KO TĀNE WAKA
NZ's Ultimate Māori Culture Experience
Explore
Christchurch
by Waka
on the
Avon River
THE EXPERIENCE:
Leaving from 794 Colombo Street opposite Victoria Square this 45-minute waka paddling experience is an amazing cultural journey of the Ōtākaro Avon River by waka.
Experience the team and skill building of paddling a hand-crafted waka down the ŌtākaroRiver Avon, and learn about the importance of the waka to the early Māori culture. Enjoy early stories of Canterbury's Ngāi Tahu Iwi and the earliest European settlers, and the positive things they achieved building the city of Christchurch together.
Waka have been paddled on the Ōtākaro Avon River as far back as the 1700 century. Māori sailed to Aotearoa New Zealand on Waka Hourua (double-hull sailing waka). Single-hull waka became an important part of the early transport days of Christchurch city with no roads and nothing but swamp, Māori and early settlers collaborated regularly to transport trading goods and equipment up and down the Ōtākaro Avon River.
-
How long are tours?Our tours are 1 hour long, with a morning and afternoon session available to book online. If you wish to extend or shorten the tour to suit your group, please feel free to email us.
-
How many people can we fit on a Waka?We currently operate a 14-seater and a 16-seater Waka. Meaning we can have up to 30 customers per 1-hour tour.
-
How can I book a time that isn't offered on the website?If you require a time slot that isn't currently advertised on our website, or if you would like to inquire about a specific time and date, please reach out to us via email and we will do our best to accommodate.
-
Is there a minimum or maximum booking requirement?We currently accommodate a maximum of 30 passengers per 1-hour tour. Bookings will be rescheduled or cancelled in advance if we do not meet a minimum of 6 passengers before the tour. This is a matter of health and safety, as well as your comfort!
-
What do we do on the tours?Our crew will take guests to our launch location and begin the tour with a Mihi (Welcome), followed by a warm-up kēmu (game). We then do a quick safety briefing and orientation before taking guests out on the water on the Waka. Whilst on the water, guests are taught how to paddle our traditional waka and are given a talk by our Kaiārahi (guide), sharing stories as well as our history. This will come to 1 hour total time.
-
How far do we go on the river?Tour routes can be subject to the river conditions of the day. However, we typically operate between the Colombo Street and Madras Street bridges. We don't go beyond these points as the river becomes either too shallow or difficult to paddle safely. We take a few laps, allowing passengers the opportunity to take photos and enjoy the city sights, as well as stopping at key points to discuss the area.
-
Is this safe for children?Yes! We offer tours to both schools and families. Children under 5 are free but may need to sit between two adults as a precaution. All children under 14 are required to wear a life vest, which will be provided on the day.
Address:
794 Colombo Street
Christchurch, 8011
New Zealand
Phone:
Email:
Contact
Us
