Ruapekapeka — Uncover the Fortification Secrets
Decipher the ingenious Māori fortification plans that turned Ruapekapeka Pā into an unbreakable fortress against British artillery. Solve the military secrets of chiefs Hone Heke and Kawiti.
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
In 1845, during the Northern War, Māori chiefs Hone Heke and Kawiti unleashed a revolutionary strategy in Kaikohe
Ruapekapeka — Uncover the Fortification Secrets
You are a historical cryptographer, specializing in forgotten battle plans, in present-day Kaikohe, New Zealand.
In 1845, during the Northern War, Māori chiefs
Ruapekapeka — The invisible fortress of the Ngāpuhi
« Kia mate a Uenuku ki te pō, kia ora a Kahukura i te ao. »— Māori Proverb (sacrifice and renewal)
The art of Māori warfare
The Northern War saw the development of highly sophisticated Māori defensive fortifications, known as pā. Unlike earlier pā, these were specifically engineered to withstand cannon fire, featuring intricate trench systems, underground bunkers, and palisades designed to absorb impact. The Battle of Ōhaeawai (June-July 1845) demonstrated the effectiveness of these new designs, where British forces suffered heavy casualties against a well-fortified pā. This battle highlighted the innovative military tactics employed by chiefs like Hone Heke and Te Ruki Kawiti.
The pinnacle of Māori military engineering was the Ruapekapeka Pā, built by Te Ruki Kawiti. This 'flying fox's nest' pā was a masterpiece of camouflage and defensive strategy, featuring bomb-proof shelters and multiple layers of palisades. The final battle in January 1846 saw the British besiege the pā, but the Māori defenders executed a strategic withdrawal on a Sunday, leaving the impression of abandonment, only to re-engage the British on their entry. This clever manoeuvre, though leading to the pā's eventual capture, underscored the ingenuity and adaptability of Māori warfare.
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.
The game downloads to your phone on start. Once the "✓ Downloaded" indicator appears, everything works without data — narration, AR, GPS and puzzles. Perfect abroad without a data plan.
Want to go deeper?
Places tied to your adventure — optional entries, totally up to you · per person
The Route
5-10 curated sites across the territory
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 · 14,90€No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒 Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
Practical info
Why this route?
Decipher the fortress plans
Unravel the secrets of Māori defensive engineering against colonial artillery.
Follow the footsteps of Māori strategists
Understand the war tactics that outsmarted the enemy.
Relive the fury and ingenuity of the Northern War
The best defense is a well-designed strategy.
Elucidate the military genius that protected Māori lands.
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
Q01Ruapekapeka — Uncover the Fortification Secrets — is it a guided trail or a free-form hunt?
It's a semi-guided trail: GPS points you to the next stop, but you find the camera clue and solve the puzzle yourself. No app to install, everything runs in your browser.
Q02How far do you walk in Kaikohe, Northland?
Usually 2 to 4 km of total walking, within 1.5 km as the crow flies from the start point. The route is designed to be walkable at a relaxed pace, no public transport needed.
Q03Can we do Ruapekapeka — Uncover the Fortification Secrets as a family with kids?
Yes, from age 6 with an adult reading puzzles aloud, and from age 12 on their own. Kids love the "find the camera clue" part — it's very visual, gets them genuinely involved.
Q04What's the best time to start?
Morning between 10 and 11, or early afternoon around 2 PM, is ideal. You still have daylight ahead, Kaikohe, Northland is less crowded, and the light is better for camera clues.
Avis des aventuriers
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Your turn to play
The Northern War revealed unsuspected tactical genius. Reconstruct the 'Ruapekapeka Codex', the secret plan of the impregnable fortifications. Your observations in Kaikohe are crucial to uncovering the secrets of Māori military engineering. Elucidate the enigmas and reveal the strategies that defied the Empire!
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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