Overnight Marae Stay

Authentic Māori Marae Stays & Cultural Immersion Experiences for Groups

Experience Te Ao Māori Through Connection, Culture & Community in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland)

One-Night Marae Cultural Experience

Step beyond the usual sightseeing experience and spend a night immersed in the warmth, stories and traditions of te ao Māori. Our one-night marae experience offers visitors the opportunity to connect with Māori culture in a genuine and meaningful way, hosted within the marae environment and guided by Māori hosts and cultural practitioners.

Your experience begins with a traditional Pōwhiri, a formal Māori welcome onto the marae. Through karanga, whaikōrero, waiata and hongi, manuhiri (visitors) are welcomed onto the marae and the process of whakawhanaungatanga begins. This is more than simply a welcome ceremony, it is an opportunity to acknowledge the people, place and connections that bring everyone together.

Following the Pōwhiri, guests will enjoy light refreshments and whakawhanaungatanga, creating an opportunity to meet your hosts, learn about one another and begin building genuine connections. Our hosts will introduce guests to the marae environment and share the tikanga and protocols that are important when visiting a Māori meeting ground.

Kōrero Tuku Iho – Telling Our Story

Spend time learning about the history, people and stories connected to the marae and the wider area through Kōrero Tuku Iho — stories passed down through generations.

Your hosts will share local tribal narratives, whakapapa and the stories held within the wharenui. Guests will have the opportunity to look more closely at the carvings, tukutuku panels and ancestral connections within the wharenui, gaining an understanding of how Māori history, identity and knowledge are preserved and passed from one generation to the next.

Rather than simply hearing facts about Māori culture, guests are invited to listen, ask questions and experience the stories in the place where they belong.

Māori Cultural Workshops

Throughout the experience, guests will take part in interactive Māori cultural workshops, providing opportunities to learn through participation rather than observation.

Workshops will explore aspects of Māori culture, traditions, knowledge, arts, language and everyday practices. These hands-on sessions encourage guests to connect with Māori culture in a relaxed and engaging environment, while learning directly from those who carry and share these traditions.

Evening Waiata & Connection

As the day moves into the evening, guests will come together for waiata and shared kōrero, creating a warm and relaxed atmosphere within the marae.

Waiata, traditional Māori songs, are an important part of Māori culture and are used to express connection, emotion, remembrance and celebration. Guests will have the opportunity to experience waiata as part of the evening and, where appropriate, join in and learn alongside their hosts.

This is a chance to slow down, share stories, laugh, connect with others and experience the sense of whanaungatangathat makes a marae stay so memorable.

Hāngī – A Taste of Aotearoa

No marae experience would be complete without sharing kai together.

Guests will enjoy a traditional hāngī. More than simply a meal, hāngī is a way of bringing people together around kai and sharing an important part of Māori hospitality.

Enjoy a generous shared meal while surrounded by your hosts and fellow travellers, with time to relax, talk and experience the warmth of manaakitanga, the Māori value of caring for and welcoming others.

Overnight Marae Stay

After an evening of cultural experiences, waiata and kai, guests will stay overnight at the marae.

Sleeping within the wharenui provides a unique opportunity to experience an important part of Māori life and community. The evening is a chance to reflect on the day's experiences, connect with your group and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of the marae.

For many visitors, the overnight stay becomes one of the most memorable parts of the experience, not because of luxury or sightseeing, but because of the opportunity to be welcomed into a place where people, stories, culture and connection come together.

A Morning of Connection & Breakfast

Wake up to the peaceful surroundings of the marae and begin the morning with breakfast and shared kōrero.

Breakfast provides another opportunity to sit together, connect with your hosts and reflect on the experience before departing. Guests can ask questions, share their favourite moments and continue the relationships and connections formed during their stay. After breakfast you will be farewelled by Māori hosts.

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More Than a Tour

Our one-night marae experience is designed to be more than a cultural tour. It is an opportunity to be welcomed as manuhiri, to listen to stories, participate in cultural activities, share kai and experience the values of manaakitanga, whanaungatanga and tūrangawaewae in a genuine Māori environment.

From the first Pōwhiri to the final breakfast, every part of the experience is designed to create connection, with people, with place and with Māori culture.

Come as a visitor. Leave with stories, connections and a deeper understanding of Aotearoa and its people.

Spaces are limited to ensure a personal and engaging experience.

Contact us today to book your Māori Cultural Experience today and discover the traditions, stories, and people that make Aotearoa unique.

Minimum numbers apply.