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GENTLE ANNIE MOUNTAIN BIKE ADVENTURE
FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT - START TRAINING FOR THIS FOR 2009. The Gentle Annie Mountain Bike Adventure Ride. We invite you to meet the challenge of cycling this picturesque course following some of the historic Inland Patea route from near Taihape through towards Hawke's Bay. Scheduled in January each year we will keep you posted as information comes available.
New Zealand Tramping at it’s best: "Hikoi Ki Paerau"
If you are looking for New Zealand hiking tours with a difference then this is the place to be. This is a true adventure tour, trekking through natural vegetation, learning about Maori history, traditions, and the natural features of New Zealand close up and personal. "Hikoi ki paerau" is the experience for you, your partner and family.
This journey takes you into 5,000 hectares (12,500 acres) of Maori ancestral land on the Rangitikei River. You are guided by tangata whenua (local Maori) in one of the most prestine, natural native and remote parts of the North Island of New Zealand. Only 5 hours journey south of Auckland or 3.5 hours north of Wellington by car.
This spectacular tract of land is owned by the Aorangi Awarua Trust. "Hikoi ki paerau" was a name given by the Trustees to describe the journey's the old people would make into their lands and how they would come to a plateau and sit for a silent moment to think as they cast their eyes out to the wilderness of their lands. The treks are a service offered by Aorangi Experiences Ltd. a joint venture with the Trust and River Valley Ventures Ltd.
A Hikoi Trek is an ideal way to learn about the land and identity of Maori in New Zealand through a unique New Zealand trekking experience. You will learn about the natural features of the land, the natural vegetation, flora and fauna, Maori traditions and their physical and spiritual connection with the land.
Opportunities while tramping Aorangi Awarua land include: • Spectacular photography in any season • An opportunity to take true New Zealand wilderness pictures • Bird watching while on holiday • Learning about Maori traditions • Discovering New Zealand natural vegetation • Seeing the spectacular Rangitikei River, one of the longest rivers in New Zealand • Putting the natural features of New Zealand in a perspective you will never forget
Our guides are “Tangata Whenua” to the mountain Aorangi in the Rangitikei District of the central North Island of New Zealand. They can trace their whakapapa – family lineage – back to the great Maori explorer, Tamatea Pokai Whenua and his son Kahungunu. Their guardianship of the land stretches back, unbroken, for hundreds of years.
Our guides will share with you not only the history of their people, but also their knowledge of flora and fauna and the area’s geology.
River Valley Lodge is directly across the Rangitikei River from the Hikoi Treks land, with accommodations available to suit every New Zealand vacation. Read more about River Valley Lodge accommodations here.
Listen to the beautiful moteatea (tribal chant) above. It acknowledges all the hapu and iwi groups confederated within Mokai Patea the maori name for the region these lands live in.
If you would like to chant along with the Kaiwaiata (singers) here are the words.
Aorangi te Maunga Rangitikei te Awa Ngati Tama Kopiri Ngati Whiti Kaupeka Ngati Paki Hinemanu Ngati Hauiti ko te rohe Potai o Mokai Patea mo tapu waewae Tamatea o Pokai Whenuaaaaa…….
