Poihākena tours: stories of Māori in Sydney. Primary and Secondary school groups.

From AUD $16.00
  • Duration: 2 Hours (approx.)
  • Location: The Rocks, NSW
  • Product code: Poihākena Tour - schools

 Poihākena tours link stories of Māori in Sydney to sites and experiences in The Rocks - where Māori have traded, visited, lived, loved and worked since 1793. Tours are Guided by Māori Educators and include hands-on experiences, waiata (song), and stories spanning over 230 years of Māori history in Australia. 

 On this engaging and interactive tour your students will:
  • Visit sites in The Rocks where Māori have lived, loved, visited, traded, worked and died since 1793, including a local archeological site where Māori taonga ('cultural treasures') have been revealed.
  • See greenstone taonga (treasure) now exhibited at The Rocks Discovery Museum
  • Walk down Māori Lane.
  • Experience waiata (Māori song)
  • Hear stories spanning over 230 years: Visiting Māori chiefs; kidnappings; trade; Wahine Toa – stories of Māori women and more...
Tour content explores the role Māori played in the early years of the NSW Colony through to the rich Māori culture in Australia today where one in five Māori now live. Students and teachers may be surprised to learn how many well-known Australians have Māori heritage!  Poihākena is the te reo Māori word for Port Jackson - Sydney.


Duration: 2 hours

Guide to Student ratio: Maximum 25 students per Tour Guide. 

Minimum numbers: Poihākena tours are available for school bookings with numbers of 20 or more. Groups with less than 20 participants: $320. 

Teachers free of charge: Two teachers or supervising adults per 25 students

Inclusions: Teacher Resources, WWCC details + Risk Management and Covid Safety plans will be sent following confirmation of your booking.

Optional inclusions: hāngi lunch and/or Māori Cultural workshop

Awards for Poihākena tours: stories of Māori in Sydney.

  • Winner 2018 Award for Excellence - Interpretation Australia.
  • Winner 2018 Tour Operator of the Year – Sydney (Luxury Tour Guide Award).
  • Winner 2015 National Trust Heritage Award - Heritage Tours & Multimedia


Poihākena tours take place on Gadigal Country. Always was, always will be Aboriginal Land.