Logistics
TRAVEL TIME TO OTHER CENTRES
Rotorua - 1 hour
Hamilton - 1 hour 30 minutes
Auckland - 3 hours
LOCATION
- Licensed to operate from Pilot Bay, Mt Maunganui, maintaining a mobile station and all equipment needed.
- 5-minute walk (350m) from the cruise gates at the Port of Tauranga, 8- minute walk to the mountain (650m), 8-minute walk (600m) to the main surf beach.
- Based around NZ school holidays, begins approximately start of October and ends approximately end of April.
- Peak period is 26 December to 6 February.
- Open for walk-in options 8am to 8pm during peak period, 10am to 4pm during school holidays and weekends in the shoulder periods. October to December, February to April, we mainly service school, business and social groups.
- The booking system we use is Rezdy.
- All prices are commissionable and inclusive of GST.
- Mauao Adventures reserves the right to change pricing before the operating season, unless contracted to a price point.
- Our general commission rate is up to 20% based on minimum requirements for that rate. A higher rate may be negotiated with added expectation from the agent.
- We can operate in showers and moderate winds up to 15 knots. We will not operate in lightning storms, strong winds and heavy rain.
- In the event that winds impact a water activity, participants can opt for an available land-based activity or full refund.
- We allow 24-hour cancellation to receive a full refund.
- If we cancel due to weather concerns or minimum numbers not met, participants can choose an alternative activity or a receive full refund.
- Our mid-range services have their own maximum and minimum numbers, refer to the product info.
- For all other activities, we are resourced for up to 20 participants at a time in each activity and can comfortably cater for up to 60 participants in a full-day packaged booking.
- We can consider larger numbers depending on the circumstances.
- For waka ama services, we have a minimum of 3 adult participants.
- We can meet cruise passengers at the Port of Tauranga and escort them onsite by foot.
- Potentially can provide transport for SUP adventures through associated transport operators.
- Children 7 years and under must be actively accompanied by an adult guardian and will not receive their own equipment.
- Children 8 to 15 years must be accompanied by an adult guardian but will receive their own equipment.
- Ages 16+ years are classified as adult for our services.
- All activities require a moderate level of fitness at the least.
- Participants should expect sand, salt water and hands-on activity.
- It is advised to bring water and sun protection.
- For the water activities, they should:
- bring a change of clothes, towel and swimwear if they would like to swim.
- for stand up paddling, wear swimwear or form-fitting activewear.
- for waka ama, wear form-fitting activewear.
- not wear jeans, hoodies or sweat pants.
- For walking activities, they should bring suitable walking shoes.
- Upon arrival, clients will be greeted and introduced to their guides.
- Safety briefing will follow along with a karakia/prayer.
- Guides will then suitably equip and prepare participants.
- If a lesson is involved, this will follow while awaiting staff prep any extra equipment needed and store personal belongings.
- Participants will be equipped with a life jacket and paddle.
- Participants may assist with transferring the canoes in and out of the water.
- They will get wet up to their knees.
- Where children 7 years and under can participate, they will sit either on the lap or on the canoe hull in front of their adult guardian.
- There is a 5% chance for a 6-person waka to tip which will result in participants being fully submerged, but still safe, in the water.
- Participants will be equipped with a life jacket, board, paddle, leg rope.
- Participants should come prepared to get wet as their is no guarantee to stay dry. Children 7 years and under will share a board and equipment with their adult guardian.
- All staff are local, 90% are tangata whenua/indigenous people of the area, the business is 100% Māori owned.
- Senior guides require a full year of employment and assessed to qualify at a senior level. They will have received the relevant qualifications available, and where qualifications are unavailable, they are trained and graduated according to industry guidelines.
- There will be at least one senior guide leading most sessions, with the exception of SUP hires and Express lessons.
- Qualmark Bronze, aspiring to Silver by October 2023.
- WorkSafe accreditation in progress to achieve by October 2023.
- Licensed to operate from our beachside location through Tauranga City Council.
- Maritime Navigational Safety License.
- Full business insurance cover for public liability, all equipment including third party, anywhere in NZ.
AFFILIATIONS
- Tourism Bay of Plenty - RTO
- New Zealand Māori Tourism - National tourism body
- Tourism Industry Aotearoa - Member, advocates for quality sustainable NZ tourism
- Tāpoi Māori o Tauranga Moana - collective of Māori tour operators in Tauranga
- Mauao Trust - the trust representing the three iwi of Tauranga as owners of the mountain, Mauao
- Hoe Aroha Whānau o Mauao Waka Ama Club - local waka ama club who provide the waka ama canoes we use
- Waka Ama New Zealand - national waka ama body
- SUP NZ - national stand up paddle boarding body
- Ngaiterangi, Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Pūkenga - three iwi of Tauranga