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Philip Garside Books
Pilgrimage Aotearoa | Haerenga Tapu Aotearoa - eBooks.
Pilgrimage Aotearoa | Haerenga Tapu Aotearoa - eBooks.
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Pilgrimage Aotearoa | Haerenga Tapu Aotearoa:
Your Guide to 100 New Zealand Sites
By Jenny Boyack and John Hornblow
Pilgrimage Aotearoa | Haerenga Tapu Aotearoa offers readers a guide to 100 unique sites in New Zealand, blending history, culture, and spirituality.
It invites you on a journey of reflection and discovery, uncovering the rich stories that make these places significant to the nation’s identity and soul.
This book:
- Will help you discover 100 meaningful sites across New Zealand, each with spiritual, cultural, or historical significance.
- Offers deeper insight into Aotearoa’s heritage and landscape through reflective travel.
- Is perfect for both solo and group pilgrimages, offering guidance for various journeys.
- Encourages personal growth and spiritual connection through reflection.
- Provides practical tips for planning a pilgrimage, including routes and hidden gems.
- Connects readers with stories that enrich their understanding of the land and people.
- Is ideal for travellers looking to experience New Zealand beyond the usual tourist spots.
Features
- A guide to 100 unique pilgrimage sites across New Zealand.
- In-depth descriptions of each location’s spiritual, historical, and cultural context.
- Practical tips for planning and navigating pilgrimages.
- Includes reflections and prompts for personal growth and contemplation.
- Beautifully written with vivid, engaging narratives for each destination.
You are buying a PDF eBook edition of this 232 page A5 book
ISBN 9781991027542
Colour photos throughout
Philip Garside Publishing Ltd (2024)
Click to: Order the print edition
Click the link for a short video about the book
Description
Pilgrimage Aotearoa is your essential companion for discovering the spiritual, historical, and cultural treasures of New Zealand. Written by Jenny Boyack and John Hornblow, this guidebook takes readers on an inspiring journey through 100 unique sites across Aotearoa, each with its own story of significance.
Whether you’re looking to explore sacred spaces, historic landmarks, or natural wonders, Pilgrimage Aotearoa offers insight into how these locations can enrich your soul and connect you more deeply with the land.
This book is perfect for travellers seeking more than just scenery, providing a pathway for reflection, growth, and meaningful connection with both people and place.
It features practical tips for planning your pilgrimage, from recommended routes to hidden gems, and thoughtful reflections that invite you to contemplate your personal journey.
Each site is brought to life with vivid descriptions and historical context, illuminating the deep roots of spirituality and heritage that make Aotearoa unique.
Whether you’re embarking on a solo pilgrimage or exploring with friends and family, Pilgrimage Aotearoa is an inspiring guide to experiencing the deeper meaning of your journey.
• • •
Praise for Pilgrimage Aoteaoroa
See full reviews texts here:
https://philipgarsidebooks.com/pages/praise-for-pilgrimage-aotearoa
Review in Tui Motu InterIslands March 2025
by Thomas and William Hassan Walker
"Pilgrimage Aotearoa is about visiting places in New Zealand and looking at them in a new way. For each place, the authors include a story, directions and a reflection. The places in the book are not necessarily “holy” places — some are churches but there are also memorials, monuments and places in nature.
To try the book out, over the school holidays we walked into Dunedin city and visited three of the places: the Thomas Bracken Memorial, First Church (Presbyterian) and St Paul’s Cathedral (Anglican). We found the “story” sections really helpful — we’ve lived in Dunedin all our lives but we never knew the national anthem was written in Dunedin or that St Paul’s was built because one priest and the community campaigned for it.
We used to think going on a pilgrimage meant travelling a long way to holy places. Now we know that you can go on a pilgrimage in your hometown — you just have to think about the place you’re going to and why you’re going.
This book would appeal to people who love to walk, who are curious about Aotearoa, and who might not be keen or able to go on an overseas pilgrimage but still want the experience."
• • •
Review in Touchstone February 2025
By Rev Tony Franklin-Ross
“Many of us have appreciated the concept of pilgrimages, and may even have undertaken pilgrimages ourselves.
