Private Guided Tour

Join one of our knowledgeable and engaging guides on a private 45-minute to 4-hour guided tour tailored to your liking.

Join one of our knowledgeable and engaging guides on well graded walking tracks. They'll help you spot North Island robins, tomtits, kaka, tui, bellbirds, hihi, tieke, fantails, kereru and weta. They'll introduce you to some of our local plants and trees and share stories about the history of this ambitious conservation project.

You'll learn about the translocation programmes that recently introduced kokako and rifleman to a forest where they can thrive. Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari is now home to an estimated population of over 3,000 kiwi.

This leisurely paced tour takes place in striking pest-free native forest dominated by towering tawa, rewarewa, pukatea, rimu and a wide variety of characteristic ferns. You will stand at the foot of a mature northern rata in the heart of the sanctuary and see the coalesced mass of roots that form the trunks of these magnificent trees.

You'll listen to the birdsong, take in the majesty of our indigenous forest and try to spot the numerous bird species that call the maunga their home. Spend time in the clearing where cheeky New Zealand forest parrots - kaka like to hang out then take an optional walk up the viewing tower for a unique perspective of the forest canopy.

Please check in at least 10 minutes prior to your tour at Manu Tioriori visitor centre (99 Tari Road, Pukeatua).

Book

Your private guided tour comes with a free Sanctuary Explorer Day Pass - perfect for extending your adventure. After the tour, explore at your own pace and soak up the wairua (spirit) of the sanctuary.

For tours of 90 minutes or more, your tour can be combined to include a visit to our Tautari Wetland where tuatara and takahe reside (please chat to us about seasonal availability).
Please check in at least 10 minutes prior to your tour at our Manu Tioriori visitor centre (99 Tari Road, Pukeatua).
Complimentary Sanctuary Explorer Day Pass included.
This private guided tour requires a minimum of two participants to proceed.
Standard booking Terms and Conditions apply.

Thank you! Every booking supports our vital conservation work, helping protect rare and endangered species on the maunga.

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...