Ancient Forest Guided Tour
From $72.00 per adult | Group size: 10
*Most Popular Tour*
Discover New Zealand's native forest on a guided walk. Spot rare birds, learn about conservation, and venture up into the forest canopy on the 16m tower - all in a pest-free sanctuary teeming with life.
Guided Forest Walk
Join one of our knowledgeable and engaging guides on graded walking tracks through pristine native forest. Along the way, they'll help you spot some of Aotearoa's most iconic wildlife, including North Island robins, tomtits, kaka, tui, bellbirds, hihi, tieke, fantails, kereru, and even the fascinating weta. You'll also discover unique native plants while hearing stories about the history and vision behind this ambitious community conservation effort.
Learn about our successful translocation programmes that have reintroduced species such as kokako and rifleman to a safe environment where they can thrive. Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari is now home to an estimated population of over 3,000 kiwi.
This leisurely paced walk takes you deep into a pest-free forest dominated by towering tawa, rewarewa, pukatea, rimu, and a rich variety of ferns. Stand at the foot of a mature northern rata and marvel at the massive coalesced roots that form its impressive trunk. Listen to the chorus of birdsong, soak in the majesty of the ngahere, and try to spot the many species that live on the maunga. Spend time in the clearing where cheeky kaka often gather, then take an optional climb up the 16-metre viewing tower for a breathtaking perspective of the forest canopy.
Tour Details
Duration: 90 minutes
Group size: Small groups for a personal experience
Location: Te Tui a Tane - Southern Enclosure
Check-in: Please arrive at least 10 minutes before your tour at the Manu Tioriori Visitor Centre (99 Tari Road, Pukeatua). Here you'll collect your Sanctuary Explorer Day Pass, visitor guide map, and meet your guide.
If you're short on time, your guide may be able to adapt the walk into a circular route. After the tour, feel free to explore more tracks, enjoy a Barista coffee or an ice cream at the Visitor Centre, or bring your own snacks to relax and reflect on the beauty of the forest.
Your tour includes a complimentary Sanctuary Explorer Day Pass, giving you the freedom to keep exploring after your guided walk. Discover more tracks, relax in the forest, and make the most of your visit.
- 90 minutes (approx.)
- Complimentary Sanctuary Explorer Day Pass included
- Standard booking terms and conditions apply
Thank you! Every booking supports our vital conservation work, helping protect rare and endangered species on the maunga.
What our visitors say
We were a group of 8, Sue was our guide. Would so recommend having Sue to guide. We would not have noticed or learnt anything by ourselves, noticed birds and plants with understanding the importance of sanctuary. Will be bringing the grandies next.
Helen Bingham
1 / 10
The team are still absolutely buzzing about their time at Maungatautari! We all learnt SO much — about Rongoa, about the forest and how different plants can heal our ailments — but also how the forest as a whole can heal our inner-selves too. Everybody took something of great value...
Huka Honey Hive, Taupo
2 / 10
I wanted to email you and tell you how literally amazing our day was and that we were absolutely blown away by the whole experience. You and your team are fantastic. All of the parents who attended raved about the whole day.
Ohaupo School
3 / 10
A truly spectacular day for me thank you, and trust me I've done some really cool things before but this was right up there. The passion, the pride, the service beyond self and the truly intergenerational and transformational work you and the team have done and are doing is inspirational...
Simon
4 / 10
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! Because one THANK YOU is not enough! We felt very honoured and privileged to witness the health check and transfer process of two kiwi yesterday. To be so close to our iconic bird was very surreal for many of our team. Many photos were taken and I'm sure...
Nicola Greenwell
5 / 10
I'm honestly still smiling after my afternoon on the maunga yesterday, so I had to write and thank you SO MUCH. The team is doing extraordinary work with the whole sanctuary, and to see the kiwi team, volunteers, dogs, it was absolutely amazing. It was very moving to see the kiwi close up....
Katy Scoullar
6 / 10
I've hiked many, many forests around New Zealand, but this one hits differently. You just know you're in as native of an NZ forest as it can get, thanks to the predator-proof fence that takes a lot of work and money to maintain. The forest is alive with the beautiful songs of many...
Meggie Tran
7 / 10
A beautiful and peaceful place.
Tony Nicholls
8 / 10
My wife and I live in Miami and visited Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari during a trip to New Zealand a month ago. Our guide was Jenny. We were very impressed with her sincerity as well as your organization and the success of your work.
Anonymous, Miami, USA
9 / 10
If you want to see New Zealand's nocturnal animals, go here. Of course, there are day tours as well as night tours. I went on a night tour and it was great. I was happy to see glow worms, go up to the observatory, and see many stars in the night sky! This is not a zoo, but a conservation...
HyoJin Yang (YY)
10 / 10
Experience our Maunga
Our Other Experiences

Kiwi ExperienceFrom $120.00 per person | Group: 10 | Discover the magic of New Zealand's national icon.

Day Pass into the SanctuaryFrom $34.00 per adult | Explore Te Tui a Tane (Southern Enclosure) at your own pace.

Sanctuary Mountain Snapshot TourFrom $50.00 per adult | Group: 10 | The perfect snapshot tour introducing you to Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari.

Annual Explorer Pass MembershipFrom $70.00 per adult | Enjoy access to Te Tui a Tane Southern Enclosure for an entire year!

Secrets of the Tautari WetlandFrom $65.00 per adult | One of our knowledgeable guides will take you through our wetland.

Rongoa rakau - an introduction to Maori herbal medicineFrom $68.50 per adult | Group: 6 | Join one of our knowledgeable and engaging local rongoa practitioners!

The Moa Hunter TourFrom $95.00 per person | Group: 10 | Explore Maori bush lore with the Moa Hunter - a sensory forest journey.

Private Guided TourFrom $136.50 per person (45 min) | A guided tour tailored for you!

Sanctuary Mountain at NightFrom $352.00 per group of 1-4 people | Join us in exploring the magical night-time world!

Living Connections Team ExperienceFrom $100.00 per person | Take time away from work demands and immerse the team in nature.

Your Sanctuary at Our SanctuaryComplimentary Sanctuary Explorer Passes included with your stay.

Mirimiri Traditional Maori MassageFrom $60.00 for 30 minutes | Available the last Saturday of every month.

Night Walk EducationFrom $37.00 per student | Group: 30 | Bring your akonga along to see the maunga in a totally different light.

Virtual EducationFrom $210.00 per hour, per class | Group: 30 | Bringing the sanctuary to the world in our virtual classroom!

Education Centre OvernightGroup: 27 | Spend the night in our Education Centre to extend your time on the maunga.
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