8 Day Art and Cultural Tour of the Kaipara, Hokianga and Northland
Discover the cultural treasures of Northland on a specially curated journey through one of New Zealand's most historic and inspiring regions. From the Kaipara District and Hokianga Harbour to Waitangi and Whangārei, this tour explores the rich heritage of Māori culture, early European settlement, and contemporary art.
Created exclusively for Friends of Te Papa, the itinerary includes visits to Sculptureum in Matakana, the Kauri Museum, the Dargaville Museum, Manea – Footprints of Kupe, the Footprints Waipoua Twilight Encounter, the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, and the remarkable Hundertwasser Art Centre. Throughout the tour, experienced local guides will bring each destination to life, sharing the stories, history and cultural significance of these extraordinary places.
Tour Itinerary
Day 1 - 14 November 2027
This morning you will be picked up either from Auckland domestic airport (10.30 am) or Auckland CBD (11.15 am). Arrive in Mangawhai approx. 1.00 pm. After some lunch at the museum cafe, visit the Mangawhai Museum and the Daring (ship from 1863 excavated from the Kaipara harbour in 2018) for a guided tour. After the museum visit there is the opportunity for a short beach walk before we head to the historic Mangawhai Tavern for dinner (own expense). After dinner drive to Matakana where we stay the night at the Matakana Motel.
Meals included: lunch
Day 2 - 15 November 2027
Today, after you get your own breakfast at leisure, we leave at 10.00 am and drive to Brick Bay Wines and Sculpture trail in nearby Snells Beach. Visit the sculpture gardens and discover a dynamic exhibition of large-scale sculptures set in a stunning natural environment of native bush, wildlife and ponds bursting with waterlilies, followed by lunch and wine tasting. After lunch we drive back to Matakana to visit the amazing Sculptureum with three sculpture filled gardens and six art galleries. Today you can enjoy a delicious dinner with fresh local ingredients across the road at the Matakana Market Kitchen. Stay one more night at the Matakana Motel.
Meals included: Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 - 16 November 2027
This morning we depart at 9.00 am and drive to Matakohe. We first have a guided tour of Ruatuna, the childhood home of Gordon Coates before visiting the famous Kauri Museum. On your guided tour you will learn about NZ's largest native tree, kauri gum, European pioneers, gum diggers and farmers, foresters and saw millers and much more. After lunch at the museum cafe (at own expense) we drive to Dargaville for a guided tour of the Dargaville museum, a fascinating museum with a large variety of displays. After the museum visit we drive up the west coast to the Hokianga Harbour. Dinner and overnight at The Sands Hotel Hokianga in Omapere.
Meals included: Dinner
Day 4 - 17 November 2027
After breakfast at the hotel, we visit the small township of Rawene with a tour of the historic Clendon House and some free time to explore and get some lunch (own expense). At 2pm we will visit Manea Footprints of Kupe, a 75 minute multi sensory journey of guided storytelling through art, taonga, film, performance, digital interaction, and the splendour of Hokianga’s natural surroundings. After this experience we meet our guide from Footprints Waipoua for a guided tour of the Waipoua forest. Experience the affinity that Maori have with the forest and the deep spiritual respect they have for these sentinels who have stood silently witnessing the passing of time. Your guide will share thought-provoking information, humorous banter, stories and legends before respectfully greeting the oldest and largest known kauri trees in the world with spine-tingling chants and song. Transfer back to Opononi for dinner at the Opononi Hotel. Overnight at The Sands Hotel Hokianga.
Meals included: Breakfast, dinner
Day 5 - 18 November 2027
After breakfast today we depart around 9.00 am for our drive from west to east to the beautiful Bay of Islands. After a walk around Paihia and some free time for lunch, we depart at 2.00 pm on a 4 hour Hole in the Rock Dolphin cruise, exploring the Bay of Islands from the water. Dinner in Paihia (own expense) before we check in for our night at the Copthorne Hotel & Resort.
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 6 - 19 November 2027
We spend the day at Waitangi where we attend a full day Introduction to Te Tiriti o Waitangi workshop. The workshop aims to grow your knowledge of te ao Māori, consider what impact the arrival of Pākehā had on life in Aotearoa New Zealand, deepen your understanding of Te Tiriti and explore practical steps you can take to give effect to Te Tiriti. The workshop includes morning tea, lunch, a private guided tour of the Treaty Grounds as well as free time to explore the museum, the grounds and buildings. Dinner and overnight at Copthorne Hotel & Resort.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 7 - 20 November 2027
After breakfast we drive to Whangarei with a short stop at Whangarei Falls. Enjoy a walk around town and some lunch at one of the cafes at the Town Basin before our afternoon visit of the Hundertwasser Arts Centre and Wairau Māori Art Gallery for a guided tour. Experience art and architecture in harmony with nature and individual creativity. Discover the life and the legacy of visionary, painter, ecologist and architect, Friedensreich Hundertwasser. After the tour you have still time to re-visits the parts you liked best before walking the short walk to the hotel in your own time. Farewell dinner at Aqua restaurant located within the Hundertwasser Art Center. Overnight at Distinction Hotel Whangarei.
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8 - 21 November 2027 st After breakfast we have some free time for a walk around Whangarei or maybe visit the Whangarei Art Museum or Claphams National Clock Museum (both are close to the hotel) After lunch (own expense) we make our way back to Auckland airport where our tour comes to an end. We arrive in time for a 5.00 pm flight home.
Meals included: Breakfast
What’s Included
Tour price includes:
Pick up and drop off Auckland airport or Auckland CBD
Comfortable transport in modern air conditioned 40-seater coach
Experienced tour leader and local guides at various attractions
2 nights at Matakana Motel in studio units (couples) or twin share in a 2-bedroom apartment (3 star)
2 nights at The Sands Hokinaga (4-star accommodation overlooking the Hokinga Harbour) including breakfast
2 nights at Copthorne Hotel Waitangi (4-star waterfront property) including breakfast
1 night at Distinction Hotel Whangarei (4-star hotel) including breakfast
Visit to Mangawhai Museum and the Daring including lunch and a guided tour
Lunch and wine tasting at Brick Bay Wines and Sculpture Trail
Visit to the Sculptureum in Matakana
Dinner at Matakana Market Kitchen
A guided tour of Ruatuna, the birth place of “Jazz Premier” Gordon Coates
Entrance and a guided tour of the Matakohe Kauri Museum
Entrance and a guided tour of the Dargaville Museum
Dinner at The Sands Hokianga
A guided tour of Clendon House in Rawene
A visit to Manea Footprints of Kupe Footprints Waipoua, a guided tour of the Waipoua forest
Dinner at Opononi hotel Hole in the Rock
Dolphin cruise in the Bay of Island
Visit of Waitangi Treaty Grounds and Introduction to Te Triti o Waitangi workshop
Dinner at Copthorne Hotel & Resort Waitangi
A guided tour of the Hundertwaser Arts Centre and Wairau Maori Art Gallery in Whangarei
Farewell dinner at Aqua Restaurant Whangarei
Meals included: 5 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 5 dinners
Price per person twin share: $3,950
Single supplement: $1,350
This quote is based on a minimum of 12 participants and a maximum of 20
A deposit of $500 per person is required to secure your space on this tour. The deposit is refundable up to 90 days prior to departure or in case the minimum numbers for the tour are not reached. If cancelled within 90 days of departure the deposit payment becomes non-refundable. Full payment is required 60 days prior to departure, this is refundable up to 30 days prior to departure (minus the deposit payment). The booking becomes non-refundable if cancelled within 30 days of departure.
