Twilight Encounter

Explore the beautiful Waipoua Forest with this enchanting and educational Twilight Encounter guided tour. Led by an experienced Maori guide, you'll be taken on a journey walking under the same stars that guided their Maori anceestor Kupe from Hawaiiki to New Zealand. Experience the connection early Maori had with the forest and the spiritual respect that is still present today.

Home to 'The Lord of the Forest', Tane Mahuta, you'll meet with the giant tree as the sunlight dims and the forest begins to come alive with nocturnal sounds. Another highlight of the tour is meeting Te Matua Ngahere, 'The Father of the Forest', a 2,500 to 3000 year old kauri tree, believed to be the oldest in the world. The tour runs for a duration of four hours, departing at 6pm from October to March and 5pm between April and October. Suitable for children as young as 5 years of age, the tour requires a minimum of two guests to run.

Book your spot on the Twilight Encounter through the Waipoua Forest online today to begin your adventure in this beautiful part of the country.

More info

Inclusions

• 4 Hour tour of Waipoua Forest

Highlights

• Experience the affinity that early Maori had with the forest and the deep spiritual respect they hold for the giants still growing there
• Learn of the rich bird life and other fauna that inhabits the forest and witness the transitions of life
• Your Maori guides will relate stories and legends of the forest, of its gods, and other spiritual inhabitants
• They will greet the giant trees with spine-tingling waiata (sacred chants)
• Learn how Maori used plants for medicinal purposes
• As night falls, the shyest creatures of the forest awaken and begin to go about their work
• You may encounter insects like weta, nocturnal birds, eels, fresh-water lobsters or the magnificent but slightly chilling giant carnivorous 'kauri' snail
• Deep in the forest among the towering trees and surrounded by the sounds of the nocturnal creatures awakening
• You will meet Te Matua Ngahere - 'The Father of the Forest' between 2,500 and 3,000 years old he is the oldest known kauri tree in the world
• Meet with 'The Lord of the Forest' - the giant Tane Mahuta!
• Your guide will formally greet the silent giant and then suddenly you stand dwarfed before his Lordship as the darkness closes in

Time

• Tour departs daily at 6.00pm (October-March) and 5.00pm (April-October)
• Departs from The Copthorne Hotel & Resort Hokianga, Stage Highway 12, Omapere, Hokianga, Northland

Hotel Pickup

If you have booked a hotel

• Prior to completing your purchase, enter your hotel name in the 'Add Booking Notes' section of the shopping cart. Once your booking is confirmed, you will receive a confirmation tour voucher with complete tour operator details. You will be required to contact the tour operator a minimum of 48hrs prior to your day of travel to reconfirm your hotel pick up time

If you have not yet booked a hotel

• If you have not yet booked a hotel, enter the words 'hotel not known' in the 'Add Booking Notes' section of the shopping cart. Once your booking is confirmed, you will receive a confirmation tour voucher with complete tour operator details. You will be required to contact the tour operator a minimum of 48hrs prior to your day of travel to reconfirm your hotel pick up time

If you do not require a hotel pick up

• If you do not require a hotel pick up and will be meeting the tour at the tour departure point, enter the words 'not required' in the 'Add Booking Notes' section of the shopping cart. Once your booking is confirmed, you will receive a confirmation tour voucher with complete tour operator details. You will be required to contact the tour operator a minimum of 48hrs prior to your day of travel to reconfirm your tour. Tour departure point is listed above and on your confirmation tour voucher

Additional Information

• Pick up from accommodation within the area is approximately 15 minutes before departure. This would vary depending on whether it was daylight savings or not
• Tour is not recommended for children under 5

Booking Information

• Confirmation in the form of a tour voucher will be received at time of booking
• Upon completion of purchase, please print the voucher and present on day of the experience
• Mobile Vouchers are accepted! - Vouchers can also be presented on your mobile device for this attraction
• For your information, complete Tour Operator Information including contact details is included on your tour voucher
• Availability was accurate at the time of booking however, is subject to change due to circumstances out of our control
• We strongly suggest reconfirming your booking with the tour operator within 24 hours of making your booking and prior to making other travel arrangements