Kapiti Island — Te Rauparaha's Forgotten Haka
Uncover the lost haka of Te Rauparaha, the fearsome Ngāti Toa chief who ruled Kapiti. Decipher clues hidden at his pā sites, whaling stations, and sacred monuments to reveal the chant's deadly secret before it fades forever.
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
In the early 19th century, Te Rauparaha, the cunning Ngāti Toa chief, conquered Kapiti Island and made it his fortress
Kapiti Island — Te Rauparaha's Forgotten Haka
You are Te Pēhi Kupe, senior chief of Ngāti Toa, disembarking on Kapiti Island in the early 19th century.
Your mission: to retrace the origins
Dive into the heart of Kapiti Island, where the war chief Te Rauparaha forged his floating empire and the echo of the Haka Ka Mate still resonates.
« I die, I die! I live, I live! »— Te Rauparaha, Haka Ka Mate, composition attributed to Te Rauparaha after his escape from enemies, early 19th century — Dictionary of New Zealand Biography and Ngāti Toa sources
The story that haunts this land
Your journey begins at Waiorua Bay, Kapiti Island, a historic bay where Te Rauparaha and Ngāti Toa established their strategic base in the early 19th century. It was here that the Battle of Waiorua, mentioned in Ngāti Toa sources, took place, with Te Rauparaha fighting against great odds during the absence of Chief Ariki Te Pēhi. These waters were the anchorage for Ngāti Toa war canoes, which controlled the Cook Strait as a 'floating empire'. Exploring this bay connects you directly to the audacity and resilience of the Māori warriors who shaped the history of Wellington, New Zealand, during a time of intense conflict.
Next, the Kapiti Island Summit Track leads you across Kapiti Island, 5 km long and 2 km wide, a strategic fortress for Ngāti Toa against threats from Ngāti Kahungunu and Ngāti Apā. It was on this land that Te Pēhi Kupe, senior chief of Ngāti Toa, surprised and defeated Muaūpoko, according to the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, securing control of the island. The trail offers you a perspective on the military importance of Kapiti Island and the strategic vision of its chiefs, key elements of the region's Māori heritage.
The route takes you to Te Rere Stream, Kapiti Island, a natural watercourse located within the Kapiti Island Nature Reserve, a conservation area since the 19th century. While this site is critical habitat for endemic New Zealand species, it was also a historical refuge for Māori populations. Fresh water and dense vegetation offered shelter and vital resources, highlighting the balance between wildlife and ancient human occupation on this Kapiti Island conservation. Here you perceive the integration of the Ngāti Toa Rangitikei with their natural environment.
Your exploration continues to the Waiorua Village Site, Kapiti Island, an archaeological site of ancient Māori settlement. This was a place of residence for Ngāti Toa warriors and families during their strategic occupation of the island. These remains of prehistoric and protohistoric Māori human occupation are silent witnesses to the lives led here, the strategies developed, and the traditions passed down. By visiting this place, you gain a tangible connection to the daily life of the Ngāti Toa and the importance of this site for Māori cultural heritage.
Finally, the Waiorua Marae, Kapiti Island, represents the cultural and spiritual center of Ngāti Toa, a place for the transmission of oral traditions, chants, and haka. It is here that the Ka Mate, attributed to Te Rauparaha after his escape from enemies in the early 19th century, continues to resonate. Your journey will have immersed you in the Māori Wars of the 19th century, revealing the power and significance of Te Rauparaha's Māori heritage. You take away from Kapiti Island not only knowledge of a territory, but also an understanding of a living culture, embodied by the Haka Ka Mate historical site and the indomitable spirit of the Ngāti Toa.
A game, a guided tour and a heritage guide — all in one
You're not just buying an escape game. You're carrying a living guide — historical anecdotes, forgotten legends, key monuments, hidden architecture — unfolding as you go.
At each stop, places ordinary guides miss — secret façades, sculpted crests, alleys steeped in history.
Every riddle is rooted in a real historical fact or local legend. You leave with dozens of stories to tell.
Learn to read buildings — flamboyant Gothic, Baroque, Art Deco — like a real art historian, while having fun.
Walk through the city like a novel's character — every alley becomes a stage, every square a theatre.
A voice walks with you at every step, tells the story of each place, reads clues, adds a cinematic feel.
Keep access to the guide & game for 1 year. Come back any time, share it with friends.
« You will not leave this city the way you entered it. »
How does it work?
Explore the city on foot solving puzzles based on real historical facts. No locked room — the city is your playground.
