Join us for a journey through Maori land and dreamscapes, the magical worlds of Aotearoa.November in New Zealand is the transition from spring to summer. Enjoy the glorious lush green ancient rain forests, pristine waters. Be inspired by Maori wisdom and have some ceremonial opportunities of a lifetime. 16 spaces! ONLY 11 left! Register NOW!

1. US$2700.00 pay in full.

2. US$1350.00 deposit, balance of $1350.00 due on October 1, 2010.

Here you can experience —
• the traditional Maori welcome ceremony, pohiri
• sleep in carved traditional ancestral houses
• the power of the haka, the warrior’s challenge
• volcanoes, boiling mud pools and thermal streams
• waterfalls, giant lakes and beautiful ocean beaches
• bungy over the Waikato river, the longest in NZ.
• walk enchanted forests with ancient Kauri pine trees
• trek within the famous Tongariro National Park with
  its 3 volcanoes and do ceremony there.

Legend has it that Aotearoa/New Zealand was fished from the sea. Fact has it that New Zealand was the last land mass on earth to be discovered, making New Zealand the youngest country on earth. Maori first landed in Aotearoa (New Zealand — literally ‘Land of the Long White Cloud) on waka hourua (voyaging canoes) from their ancestral homeland of Hawaiki probably over 1,000 years ago.

See MIHIRANGI perform in Canada. Click here.

ITINERARY
Tuesday          Nov 2: Arrive in Auckland.
We will begin our journey with an evening gathering in our ‘hotel’ Quest Ponsonby, 68 Ponsonby Rd, Auckland in Central Auckland. Check-in is from 2 pm. The Maori name for Auckland is Tamaki. Among the many versions is Tamaki-makau-rau (Tamaki of a hundred lovers), referring to the desirable, fertile site at the hub of a network of waterways, taking travellers north and south, east and west.

The volcanic cones that are dotted all over Auckland became natural sites for pas, or fortified Maori settlements. Several of the best known lookout areas in Auckland, such as Mount Eden and One Tree Hill, bear the traces of these pas.

Wednesday Nov 3: Welcome and stay at an Auckland Marae. Trip to Lion Rock at Piha. Piha is a black sand beach surf beach on the rugged west coast of New Zealand, 40 minutes from Auckland.

Thursday Nov 4:  A 2 hour drive south of Auckland to Raglan on the beautiful west coast. Bridal Veil Falls, beach, dolphins and a concert with Mihirangi. More MIHIRANGI at WOMAD 2009 in NZ, click here.

Friday Nov 5: 90 minute drive to Waitomo caves. Glowworms, black water rafting or abseiling. 30 million years ago the entire Waitomo region lay far beneath the sea. In October 2008, the inventors of the globally unique adventure sport called Black Water Rafting celebrated 20 years of guiding half a million intrepid tourists through the Waitomo underground rivers. With two exhilarating tours, namely Black Labyrinth and Black Abyss, to choose from, there is something to suit all adventurous spirits.

Saturday Nov 6:       45 minute drive to Te Meringa, Mihirangi’s Marae for a special visit. 90 minute drive to Rotorua. We will spend 2 nights in Rotorua by the side of the lake. Steam rises from cracks, gardens, pathways and even residential streets. This, together with the distinctive scent of sulphur, signals to visitors that they are in the centre of an active thermal area. Just minutes from city centre there are geysers, boiling pools of mud, silica terraces, mud fumaroles and volcanoes. Rotorua is also known as the heartland of New Zealand's Maori culture.

Sunday Nov 7:   A day and night in Rotorua. Hot mineral pools, museum, thermal wonders, boiling mud, adventures, kayaking, souvenirs, chill out.

Monday Nov 8:   90 minute drive to Taupo. Huka Falls, Bungy jumping, Lake Taupo. Lake Taupo is the site of the world's largest eruption in the last 5,000 years. The results of its earth shattering creation can be seen everywhere with active volcanoes, spectacular steaming cliffs, geysers, boiling lakes, bubbling mudpools and floating rocks called pumice. The Huka Falls are a set of waterfalls on the Waikato River that flows from Lake Taupo. A few hundred metres upstream from the Huka Falls, the Waikato River narrows from roughly 100 metres across into a hard rock silica canyon only 15 metres across. Soak in thermal hot pools in the evening.

Tuesday Nov 9: 90 minute drive to Tongariro National Park. Established in 1887, Tongariro was the first national park in New Zealand and the fourth in the world. It is also a dual World Heritage area, a status which recognises the park's important Maori cultural and spiritual associations as well as its outstanding volcanic features. Two nights at National Park.

Wednesday Nov 10: Early morning start for Tongariro Crossing. The best one day hike in the world. The name Tongariro originally covered the three mountains of the park (Tongariro, Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu) and comes from tonga (south wind) and riro (carried away). The story goes that Ngatoro-i-rangi was stuck on the summit and had almost perished from the cold. He called to his sisters in Hawaiki for fire and his words were carried to them on the south wind. Tongariro is one of the country's most spectacular parks with mighty (and still working) volcanoes.

Thursday Nov 11:    4 hours of relaxed travel to Parihaka. Cultural teachings at Taranaki Marae with Auntie Olive. We stay at the Parihaka Marae.

Friday Nov 12:   2 hours travel to Mokau Marae Maniaroa Marae. Blessing and awakening of our ceremonial items, hoe (paddle), made on the journey. Stay overnight.

Saturday Nov 13:    4 hours of relaxed travel back to Auckland. Evening closing and celebration dinner. Last night in the hotel we started in.

Sunday May 14:         Individual flights home, or stay longer :)

COST: US$2,700.00
Includes accommodation for 12 nights — 9 hotel/motel nights; 3 marae nights
Ceremonial Group Excursions: bungy jump; Waitomo Caves Black Water Rafting;
Transport  to/from Tongariro Crossing track (with packed lunch and dinner on return to the hotel).

Does not include:
Most meals; transport to/from Auckland International Airport

Deposit: $1350.00
Balance: $1350 paid in full by October 1, 2010 or cash on arrival.

For further details
Contact Batty: battygold@aol.com
or Mukee: mukeeocox.net