Haere mai (welcome) to the birthplace of Māori tourism.
Rotorua is the best place in New Zealand to experience the traditional customs, practices and beliefs of our indigenous Māori people.
Awe-inspiring and authentic, Māori cultural tours and performances provide a special view into the historic lifestyle, traditions, mythology, art, entertainment and more of Māori past and present. Watch a spine-tingling traditional pōhiri (welcoming ceremony), hear the hauntingly beautiful call of the kuia (female elder), learn to dance with poi or perform the haka. Watch as your dinner is pulled from a traditional hāngī (steam-cooked meal) straight out of the ground.
Guided walking tours through a historic living Māori village give you personal insight and history of the people who’ve inhabited this geothermal area for more than 200 years. Today nearly two dozen families live in this village and continue to utilise the same geothermal resource as their ancestors.
Bespoke half-day tours of historic locations throughout Rotorua provide in-depth lifestyle, history and mythology lessons.
No matter the options you choose, you’ll be richer for the experience.
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Puawai Jade
Māori Culture
Puawai Jade is a pounamu/greenstone carving workshop and gallery showcasing a range of beautiful jewellery, carvings and artefacts that are all made on site.
Te Pā Tū (formerly Tamaki Māori Village)
Māori Culture
Journey into the heart of Māori culture, an experience you will never forget!
Mitai Māori Village
Māori Culture
By entering the world of Mitai Māori Village you will embrace the history and culture of our people through the migration story of our ancestors, the Ngāti Ohomairangi people who voyaged across the Pacific Ocean more than 2,000 years ago and arrived in New Zealand.
Totally Tarawera
Māori Culture
Guided cultural and geothermal tours to Te Rātā Bay and Hot Water Beach, including a natural hot pool soak.
Mountain Jade
Māori Culture, Central
Discover the art of carving jade during a guided tour of a greenstone studio. Meet local artists as they craft jade by hand, and immerse yourself in the sights, sounds and atmosphere of a carving workshop.
Geyser By Night at Te Puia
Māori Culture
When darkness falls, the true love story of the city's geothermal wonderland comes to life.
Te Puia
Māori Culture
Discover one of New Zealand’s most magnificent geothermal wonderlands and Māori cultural centres.
Whakarewarewa - The Living Māori Village
Māori Culture
Home of the Tuhourangi and Ngāti Wahiao people and located on a geothermal plateau, Whakarewarewa Village is New Zealand’s oldest continuous Māori tourism experience, even pre-dating the world-famous Pink and White Terraces.
Buried Village of Te Wairoa
Māori Culture, East
New Zealand’s most-visited archaeological site where stories of the 1886 Mt Tarawera eruption come to life.
Hell's Gate Geothermal Park & Mud Spa
Māori Culture, East
Hell’s Gate is Rotorua’s most active geothermal reserve and New Zealand’s only mud spa complex.
Ahu Boutique - Adrienne Whitewood
Māori Culture, Central
Inspired by Māori art and culture, Adrienne Whitewood takes traditional concepts and invents unique silhouettes exploring fabric manipulation and technology. Her ethos is about creating wearable clothing for women who want an emotional connection to what they're wearing. All designed right here in Rotorua.
Kahukiwi Experiences 4WD Culture Tour
Māori Culture, Central
Based in the sacred Te Takinga Marae in Rotorua, Kahukiwi Experiences offers a never-before-seen window into the landscapes, ways of life and heritage of the Ngāti Pikiao tribe. Discover the true essence of Aotearoa – discover Kahukiwi.