No app to download. Play directly from your browser. Guided step by step, at your own pace.
One purchase per phone is enough. Play with family, friends or as a couple — everyone participates.
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears and speaks to you in your language. Golden letters magically write themselves on the wall to reveal the puzzle answer.
Stuck? Progressive personalised hints. The character repeats the puzzle on demand — at your own pace.
French, English, German, Spanish, Italian + 27 other languages auto-translated by AI.
Want to go deeper?
Places tied to your adventure — optional entries, totally up to you · per person
The Route
8 stages through the city
The gameplay: AR, camera, hidden clues
At each stop, open your phone camera: an augmented reality character appears on the façade and speaks your language. Hunt the clue — it materializes as golden letters on the real wall or floats in front of you. When you find it, the phone vibrates, an AR chest opens and reveals your answer fragment. 8 stops, 8 clues to find with the camera, 1 final code.
The stops on your route are a surprise. You'll discover them one by one, guided by your phone, starting from the meeting point.
How does it work with a group?
One phone = one team. Pick the number at checkout (1 to 10).
Solo, or a group sharing the screen. One team, one code.
Family, couple, or 2-3 teams competing. Each phone has its own code and its own score.
Friends, bachelor/bachelorette, small office outing — each their own code, each plays at their own pace. Tiered pricing then €6 flat per phone from the 6th.
- ✓All codes are independent — play at the same time OR separately, each team advances at its own pace.
- ✓Leaderboard between your teams + global game leaderboard — each score appears in the public ranking.
- ✓More than 10 phones or need a personalized quest? Discover custom tours.
Ready to live this adventure?
Get my code · 12€No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒 Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
Practical info
Why this route?
Māori Heritage
Explore the traditions, myths, and tales of a people with deep roots.
Island Sanctuary
Discover the unique biodiversity and preserved landscapes of this sacred island.
Warrior's Words
Uncover the secrets of the chants and haka that forged Te Rauparaha's spirit.
The ancestors' chant awaits your voice.
Bring the forgotten haka back to life.
9 features nobody else has
OddballTrip combines gamified play, augmented reality and AI. All our competitors deliver 1 or 2 of these angles. We deliver all 5.
AR treasure chest
A golden chest floats in front of the monument. Tap → opening animation → reveals a secret message.
AR narrator character
Point your phone at the façade: a knight, witch, monk, sailor, detective or ghost appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language with their dedicated ElevenLabs voice (each character has their own unique voice) — your living guide.
Magic golden letters
At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's the puzzle answer. An unforgettable visual effect.
Written + audio narration
Every puzzle available as text AND voice-over: read at your own pace or listen eyes-free while walking. Great in groups and for accessibility.
360° radar + vibration
A mini-radar shows the target even behind you, and the phone vibrates when you aim in the right direction.
Heritage storytelling
Every puzzle weaves in real historical facts (architecture, era, anecdotes). You learn by playing — like a gamified audioguide.
Progressive AI hints
3 levels of AI-generated help: vibe → where to look → answer format. You're never stuck.
AR selfie memento
At the end of the game, capture a selfie with OddballTrip banner + mascot, shareable on Instagram, TikTok.
Zero app to install
PWA technology: open the link, it plays in your browser. Same quality as an app, no App Store hassle.
Frequently asked questions
Q01Do I need to download an app?
No, never. You get a link, you click, it plays in your browser. That's the point of a PWA: same as an app, without the hassle.
Q02Does it work offline?
GPS yes (handled by your phone). Maps yes (tiles cached). AI and hints need an intermittent 4G connection.
Q03How long does a game take?
1 h 30 to 2 h 30 depending on your pace. The timer runs but only for the leaderboard — you play at your own tempo.
Q04What happens if I'm stuck?
You get 3 levels of hints per puzzle (increasing penalty). If truly stuck, you can skip the step (45-min penalty but you keep going).
Q05What's the age range?
From 12 without an adult, from 6 with an adult reading puzzles. Works for families, couples, friend groups, companies.
Q06What if my city isn't in the catalogue?
Pre-register or contact us — we'll email you as soon as your city is live.
Q07What is augmented reality exactly?
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language. At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's your answer. After each puzzle solved, a treasure chest floats in front of you. Seeing is believing.
Avis des aventuriers
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Your turn to play
Dive into the heart of Kapiti Island, where the war chief Te Rauparaha forged his floating empire and the echo of the Haka Ka Mate still resonates.
1 purchase = 1 phone. Play several on the same device.
No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
🪙+24 TripCoins granted with your booking
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