We might associate pilgrimages with overseas locations, often being a multi-day physical walk covering long distances – such as the famous Camino in Spain or St Cuthbert’s Way in England. Or even a day walking a ‘pilgrimage’ in central London in the footsteps of John Wesley, comprehending something of the context of his life and ministry.
Might we miss the opportunities for pilgrimage within our own Aotearoa, unexpected gems? Admittedly there are not many multi-day walking pilgrimage routes in Aotearoa New Zealand (excluding national park hiking tracks). But there are many sites that the warrant a stop while touring by road, or knitting together a series of visits while driving in a region. There are even possibilities of urban day-walk pilgrimages in our major cities.
To aid this discovery, Pilgrimage Aotearoa / Haerenga Tapu Aotearoa offers readers a unique guide to 100 sites in Aotearoa New Zealand, blending history, culture and spirituality. It invites you on an inspiring journey of reflection and discovery, uncovering rich stories that make these places significant to our country’s identity and soul…”
About the Authors

Jenny Boyack and John Hornblow have been involved with pilgrimages for many years and believe that, in a broad sense, we are always ‘on pilgrimage’.
For over a decade they have planned and led a range of pilgrimages within Aotearoa New Zealand, and overseas in Israel and Palestine; Italy (Franciscan); England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland (Celtic); and Greece and Turkey. They have also been involved with St George’s College in Jerusalem and the Anglican Centre in Rome, both centres for pilgrimage. In 2015 John spoke at the Second Global Conference on Sacred Journeys held at Mansfield College, Oxford University, England. In 2017 they walked 150 km of the Camino Santiago de Compostela in Spain.
John is a retired Priest in All Saints’ Anglican Parish, Palmerston North, a former Deputy Mayor of Palmerston North, and in his working life, director of a human resource company. Jenny is organist and choir director at All Saints, and is now retired from a career in music and teacher education.
Jenny and John are married and have seven adult children and twelve grandchildren.
Contents
Introduction
Pilgrimage in Aotearoa New Zealand
Christian pilgrimage
Engaging with a site
A poem On the Road by Joy Cowley
1 — Northland
- Oihi Bay, Rangihoua
- Ruatara - A story
- Wesleydale, Kaeo
- Kerikeri Mission Sites
- Waitangi Treaty Grounds
- Henry Williams - A story
- St Paul’s Anglican Church, Paihia
- Christ Church, Russell
- Pompallier Printery Russell
- Te Waimate Mission and St John the Baptist Church
- Holy Trinity Church, Pakaraka
- St Michael’s Anglican Church, Ngawha
- Māngungu Mission House, South Hokianga
- Manea, Opononi
- Totara Point, North Hokianga
- Hāta Maria/St Mary’s Church, North Hokianga
- Statue of Dame Whina Cooper, Panguru, North Hokianga
2 — Auckland
- Rotoroa Island, Hauraki Golf
- Vaughan Park Anglican Retreat Centre, Long Bay
- Patuone’s Grave, Devonport
- Understanding Colonisation
- Studio of St John the Baptist, Takapuna
- Holy Trinity Cathedral, Parnell
- St Stephen’s Chapel, Taurarua (Judges Bay)
Auckland Inner City Walking Pilgrimage
- St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church
- St Paul’s Anglican Church
- Auckland Baptist Tabernacle
- Pitt Street Methodist Church
- St Matthew-in-the-City Anglican Church
- St Patricks Catholic Cathedral
3 — Waikato
Te Awamutu Driving Pilgrimage
- Pirongia Heritage and Information Centre
- Alexandra Redoubt, Pirongia
- Old St John’s Church, Te Awamutu
- Rangiaowhia Catholic Mission
- St Paul’s Anglican Church, Rangiaowhia
