Nau mai, haere mai! Welcome to Te Tai Tokerau — the Far North of Aotearoa, where legends were born, taniwha guard the coastlines, and every hill and harbour whispers ancient stories. 🌊⛰️🌿
🌍 More Than Just Scenic Beauty...
When you travel with Vantilla through Northland, you’re not just ticking off beaches and viewpoints — you’re rolling through the ancestral lands of Ngāpuhi, the largest iwi (tribe) in Aotearoa. These lands are steeped in spiritual meaning, where sky father Ranginui and earth mother Papatūānuku still hold their eternal embrace 🌌🌍.
🐉 The Taniwha Beneath the Waves
In Māori tradition, taniwha are powerful spiritual guardians — some friendly, others fierce. One such taniwha, Aupōuri, was said to travel through underground rivers from the Hokianga Harbour all the way to the east coast 🌊. The very movement of the tides was believed to be stirred by its breath.
Locals still speak of the mana (spiritual power) felt near certain waters — especially in sacred places like Whāngārei Falls and Cape Reinga.
🌅 Cape Reinga – Where Spirits Leap
At the very top of the North Island sits Te Rerenga Wairua — Cape Reinga. According to Māori belief, this is where the spirits of the dead begin their final journey, leaping from an ancient Pōhutukawa tree into the sea below, returning to Hawaiki — the ancestral homeland 🌺🕊️.
It’s one of the most spiritually significant places in Aotearoa, and visiting with Vantilla means arriving with deep respect — and leaving with a heart full of wonder.
🔥 Kupe the Great Navigator
The Northland is where Kupe, the legendary Polynesian explorer, first landed after voyaging across the Pacific 🌊🌀. His journey — guided by the stars, ocean currents, and ancestral knowledge — brought the first waka (canoes) to the shores of Aotearoa.
You’ll hear his name spoken often as you travel — in Hokianga, where he made landfall, and beyond. With each stop, you’re tracing the footsteps (and paddle strokes) of the ancestors who named these lands.
🎵 Stories in the Wind
Whether it’s the waiata (songs) echoing through marae, the carvings telling tales of battles and love, or simply a local sharing kōrero (stories) at sunset — the Far North has a rhythm all its own 🪘🗣️.
🛻✨ Vantilla Through the Eyes of Ancestors
Rolling through Northland in convoy, you’ll find yourself not just in awe of nature — but connected to it in a new, sacred way. 🌿🔥
We camp under ancient trees, soak in hot springs said to be healing, and walk in places where spirits still dwell. Every turn of the road holds a new myth, a lesson, and a feeling you can’t quite explain — but will never forget.
Ready to explore Te Tai Tokerau with fresh eyes and open hearts? Join a Vantilla trip and uncover the hidden treasures and timeless legends of the North.
🌀 #VantillaVibes | 🌿 #LegendsOfTheNorth | 🌅 #JourneyWithRespect