WHAKAREWAREWA

Experience the traditional Maori way of life as you visit the Whakarewarewa Village in Rotorua during your New Zealand trip! Enjoy wonderful cultural performances and learn more about their customs and traditions. Taste the flavors of a traditional Hangi lunch meal, prepared via geothermal steam!

Te Puia’s Te Rā Guided Experience takes you on a 90-minute tour through one of New Zealand’s most remarkable geothermal landscapes. You’ll start by visiting the Te Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley, home to the world-famous Pohutu Geyser, which can erupt up to 30 meters high. The valley is dotted with boiling mud pools, and your guide will explain the geothermal wonders of the area. Next, step into the Māori Arts and Crafts Institute, where you’ll see master carvers and weavers at work. Learn about the skills passed down through generations as you witness intricate wood, bone, and greenstone carvings in progress. You’ll also get an up-close look at flax weaving and the traditional techniques used to create everyday Māori items. During the tour, you’ll visit a kiwi conservation center, where the rare and nocturnal national bird of New Zealand is protected. Cameras are not allowed, so this moment will stay in your memory, rather than on your phone. Your experience concludes with a visit to a marae, a traditional Māori meeting house, and a guided exploration of the village.

This Te Puia experience combines geothermal wonders with rich Māori culture and an indulgent buffet meal. Begin your guided tour of Te Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley, where you’ll be awed by the power of Pohutu Geyser—the largest active geyser in the Southern Hemisphere. Your guide will take you through bubbling mud pools, steaming craters, and the Kiwi Conservation Center, where you’ll get a rare chance to see this nocturnal bird. You’ll also stop at the Māori Arts and Crafts Institute, where expert carvers and weavers demonstrate their craft, preserving Māori traditions for future generations. Here, you’ll have a chance to learn about the meanings behind various Māori designs and carvings. Following your tour, head to the dining hall for a buffet meal cooked using the traditional hāngī method. You’ll feast on slow-cooked chicken, seafood, and vegetables, along with a variety of other dishes, all infused with the earthy flavors of the hāngī pit. The fusion of Māori and international flavors is a culinary highlight that will round out your cultural experience perfectly. Enjoy the blend of nature, culture, and cuisine, all within one unforgettable day.

Join a guided tour through Whakarewarewa Geothermal Valley, led by a local descendant of the village’s first guides. As you walk through the village, you’ll see how the Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao people rely on geothermal energy for everyday life. Watch how they cook traditional meals in natural steam vents and soak in hot pools. Your guide will explain how geothermal forces have shaped the land and lifestyle, including the Pōhutu geyser—the largest in the southern hemisphere—that erupts regularly, sending boiling water and steam up to 30 meters into the air. Geothermal wonders and cultural heritage You’ll visit sacred Māori landmarks, including the village Marae (meeting grounds), where the community still gathers for important events, and burial grounds honoring those lost in World War II. Your guide will offer insights into the village’s unique blend of ancient traditions and modern life, and how the landscape is constantly evolving with new hot pools and steam vents. The experience offers a deeper understanding of how the Māori people have adapted to live in harmony with the land for centuries, right in the heart of an active geothermal zone.

Dive deep into Māori culture with Te Puia’s Te Rā Guided Experience and Haka Combo. The adventure begins with a 90-minute tour of Te Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley, where you’ll marvel at Pohutu Geyser’s eruptions and the bubbling mud pools scattered across the landscape. Your guide will also lead you through the Māori Arts and Crafts Institute, where you’ll watch talented artisans crafting wood, bone, and greenstone masterpieces, as well as flax weaving demonstrations. Your journey continues with a special 30-minute haka performance. Feel the intensity of the pōwhiri (welcome ceremony), where tribal warriors challenge guests in an ancient ritual, before watching the powerful and famous haka dance. Along with the haka, you’ll enjoy Māori chants, songs (waiata), and poi performances—an unforgettable display of cultural pride and unity. Wrap up the tour with a visit to the Kiwi Conservation Center, where you can quietly observe these iconic, endangered birds. This experience combines geothermal wonder, cultural immersion, and exhilarating performances in one action-packed day.

Whakarewarewa Valley, home to the Māori people for centuries, is known for its unparalleled hot and bubbling geothermal landscape. It is home to lakes, national parks, waterfalls, and the grand Mount Tarawera, which erupted in 1886, giving rise to Waimangu in the Rotorua region. For those waiting to explore New Zealand’s hottest attractions, this Volcanic Adventure is for you! Helicopter Flight Over Geothermal Reserves Hop onto a helicopter and soar like a bird above the fascinating scenery. Learn of the pink and white terraces that once stood here, and uncover the exciting features that remain. Look below at the spectacular views of crater lakes like the Inferno Crater Lake, flanked by hot pools. Admire the 65-meter-tall Tarawera Falls, and notice the vibrant cliffs of the Waimangu and Wai-O-Tapu reserves along the Pacific Rim of Fire. Mount Tarawera Summit Land on Mount Tarawera and enjoy high-altitude views of the natural lakes and waterfalls. Follow your guide up to the summit on a 15-20 minute leisurely walking tour. Hear the legends surrounding the volcanic region and observe vibrant biodiversity on the journey to the top. At the peak, experience the thrilling 360-panoramic landscape, offering the perfect opportunity for an unforgettable photograph!