- Monument for Burned Whare, Rangiaowhia
Matamata/Waharoa Driving Pilgrimage
- Wairere Falls
- Tārore’s Grave, Waharoa
- Peria
4 — Bay of Plenty
- Te Papa Tauranga/The Elms
- St George’s Church, Gate Pā, Tauranga
- St Faith’s Church, Ōhinemutu, Rotorua
- Spencer Mausoleum, Lake Tarawera
- Te Kai Whakaora/St Saviour’s Anglican Church, Rūātoki
- Historic Presbyterian Sites, Ruatāhuna
5 — East Coast / Hawke’s Bay
- Padre Hēnare Wepiha Te Wainohu Memorial, Wairoa
- Toiroa’s Vision, Māhia Peninsula
- Eskdale War Memorial Church, Esk Valley, Napier
6 — Taupo
- St Paul’s Anglican Church, Tokaanu
7 — Taranaki
- Mere Tapu/St Mary’s Cathedral, New Plymouth
- Parihaka - A story
8 — Whanganui
- Jerusalem/Hiruhārama, Whanganui River
- St Paul’s Memorial Church, Pūtiki
- Rātana Temple, Rātana
9 — Rangitikei
- Hadfield’s Grave, Tutu Totara
10 — Manawatu
- Te Marae o Hine/The Square, Palmerston North
- Te Rangimarie Marae, Rangiotū
11 — Horowhenua
- Sacred Monastery of the Holy Archangels, Levin
- Rangiātea Church, Ōtaki
- St Mary’s Catholic Church/Pukekaraka, Ōtaki
12 — Wairarapa
- Greek Orthodox Church, Masterton
- ANZAC Walkway and site of the first ANZAC service, Tinui
13 — Wellington
- Christ Church, Taitā, Lower Hutt
Wellington City Walking Pilgrimage
- Te Aro Pā Visitor Centre
- Te Aro Park
- Wesley Methodist Church
- St Mary of the Angels Catholic Church
- National Parihaka Memorial
- Home of Compassion, Island Bay
14 — Malborough
- Wairau Affray Monuments, Tuamarina
15 – Nelson / Tasman
Nelson Walking Pilgrimage
- Christ Church Cathedral
- The cottage of Tohu and Te Whiti
- The Bishop’s School
- A poem - My House by Ana Lisa de Jong
- St Paul’s Lutheran Church, Upper Moutere
- St John’s Anglican Church, Wakefield
- Chapel of Christ by the Lake, St Arnaud
16 — Canterbury
Christchurch Earthquake Walking Pilgrimage
- Christ Church Cathedral
- CTV Earthquake Memorial Park
- Transitional (Cardboard) Cathedral
- Oxford Terrace Baptist Church
- Durham Street Methodist Church
- Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial
- Te Whare Waiutuutu Kate Sheppard House, Christchurch
- Rāpaki Church, Lyttelton Harbour
- St Luke’s Anglican Church, Little Akaloa
- Ōnuku Church, Akaroa
- Church of the Holy Innocents, Peel Forest
17 — Mackenzie District
- St Patrick’s Church, Burkes Pass
- Church of the Good Shepherd, Lake Tekapo
18 — West Coast
- St James Anglican Church, Franz Josef
19 — Otago
- St Patrick’s Church and Mary MacKillop Cottage, Arrowtown
- St John’s Presbyterian Church, Arrowtown
- St Patrick’s Basilica, Oamaru
- Kotahitanga Church, Moeraki
- Watkin Memorial, Karitāne
Dunedin City Walking Pilgrimage
- Knox Presbyterian Church
- First Church of Otago
- St Paul’s Anglican Cathedral
- Thomas Bracken Plaque
- Salvation Army Plaque
- A prayer
- Rongo Stone Memorial, Dunedin
20 — Rakiura / Stewart Island
- St Andrew’s Anglican Church, Oban
21 — Rēkohu / Chatham Islands
- Maunganui Stone Cottage
Your Place!










This is a long overdue and beautifully produced guidebook to 100 pilgrimage sites around Aotearoa New Zealand. Written with a pilgrim's heart, John Hornblow and Jenny Boyack invite us to discover and explore the rich spiritual heritage we have in our own backyard - all the way from Northland to Stewart Island and including the Chatham Islands, too! As well as providing an overview and directions, there are reflections and links for further information to enhance your experience of each place. With an introduction to pilgrimage, a comprehensive glossary, a bibliography, and beautifully illustrated throughout, this is everything a pilgrim guidebook should be and a real gift in every sense of the word.