Authentic Māori Cultural

Experiences in Rotorua

Discover the heart of Māori culture in Rotorua, where powerful stories, traditional performances, and living history bring New Zealand’s indigenous heritage to life.

Māori, the indigenous people of Aotearoa (New Zealand), have a proud and enduring culture that spans more than 1,000 years. Their deep connection to the land, language, and customs continues to shape the identity of the nation today. Rotorua is one of the most accessible and immersive places to engage with Māori traditions. From guided village experiences and cultural performances to hāngi feasts and storytelling, this region offers a variety of ways to connect with the living culture of Māori. Each experience provides a different lens, helping you leave Rotorua with a deeper understanding and respect for the people and values that have shaped New Zealand.

TE PĀ TŪ ( formerly called Tamaki)

  • Opening Hours: 6.15pm to 10.15pm every evening

  • Time required at TE PĀ TŪ: 4 Hours

  • Is booking required: Yes

  • How much walking: Not much walking at all

  • Is there food and drink available: Yes, food is included.

  • How far is TE PĀ TŪ from central Rotorua: Leaves from central Rotorua

Stylized text that appears to spell 'TE PAU' or similar, with bold, blocky letters.

  • During this 4-hour experience you'll feast on song, drama, tradition, and divine seasonal “kai” (cuisine) within the forest “pā” (village). You will be blanketed by towering Tawa trees, blazing bonfires, and a forest-formed amphitheater whilst you learn about the Māori lunar calendar and how the seasons played an integral role in their lives.

    • Four hours of performance, drama, and kai

    • Forest canapes

    • Complimentary chef choice aperitif

    • Three course Māori-fusion feast

    • Complimentary return transport from central city

Our Overview

TE PĀ TŪ – Rotorua’s Top-Rated Māori Cultural Experience

TE PĀ TŪ offers one of the most authentic and engaging Māori cultural experiences in Rotorua. Hosted by members of the same whānau (family), the evening feels personal and genuine—from the warm welcome to the chance to meet the performers and snap a photo together.

The interactive village experience gives visitors a glimpse into a traditional kāinga (village), with hands-on activities that invite everyone to get involved. Cultural performances, powerful haka, and beautifully crafted costumes add depth and meaning to the evening.

A standout feature is the kai (food), blending traditional Māori cooking with modern New Zealand flavours in a memorable feast.

This immersive experience offers a true connection to Māori culture—authentic, respectful, and free from commercial gimmicks—which is why it’s consistently rated as Rotorua’s number one Māori cultural evening on sites like TripAdvisor.

Te Puia

  • Opening Hours: 9.00am to 5pm daily, plus 5.30pm to 10.00pm for evening experiences

  • Average time required at Te Puia: As there are difference experiences this can range from 90 minutes to 3 hours

  • Is booking required: Yes

  • How much walking: Not much as there is a special shuttle that takes you around the park.

  • Is there food and drink available: Yes Pātaka Kai Restaurant, Bar, and Café overlooks the Pōhutu Geyser plus optional Hāngī Buffet Lunch or Dinner

  • How far is Te Puia from central Rotorua: 2.7kms (1.5 miles) around 4 minutes driving

  • Te Rā Guided Experience

    Discover New Zealand's most magnificent geothermal wonderland ‐ featuring dramatic geysers, bubbling mud, and beautiful native bush. Watch carvers and weavers demonstrate their skill at the NZ Māori Arts and Crafts Institute, and hear our guides share stories passed down from their ancestors. Te Rā Guided Experiences departs frequently throughout the day. Please note, the last entry into Te Puia is at 3.00pm each day.

    Te Rā Guided Experience + Haka (Cultural Performance)

    Includes an exhilarating cultural performance which takes place in our beautifully carved meeting house, Te Aronui a Rua. It will include a Pōhiri (Traditional Māori Welcome), Waiata (Song), Mōteatea (traditional chant), Poi and Haka. After an action packed two-hours, come and try the fresh, locally sourced dining options at Hiakai Cafe or Pātaka Kai.

    Te Pō (Indigenous Experience)

    Enjoy locally sourced cuisine with unique Māori flavours from the mouth-watering buffet followed by an exhilarating cultural performance inside a beautifully carved meeting house, Te Aronui a Rua. Finish the evening with a hot chocolate overlooking the mesmerising display of Pōhutu Geyser.

    Te Pō Combo

    The Te Pō Combo is an immersive journey into the rich heritage and natural beauty of Rotorua. Begin with an up-close encounter with North Island Brown Kiwi, observe traditional Māori carving and weaving and witness the awe-inspiring natural geothermal features. Enjoy locally sourced cuisine with unique Māori flavours from the mouth-watering buffet followed by an exhilarating cultural performance inside our beautifully carved meeting house, Te Aronui a Rua. Finish the evening with a hot chocolate overlooking the mesmerising display of Pōhutu Geyser.

    Geyser By Night - Te Puia Light Trails

    When darkness falls the true love story of Rotorua's geothermal wonderland comes to life. Until now, the magic hidden within Te Puia after hours has remained a secret that only Mother Nature has truly been exposed to. For the first time, the geothermal valley is revealed under night skies, providing a multi-sensory experience that can not be replicated anywhere else in the world. Hear the stories of the past and feel the beauty of Pōhutu in an interactive journey guided by light. Suitable for children ages 8 years or older.

    Hāngī Buffet Dinner

    Te Puia's world famous Hāngī Buffet dinner. Dining begins at 5.30pm daily, last sitting for dinner is 6.30pm.

    Hāngī Buffet Lunch

    Te Puia's world famous Hāngī Buffet lunch. Lunch begins at 11.30am daily, last sitting for lunch is 1.30pm.

