Punakaiki Itinerary
Day 1
Your Journey will begin in Punakaiki, home to the spectacular coastal formations known as Pancake Rocks. You will be welcomed to Takutai House, your base and sanctuary for the next 4 nights, by your Wellness New Zealand hosts.
This evening has been created to bring the group together over a shared, freshly prepared, whole food meal followed by the opportunity to meditate and set your own intentions for the journey.
Day 2
Our morning will begin with an energising breakfast and gentle body movement, allowing you to connect to your body and prepare for our day of mindful walking.
The journey today takes you up the Punakaiki Valley along the new Paparoa Track through forests of giant trees including Northern Rata, Beech and Rimu towards the lush native bush that lines the Pororari river.
Your guides will prepare a nutritious lunch to be enjoyed on the edge of the river and you may even like to take pleasure in a refreshing swim. Allow yourself to breathe in the healing energy of the lichen covered bush and gain clarity within nature’s beauty.
You can expect to see Toutouwai/South Island robin, hear the call of the Tui and Korimako/Bellbird and enjoy the friendliness of the flittering Piwakawaka/Fantail following your footsteps as you then trace the shores of the enchanting Pororari River back towards the sea.
Your day will wind down at Takutai House, perched in the sand dunes with picturesque views over the roaring Tasman sea. In the evening you can relax over dinner followed by a gentle meditation overlooking the water.
Day 3
This is a day for further reflection and rejuvenation at Takutai House and in your immediate surroundings. Connecting with, and healing in, nature is the key to our wellness journeys. Wake to the birdsong and spend the day as you wish.
You can melt in to a nurturing massage, read, take photos or wander on the beach. You might want to be more active and swim in the river or go for a gentle kayak, horse trek or a nature walk to nearby Pancake Rocks and Truman Track.
We will come together for lunch and again for an evening meal of fresh, whole foods followed by meditation if your soul desires.
This is a day to simply be.
Day 4
Your final day starts again with breakfast and gentle, connecting body movement before a journey along the Inland Pack Track to the enchanting Kotihotiho (Cave Creek) resurgence. As you stand in the dry riverbed near the entrance to the Xanadu Cave system, surrounded by large moss covered boulders you can feel a sense of peace and stillness.
After a cup of tea and a rejuvenating raw snack, we continue our journey along the historic track, built in 1867 during the gold rush, towards the Pororari river.
The environment is typical of a Karst landscape with caves, underground streams and sinkholes. The surface of the land has dissolved in places creating glimpses of the sacred, unknown world beneath the surface, enhancing a sense of connection to the land.