.
At Kohutapu Lodge on the shore of Lake Aniwhenua over a hangi dinner with owners Nadine and Karl Toe Toe, we hear how tourism and their lodge brings benefits to the Murupara community.
- Stroll in stunning Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tane
- Hangi dinner at Kohutapu Lodge, Lake Aniwhenua
- Whakatāne - Awa Motel
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Accommodation
WHAKATĀNE - AWA MOTEL
On the waterfront opposite the Whakatāne Wharf, this four star plus motel is just across the road from restaurants and within walking distance of the town centre.
What we love about the Awa Motel – A great location to use as our launching pad for the Eastern reaches of the North Island. It makes for a relaxing evening strolling across the road for dinner or along the waterfront.
Day 3
Whakatane - Ruatahuna - Lake Waikaremoana - Gisborne
At Ruatahuna in the heart of Te Urewera we meet Brenda Tahi at Manawa Honey, whose Rewarewa Honey was the Grand Prize winner at the prestigious Asheville Black Jar International Contest in the USA in 2021. We lunch with our hosts, sample the honey and visit their historic wharenui, Te Whai-a-te-Motu.
Then the road descends through rainforest with glimpses of Lake Waikaremoana. We take the short stroll to beautiful Aniwaniwa Falls and stop along the lakefront before continuing to Frasertown and northwards to Gisborne, our home for three nights.
- Meet Brenda Tahi at Manawa Honey in Ruatahuna
- Visit the historic wharenui, Te Whai-a-te-Motu
- Gisborne - Senator Motor Inn
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Accommodation
GISBORNE - SENATOR MOTOR INN
Stylish and comfortable motel accommodation in the heart of Gisborne a two minute walk to Central Gisborne’s shops, bars, cafes and restaurants. Each of the spacious self contained suites has its own balcony with views over the bustling inner harbour marina.
What we love about the Senator Motor Inn – A great location makes it easy to take a relaxing riverside stroll along the walkway to the spectacular beaches or alongside the river in the opposite direction.
Day 4
Gisborne – Tatapouri Bay – Waikereru Ecosanctuary - Tairawhiti Museum
We visit Gisborne’s natural and historic places including a guided visit at Tatapouri Bay to the Stingrays on the reef and local marine life. At Waikereru Ecosanctuary, an Ark in the Bush, we’re guided through this haven for rare and endangered native plants and birds.
We meet our guide at the Tairawhiti Museum and dine out this evening.
- Guided experience to meet Tatapouri’s stingrays
- Visit Waikereru Ecosanctuary, an Ark in the Bush
- Gisborne - Senator Motor Inn
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Accommodation
GISBORNE - SENATOR MOTOR INN
Stylish and comfortable motel accommodation in the heart of Gisborne a two minute walk to Central Gisborne’s shops, bars, cafes and restaurants. Each of the spacious self contained suites has its own balcony with views over the bustling inner harbour marina.
What we love about the Senator Motor Inn – A great location makes it easy to take a relaxing riverside stroll along the walkway to the spectacular beaches or alongside the river in the opposite direction.
Day 5
Gisborne - Mahia Peninsula - Gisborne
Today, with local resident Arthur as our guide, we explore the surprisingly large expanse of Mahia Peninsula. With beautiful beaches on both coastlines, it has always been a magnet for surfers. It’s also the launching site of Rocket Lab’s space programme.
The launching pad is out on the far tip of the peninsula so the closest we get to rockets is lunching with Janey at The Rocket Cafe. We return back up the coast to Gisborne and dine out this evening.
- With our local guide explore stunning Mahia Peninsula
- Lunch with Janey at The Rocket Cafe
- Gisborne - Senator Motor Inn
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Accommodation
GISBORNE - SENATOR MOTOR INN
Stylish and comfortable motel accommodation in the heart of Gisborne a two minute walk to Central Gisborne’s shops, bars, cafes and restaurants. Each of the spacious self contained suites has its own balcony with views over the bustling inner harbour marina.
What we love about the Senator Motor Inn – A great location makes it easy to take a relaxing riverside stroll along the walkway to the spectacular beaches or alongside the river in the opposite direction.
Day 6
Gisborne – Waioeka Gorge – Awakeri rail carts – Rotorua
Leaving Gisborne we head through rugged Waioeka Gorge bound for Awakeri to meet up with Paul and board his rail carts for a scenic ride and picnic lunch along the tracks.
The drive onwards to Rotorua passes Lakes Rotoma, Rotoehu and Rotoiti and we stay at Novotel Rotorua Lakeside Hotel and dine in this evening.
- A fun filled ride on the Awakeri Railcarts
- Lake view accommodation in Rotorua
- Rotorua - Novotel Lakeside
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Accommodation
Rotorua - Novotel Lakeside
Situated on the serene shores of Lake Rotorua offering a relaxing environment with unsurpassed views of the lake. The central location, with wonderful facilities, means it is an easy walking distance to many local attractions, including cafés, bars and restaurants.
What we love about the Novotel Rotorua – Lake views from every room, a short walk to Ohinemutu Maori Village and ‘Eat Street’. The in-house thermal baths are hard to beat after a fun day out.
Day 7
Rotorua – Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari – Auckland
We tiki tour around Rotorua before driving northwards to Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, a mainland ecological island of ancient forest, to meet our guide and walk in the enclosure surrounded by one of the world’s longest pest-proof fences.
We return to Auckland through the Waikato farmlands arriving in the late afternoon.
- Enjoy a guided visit to the eco-sanctuary at Maungatautari
- Stroll in the pest-proof enclosure and hear the birdsong
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General inclusions
- All transport by comfortable, air conditioned coach (maximum of 18 travellers).
- Services of your knowledgeable MoaTours Kiwi guide.
- Quality accommodation chosen for a “sense of place”.
All Meals Are Included
- All Breakfasts
- All Lunches
- All Dinners
Included Experiences
The following activities and attractions are all included in the price of your tour:
