Experience Highlights
- Travel by 4WD to and from Maunga Hikurangi with the only tour operator authorised to drive up the mountain
- Visit a sacred Maori cultural site for a guided experience with an expert Ngati Porou guide
- Witness the world's first sunrise
- Participate in a traditional Maori karakia (blessing)
- Duration: 5 hours
- Type: Private Experience
- Type: Group Experience
Nicola
Travel Specialist
Forget ordinary mornings. At Maunga Hikurangi, you don't just watch the sunrise; you witness the day being born. The Te Urunga Sunrise Tour is a profound journey that begins in the pre-dawn stillness, ascending the sacred mountain of the Ngati Porou people in respectful darkness. As you climb, the silhouette of the world’s first peak to greet the sun emerges, steeped in the legends of Maui.
Listen as ancient stories of the nine carved pou (wooden figures) are shared, connecting you to this living cultural landscape. Then, as the horizon begins to blush, a hushed anticipation falls.
This is more than a view; it's a spiritual awakening. It’s the feeling of being the first people on Earth to feel the sun's warmth, sharing a moment of pure, undisturbed beauty with your closest friends or fellow travellers that will resonate long after you descend.
This is an intimate experience on either a private or small group basis (max 7 people)
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Would you like to speak to a North Island expert?
Contact our Travel Specialists for a bespoke quote or some first-hand knowledge.
Monday - Friday: 9am - 7:30pm
Saturday: 9am - 5pm
