Mahika Kai Experience Waka, Culture and Kai Tasting

Mahika Kai Waka Experience

Discover the cultural and natural significance of the Ōtākaro Avon River through Māori storytelling, walking, paddling and kai tasting.

Your 90-minute experience begins with a mihi whakatau (traditional Māori welcome), followed by a leisurely guided riverside walk where you’ll discover stories within the carvings, art and urban designs along the Ōtākaro.

You’ll then board a traditional waka (canoe) and paddle along the river while learning about its importance as a living mahika kai, a source of food and cultural knowledge. Finish with a tasting of seasonal local kai (food) at Ōtākaro Orchard.

Along the way, your guides share Māori cultural knowledge and stories, as well as insights into the restoration and environmental care of the Ōtākaro Avon River.