Glorious Bay of Plenty: Rich Land, Rich Culture
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Port
Tauranga (Rotorua), New Zealand
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Activity Level
Easy
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At
$139.95
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 4½ Hours
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Meals Included
Meals included
This tour explores the incredible abundance and productivity of the land in the aptly-named Bay of Plenty.
You will visit a Maori marae (meeting place) to be welcomed and hosted by a Maori family. They are descendants of the migrants who arrived on the first oceangoing canoes from central Polynesia, more than 650 years ago. Hear their stories and enjoy their songs and dances as they trace their family history through the generations.
Tour past kiwifruit orchards and walk under the green and gold kiwifruit vines with your guide and marvel at the extraordinary volume and quality of fruit produced here. Almost all of New Zealand's immense and world-famous kiwifruit crop is grown on this small pocket of land.
A freshly-prepared morning snack will be served at a local village community hall, where you'll have an opportunity to shop for kiwifruit-inspired gifts and souvenirs at the boutique marketplace here.
Another special treat is an exclusive visit (not open to the general public) to Maketu, the stunning coastal site of a centuries-old Maori fortification; its strategic location has been highly prized and ardently contested by neighboring Maori tribes, and its stunning, 360-degree panoramic views offers many photo opportunities.