Pāua Tour in New Zealand - Discover our Foundation Experience

We warmly welcome you to our family home on Arapaoa Island, where our passionate story with paua (the Māori name for New Zealand abalone) began.

This 90-minute pāua tour New Zealand invites you into a unique pearl farm experience, where you’ll discover a stunning island, enjoy local specialties (with optional New Zealand pāua tasting), and learn about the pāua story while exploring our sustainable pāua farm and jewellery boutique.

1. Discover a Unique Island in New Zealand

Your New Zealand pāua tour takes place in a postcard-perfect landscape, nestled among native bush and the serene beauty of Arapaoa Island. Here, we invite you to slow down, breathe in the sea air, and feel at home as part of this authentic pāua pearl experience.

2. Try Some New Zealand Specialties

Join us for morning or afternoon tea, prepared with care and homemade baking. Sharing food and stories is part of this pearl farm experience. Upon request, you can also taste New Zealand pāua for a full pāua pearl experience, a traditional delicacy (additional cost applies).

3. Learn about the Pāua Story (New Zealand’s abalones)

During your New Zealand pāua tour, you’ll learn about:

• The pearl growing process
• How we carefully grade each pearl
• The craftsmanship behind every finished piece
• Why these pāua pearls are among the rarest in the world

This part of the pāua pearl experience includes a short educational film followed by a Q&A session.

4. Immerse Yourself in the Pearl Farm Experience

A highlight of your New Zealand pāua tour is visiting our working facilities.

You’ll see adult pāua in specialised tanks featuring our innovative ‘tipper bucket’, and, depending on the season, step into our hatchery to observe juvenile pāua.

These young pāua are not raised for pearl cultivation, but for our reseeding project, a long-term initiative designed to support the natural future of Pāua in New Zealand.

This part of the pearl farm experience includes a second Q&A session.

5. Be amazed by the Pearl Jewellery Boutique & Island Heritage

Your New Zealand pāua tour continues in our pāua pearl jewellery boutique, where craftsmanship meets nature in your pāua pearl experience.

You’ll also access our intimate mini museum, where you can explore the history of Arapaoa Island and the inspiration behind our jewellery.

6. Have a Unique Island Encounter

To finish your New Zealand pāua tour we’ll introduce you to our resident longfin eels, who have called Arapaoa Island home for over 60 years. They were once loved by the children who attended the local school, now our charming School House Retreat holiday home.

• Duration: 90 minutes
• Location: Arapaoa Island, Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand
• Format: Land-based pāua pearl farm experience
• Suitable for: Ages 4 to 100+
• Catering: Morning or afternoon tea included (pāua tasting available on request.)

Spaces are limited to ensure a personalised and welcoming experience on Arapaoa Island.

We’d love to share our world of pāua with you, enquire now to join our unique pāua tour in New Zealand.

How to Get There?

Our pāua pearl experience is accessible by boat or helicopter (transport arranged at your own expense).

What accommodation options are available?

For those who wish to experience island life for a few days, we would be delighted to host you in one of our three holiday homes, The Beach House Retreat, The Gunyah Retreat, or The School House Retreat.