Amazing Upcountry Maui – Explore Upcountry Hidden Gems
Start with the famous West Mountain Valley recognized as a very special place for both its spiritual value and spectacular scenery followed by the Kepaniwai Park & Heritage Gardens, known for its unique and beautiful park with various ethnic groups of Hawaii by displaying a building for each one. West Mountain Valley State Monument is the place to be if you like the tropical flora of Hawaii. Take a walk on the West Mountain Valley Lookout Trail and Ethnobotanical Loop to learn about the plants that Hawaiians brought. West Mountain Valley State Monument also has historical relevance as the site of the battle of Kepaniwai where Kamehameha I defeated the Maui army in 1790.
Next stop;
Our second stop is at the Lavender farm, where you get to choose from either a self-guided walking tour, Guided cart tour (needs to be arranged ahead of time for additional charge of $25, so please let us know when making reservation) for an extended journey around 13.5-acres, allowing you an exclusive look at the farm from the seat of our five-passenger vehicle.
Created by Agricultural Artist and Horticultural Master, Ali’i Chang, this 13.5-acre farm resides at an elevation of roughly 4000 ft. and is home to approximately 55,000 lavender plants and 25 different varieties of lavender. You’ll find also Olive trees, Hydrangea, Protea, succulents and an exceptional variety of other plants on the farm, which offers the first and only Lavender Lifestyle experience on Maui. Thriving in Kula’s Mediterranean climate, lavender blooms year-round in the cool, dry climate on the Haleakala slopes.
Every step on the farm comes with stunning views, panoramic out-of-this-world landscapes, birds-eye views of the Maui central valley, you will learn about the flora and fauna that exist nowhere else in the world.
Another stop;
Our last but not least stop is at the Botanical Garden located on the slopes of Haleakala volcanic crater. This site encompasses 8 acres of colorful and unique plants, amazing rock formations, a covered bridge, waterfalls, koi pond, aviary, and new attractions including the carved tiki exhibit. The garden has hundreds of varieties of plants for you to enjoy and photograph. Plants are labeled with their botanical name, common name, and country of origin. Included in the garden is a collection of native Hawaiian plants. You might especially enjoy the Jackson Chameleon exhibit, native Nene geese, and aviary. This Botanical Garden also features a gift shop with made-in-Hawaii items and items of botanical interest. We also offer snacks for sale, restrooms, and a comfortable deck with a beautiful view.
We’re staying on Haleakala slopes on the way down, coming through old Painiolo (Cowboy) town and Paia (Hippie town) located on the North Shore of Maui which is a mecca to the windsurfing, kitesurfing and surfing world. There are professional surfing competitions held here, and on just about any day with the wind (most) you can watch pros doing their thing.
Make sure to bring warm clothes, a camera or a video camera to view one of the most beautiful sights in the world. You can count on your friendly, professional chauffeur to be your photographer and cater to your every need.
Facts and Requirements
- Operates: Friday
- Tour Times: Morning – flexible
- Departure Point: Pick-up & drop-off from hotel or condo or pickup from Kahului harbor. Napili or Kapalua with extra charge
- Included in Mini Bus tour: Admission to the state park, all farms admission, Ham & Cheese sandwiches, Snacks, Hawaiian Juice, and Maui Gold Pineapple, and Bottled water.
- Duration: up to 6 hours
- Recommended: Bring walking shoes, sunscreen, sunglasses and a camera, warm clothes.
- Restrictions: Kids are welcome. Participants must be physically and mentally capable of following instructions given by our private guide.
Mercedes Benz Sprinter High Roof, Long Version for your comfort
Mercedes Sprinter passenger bus with a high roof, the extended version is big enough for up to 14 people with a piece of luggage.
JudyHamel –
3 most beautiful and interesting spots in Maui in one day in a luxury way! Wow, we had a great time. Celebrating our 15th wedding anniversary, we booked this incredible adventure through Stardust Hawaii. We rode in a Mercedes S-class and couldn’t be treated better. During our luxury ride we sampled some great local food, drinks and enjoyed amazing upcountry views! There is no better way of celebrating our anniversary!
I.K., Villa Park, IL –
Our trip to Hawaii was simply amazing. It was four of us, my wife and our teenage boy. We were not sure if our trip to Iao Valley, the ocean vodka distillery, and Alii lavender farm would be the best fit for our boy, as he easily gets bored, but it was a blast. We did it the luxury way in an S-class mercedes (we didn’t want to be jammed on a bus with other strangers). Thanks to our very knowledgeable guy through Stardust Hawaii, our boy enjoyed this trip as much my wife and I did. He knew exactly how to approach our son, he was funny, entertaining, knowledgeable, and friendly. I would recommend only going on trips in Maui this way, and not any other way. BTW our child really liked the free drinks during our ride
Sammy1345 –
We were so happy Iao Valley was open again, as we heard it was closed due to a flooding. Our guide had so many interesting facts to share with us during our adventure. We truly enjoyed the local culture and the ride itself, it’s great to avoid a big bus crowd.
TroyT –
All three stops were amazing. The ride was super cool and the whole experience was unforgettable. Will come back for another ride.