Whakatipu Waitai<\/a>, is a place of immense significance to Ng\u0101ti M\u0101haki and Ng\u0101i Tahu more broadly. As an important settlement area between 1650 and the 1800s, the diverse environment provided their ancestors with easy access to food, resources and pounamu (greenstone).<\/p>\nAs the Hollyford Wilderness Experience has been shaped by mana whenua, visitors can expect a genuine reflection of Ng\u0101i Tahu culture and values as they traverse the terrain, says Hollyford Conservation trustee and Ng\u0101ti M\u0101haki representative, Kara Edwards. <\/p>\n
![\"Homer]()
Homer Falls on day one of the Hollyford Track, Fiordland National Park, New Zealand<\/p>\n
\u201cFor thousands of years, the footsteps of our people have trodden the very same path,\u201d Edwards says. \u201cManuhiri (visitors) will hear about our history, heritage and values as it relates specifically to Whakatipu Waitai.\u201d<\/p>\n
The walk itself is led by expert local guides, all of whom have been trained and mentored by Ng\u0101ti M\u0101haki to tell the narratives of their people. This authentic storytelling is intrinsic to the Hollyford Wilderness Experience.<\/p>\n
\u201cGuests can expect to hear about the stories of our ancestors, their deeds, where they lived, how they lived, what was important to them, what led to them being there. This includes the history of Ng\u0101i Tahu and the battles that ensued to win control of the West Coast,\u201d Edwards adds.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey will also learn about customary and traditional techniques, food preparation, how they survived, and how they utilised the natural environment to live \u2013 because our ancestors lived right there.\u201d<\/p>\n
By partnering with Ng\u0101i Tahu Tourism, Ng\u0101ti M\u0101haki are actively guiding how the experience is designed and delivered. Their involvement is deep, and has developed over time.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are really involved, which is great; it\u2019s a special [partnership] we\u2019ve developed over many years of engagement. It didn\u2019t just happen overnight. I think it comes from mutual respect and understanding,\u201d Edwards says.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a business that operates in the heart of our creation stories, right where our ancestors lived, walking on the trail they forged. It\u2019s really important the business reflects those values, and respects and pays homage to our people.\u201d <\/p>\n
![\"Hollyford]()
Hollyford Walk to Ka Tuku<\/p>\n
Integrity is meticulously maintained, with former Hollyford Valley guide, Kahurangi Mahuika, mentoring staff throughout the season to ensure standards are kept high. Guides are encouraged to consult the cultural input manual, so they are imparting the correct knowledge. <\/p>\n
This close and collaborative relationship between the business and Ng\u0101ti M\u0101haki benefits everyone, Edwards says \u2013 but particularly visitors. While many guests may not come to the Hollyford expecting an enlightening cultural experience, the feedback speaks volumes. <\/p>\n
\u201cAt a heart level, as well as an intellectual level, it really is quite impactful for people, particularly for New Zealanders. It can really change how people look at the world,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt ticks boxes for everyone. Our kaimahi (staff) are happier. We\u2019re happier. It helps us keep our culture alive, through sharing and handing down our stories. We have more of our young people coming through as guides, or being involved in the business as interns, so our people have enhanced employment opportunities. Manuhiri are also getting a much more enriching experience, so it\u2019s a no-brainer.\u201d<\/p>\n
Whether you\u2019re an international traveller or exploring your own backyard, the Hollyford Wilderness Experience is more than an immersion in one of New Zealand\u2019s best patches of untouched wilderness \u2013 it\u2019s an invitation to learn about the enduring connection between people and place.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not sure where else you can hear those stories in a more authentic way than out on the whenua,\u201d says Edwards.<\/p>\n
The Hollyford Wilderness Experience starts at $4395 per person in the off-peak period. Operating from November 2026 to April 2027, bookings are open now.<\/p>\n
For more information, visit hollyfordtrack.com<\/a><\/p>\nSave<\/a>Share this articleCopy LinkEmailFacebookTwitter\/XLinkedInReddit<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Culture leads the way in this premium three-day travel experience. Fiordland is known throughout New Zealand and beyond…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":454064,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[95,231023,2396,22857,17515,118912,60934,46861,22055,206,111,43,139,69,8780,67914,1961,56329,274],"class_list":["post-454063","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-new-zealand","tag-and","tag-combines","tag-culture","tag-escape","tag-experience","tag-fiordland","tag-indigenous","tag-landscapes","tag-leads","tag-luxury","tag-new-zealand","tag-news","tag-newzealand","tag-nz","tag-premium","tag-storytelling","tag-this","tag-threeday","tag-travel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/454063","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=454063"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/454063\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/454064"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=454063"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=454063"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=454063"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}