Maui
Legend tells us that the North Island of New Zealand is actually the world's largest fish. Maui, a Maori hero of ancient times, hooked the enormous fish during an expedition to prove his fishing prowess. If you look at a map of the North Island, you can see that Wellington is the head, Cape Taranaki & East Cape are the fins, and Northland is the tail of the fish - Te Hiku o Te Ika. Near the ninth century AD, Maori arrived in Heretaunga or Hawke's Bay, settling in the river valleys and along the coast where food was plentiful.
Maori believe that they came to Heretaunga by canoe, travelling down the coast from the north, landing at Wairoa, Portland Island, the Ahuriri Lagoon at Westshore, and at Waimarama. Their culture flourished, along with gradual deforestation of the land, making this one of the few regions of New Zealand where sheep could be brought in without felling the bush first.
In the sixteenth century, Taraia, great-grandson of the great and prolific chief Kauhungunu, established the large tribe of Ngati Kahungunu which eventually colonised the eastern side of the North Island from Poverty Bay to Wairarapa.
Captain James Cook
Captain James Cook and the crew of the HMS Endeavour were probably the first Europeans to set eyes upon Hawke's Bay in October 1769. Cook named the bay after Sir Edward Hawke, First Lord of the Admiralty.
Whalers and flax traders arrived in the early 1800s, and a few Europeans came and went, including perhaps the first permanent resident, Austrian naturalist Frederick Sturm who settled at Mahia in the 1830s, moving to Napier in 1865.
In June 1840, the Treaty of Waitangi arrived in Hawke's Bay for signing.
In 1844 the missionary William Colenso, also botanist, printer and politician, arrived to establish his mission station at Waitangi, south of Napier
In 1851, French Catholic missionaries arrived to settle at Pakowhai, bringing with them the first vines to plant for their communion wine.
The Naming of Cape Kidnappers
The fish hook shape of the Hawke Bay coastline adds to the imaginative legend of Cape Kidnappers origin.
Maui-tikitiki-a-Taranga, a famous mythical hero, was fishing with his brothers, and decided to show them his supernatural powers.
He chanted his prayer, broke his nose and smeared the blood onto a magical jawbone. With it, he fished up the North Island or as the Maori name it, Te-Ika-a-Maui, the Fish of Maui. After Maui departed, his brothers attached the fish with their weapons, hacking it into pieces and helping to form the mountainous terrain of the North Island. The sacred jawbone used as the hook was left to form what is now known as Hawke Bay.
The Gannet Colony at Cape Kidnappers.
Bird lovers love Cape Kidnappers. The gannet reserve there is rare in ornithological circles as it contains the largest and most accessible mainland gannet colony in the world. Known to the Maori as Takapu, the gannet is usually an island breeder but has made a notable exception at Cape Kidnappers on the East Coast of the North Island.
Nothing will quite prepare you for the experience that awaits, administered by the Department of Conservation, this area presents a special, up close opportunity to observe the Gannet in its natural environment. The Gannet, a member of the Booby family, is related to the families of shags, pelicans and frigate-birds. Adult Australasian Gannets have a wing span of up to 2 metres and an average weight of 2kgs. Whilst ungainly on land, these birds are designed for graceful flying and diving from great heights into the sea to catch fish. As the birds are migratory, the first trip for the new chicks is to Australia where they stay for 2 - 3 years before they return to New Zealand to live..
| Cape Kidnappers Property and Farm Tour |
| No visit to The Farm at Cape Kidnappers is complete without a tour of this 6,000 acre working sheep and cattle farm. Explore this magnificent property in four-wheel drive comfort or, for the more adventurous, try a quad bike tour. |
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| Walking Trails |
| Whether your pleasure is a short stroll, an early morning jog, or a long walk, the rural property surrounding Cape Kidnappers has something for you. Walk to the 200 year old Kahikatea tree or jog or walk along Trigg Road which overlooks truly amazing Hawke's Bay views. For a longer walk, head out to the Kanuka Block and enjoy beautiful native bush and inspirational views of the Pacific Ocean. Please contact Reception to order a snack pack of light refreshments and a trail map. Guided walks of the property can also be arranged. |
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| Gannet Colony |
| Cape Kidnappers is the home of the largest, most accessible mainland colony of gannets in the world. The 20,000 gannets at the Cape are members of the Booby family, with distinctive black eye markings and a pale gold crown. Gannets are sized midway between a sea gull and an albatross. Visitors to the colony will see adults and young nesting in rows, carrying out their daily routine. The birds can be seen from September until early May, when they leave New Zealand for Australia. In September they return and build their nests, ready for the hatching of chicks during December and January. |
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| Spa |
| We invite you to relax, rejuvenate and revive your body and spirit at the Cape Kidnappers Spa. Located on the hillside above the Lodge, the treatment rooms feature amazing views across the valley towards the sea or over the pine forest to snow crowned Mount Ruapehu. Choose from a variety of treatments including massage, foot reflexology, body wraps, facials, pedicures, manicures and hair care. |
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| Golf |
| Enjoy this stunning setting while playing our top New Zealand golf course, designed by the legendary golf architect Tom Doak. The par 71 golf course measures 7,119 yards (6,510 meters) and will challenge golfers of all skill levels. Completed in 2004, Cape Kidnappers has been hailed as one of the great modern marvels in golf and is currently ranked the 41st best golf course in the world by Golf Magazine. To view the interactive course guide click here. Learn more about the Kiwi Challenge. |
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| Picnic Sites |
| Take one of our picnic hampers and visit some of the secluded and picturesque picnic spots on the Cape Kidnappers property. We can drive you from the Lodge or you may prefer to walk a well-marked trail. Maps are available at reception. |
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| Four Wheel Drive Experience |
| Our local farmer and a 4-wheel-drive specialist can guide guests on adventure tours and provide individual 4-wheel-drive instruction. Our specialists can accompany guests to unique locations, ranging from private beaches to the top of the 3rd Hill - a spectacular place to see the sunrise. |
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| ATV Quad Biking |
| Take control of the throttle and ride with your guide over the stunning 6,000 acre sheep and cattle farm. These vehicles are an excellent way to explore off the beaten path with the aid of an experienced guide. Drivers must be a minimum of 16 years of age to operate a Quad Bike. |
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| Mountain Bikes |
| Explore and enjoy our 6,000 acres of The Farm at Cape Kidnappers by bike. Adult's and children's mountain bikes are available for guest use. |
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| Kiwi Discovery Walks |
Kiwi Discovery Walks are now part of the Cape Kidnappers Guest Activity Program. Lodge guests are able to take part in a very special activity with Kiwi expert Dr. John McLennan and his team. Dr. McLennan and team offer small groups of guests guided tours, using their radio tracking and monitoring devices. Guests get the chance to get up-close to one of New Zealand's most endangered and rare birds.
This activity is no longer available during wintertime due to a recent storm in the Hawke's Bay. Kiwi Discovery Walks will be available again from November 1st, 2011 until April 30th, 2012. Activity available all the week except Sunday. |
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http://www.kidnappersescape.co.nz
http://www.capekidnappers.com