Our Overview

Te Puia is one of Rotorua’s most popular attractions, located just a 4-minute drive from the city centre. It’s a must-visit for those wanting to experience both Rotorua’s geothermal wonders and the richness of Māori culture in one place.

The park features bubbling mud pools, steaming vents, and the famous Pōhutu Geyser—alongside cultural highlights such as traditional carving and weaving schools, and the chance to enjoy a hāngī meal (a traditional Māori method of cooking in the ground). A shuttle service makes it easy to explore the large site with minimal walking.

Te Puia offers both day and evening options, including cultural performances and hāngī dinners, making it a flexible and immersive experience. Due to its popularity, advance booking is recommended—especially for the evening and dining options.

If you're short on time but want to see a mix of geothermal activity and Māori culture, Te Puia is one of the best all-in-one experiences in Rotorua—just be prepared to share it with a few other visitors.

Mitai Māori Village

  • Opening Hours: 6pm every evening

  • Time required : 3 hours

  • Is booking required: Yes

  • How much walking: Small amount of walking

  • Is there food and drink available: Yes a hāngī is included

  • How far is Mitai from central Rotorua: Complimentary Transfers

  • Mitai Maori Cultural Experience & Dinner Buffet

    Enter the world of Mitai, and learn about the history of this area which was once flourished in villages. Cultural Performance & Experience! The story of the migration of Tamatekapua of the Te Arawa canoe to Aotearoa and the Māori Pacifica connection told in performing arts! Come and join us in this Māori fusion extravaganza, including a feast for the ravenous! Buffet, the delicious tempting traditional hangi food of the Great Ocean of Kiwa! Our hāngī earth oven kai (food) includes meat, chicken, kumara and much more. The hāngī is cooked in an earth-oven, a hole 1-2m into the ground, the baskets of kai are placed on hot stones at the bottom of a hāngī pit. The kai is then covered to trap the heat, the steam and heat from heated hāngī stones infuses the kai with delicious earthy flavours while it cooks for 3-4 hours.

    • Welcoming ceremony

    • View the unveiling of traditional hangi meal

    • Witness warriors paddling canoe down Wai-o-Whiro stream

    • Cultural Performance

    • Full buffet hangi dinner

    • Questions & answers session

    • Walk through nature to see ancient fortified village, learning about the old ways of living

    • Watch the forest light up as the glow worms appear in the night

Our Overview

This immersive Māori cultural evening in Rotorua begins with a traditional pōwhiri (welcome ceremony), followed by captivating performances featuring taiaha (traditional weaponry), elegant poi dancing, and the powerful haka.

Guests are then guided through native bush on an educational forest walk, where you'll learn about traditional Māori medicine and the significance of local plants. A true highlight of the evening is witnessing glow worms light up the forest, along with the unforgettable sight of a traditional waka (war canoe) gliding down the stream by torchlight.

The experience includes a delicious hāngī dinner, featuring slow-cooked meats, poultry, and vegetables prepared in a traditional underground oven.

This action-packed 3-hour experience offers a rich introduction to Māori culture, natural heritage, and traditional cuisine. It's a popular option, so expect larger crowds during peak seasons—booking in advance is highly recommended.

Whakarewarewa Living Villiage

  • Opening Hours: 9.00am to 4.00pm daily

  • Average time required at Whakarewarewa : 1 to 6 Hours

  • Is booking required: No unless a cultural performance

  • How much walking: Between 45 and 90 minutes if you want to walk the full park.

  • Is there food and drink available: Yes a Café

  • How far is Whakarewarewa from central Rotorua: 2.7kms (1.5 miles) around 4 minutes driving

  • WHAKAREWAREWA LEGACY GUIDED VILLAGE TOUR

    Enjoy a Legacy guided tour and home of the Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao people who have been sharing their way of life with visitors from all around the world for over 200 years. Discover how local people have adopted and survived to live on top of a caldera, a truly intrepid human journey since the devastating eruption of Mt Tarawera in 1886.

    WHAKA GEOTHERMAL TRAILS

    Geothermal nature trails provide exclusive access to an untouched geothermal landscape where Visitors can experience the raw nature of Papatuanuku (mother-earth). The Jurassic park-like landscape are described as providing regenerative powers as You find yourself face-to-face with Nature, Hot Spring Lakes, Mud Pools and native manuka bushlands.

    CULTURAL PERFORMANCES

    Take a glimpse into a world of performing arts while partaking in our daily Cultural Performance. Let local performers serenade you with melodious song & dance, including the fiery, world famous 'Haka'. Please note that there are limited numbers per performance.

    TRADITIONAL FOOD

    No trip is complete without sampling the local cuisine, and the traditional Māori hangi is sure to be a one of a kind experience. Cooked in the bubbling geothermal waters and steam of Whakarewarewa Valley, the hangi is unique and delicious. For a modern take on this traditional meal, why not try our world-famous hangi pie – a truly unique kiwi combination of food!

Our Overview

The Whakarewarewa Living Māori Village is a truly unique Rotorua attraction, offering an authentic look at modern Māori life within a real, working village. Owned and operated by local Māori residents, this experience blends cultural heritage with everyday living, all set against the backdrop of Rotorua’s geothermal activity.

Visitors can explore bubbling mud pools, steaming vents, and naturally heated cooking pools while learning about traditional practices still used today. Cultural performances, guided tours, and the chance to sample traditional Māori kai(food) are all part of the experience.

Unlike other cultural attractions, Whakarewarewa gives you an intimate connection with local life—offering insight into both historic customs and the realities of contemporary Māori culture.

With so much to see and do, it’s recommended to allow plenty of time. For those looking to combine Māori culture with geothermal wonders in a more personal, less commercial setting, Whakarewarewa is a must-visit in Rotorua.