Poihākena tours: stories of Māori in Sydney

Poihakena tours

Explore The Rocks with a Māori Guide on a 2-hour walking tour and hear intriguing stories of Māori in Sydney spanning 230 years. 

  • Award-winning Poihākena tours take place in The Rocks, Sydney. 
  • Poihākena is the Māori word for Sydney/Port Jackson. 
  • Private tours can be booked anytime

What to expect on Poihākena tours

On this 2 hour guided walk with a Māori Guide you’ll:

  • Visit sites in The Rocks where Māori have lived, loved, traded, visited, worked and died since 1793
  • See Māori taonga (treasured objects) found on a local archeological site and now exhibited at The Rocks Discovery Museum
  • Walk down Māori Lane
  • Listen to waiata – Māori song
  • Hear surprising stories of Māori in Sydney – visiting Māori chiefs, kidnappings, trade; Wahine Toa – stories of Māori women and much more…
Stories of Māori in Sydney begin at the harbours edge.
Poihakena tour group at Campbells Cove.
Poihākena (Port Jackson)
Curriculum-linked tours in The Rocks

Tour information

      • Next scheduled tour (no minimum numbers): Saturday 9th September 2023 
      • Group or private tours available anytime on request – minimum 8 people or equivalent price.
      • Optional extras – Kapa Haka (performance) and/or Hāngi
      • Poihākena tours are also available for school group bookings. 
      • Poihākena tours: stories of Māori in Sydney depart from outside Susannah Place Museum, opposite The Big Dig Archeology Site and Sydney Harbour YHA. 
Poihakena Tours - launch event, April 15 2014

“Poihākena Tours give a voice to the stories of our (Māori) ancestors and whānau/family who came here before us. One in five Māori now live in Australia and these stories are a reminder of our strong connection to Australia, and our history and heritage here.” Hōhepa Ruhe, Kotahi Tourism Director

Please contact us if you’d like more information.

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

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 Travel Guide Awards).
  • Winner 2017 Sustainable Tour Operator of the Year  – Sydney, Australia (Luxury Travel Guide Awards)
  • Winner 2015 National Trust Heritage Award – Heritage Tours & Multimedia.
2015-Heritage-Award-Winner-
Winner - Tour Operator (Sydney) 2018 - Luxury Travel Guide Award
Interpretation Australia Winner Logo 2018
Luxury Travel Guide Winner 2017