Reviews of Te Pa Tu. (Museum) in Rotorua (Bay of Plenty).

Te Pa Tu

1569 Reviews

394 Comments

Museum

Tourist attraction

Cultural center

1072 State Highway 5, Tumunui 3073, New Zealand

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Description

Information of Te Pa Tu, Museum in Rotorua (Bay of Plenty)

Here you can see the location, open hours, popular times, contact, photos and real reviews done by the users.

This place has good reviews, this means that they treat their customers well and you’ll feel great with their services, recommended 100%!

Map

Open hours of Te Pa Tu

Monday

9 a.m.–9:30 p.m.

Tuesday

9 a.m.–9:30 p.m.

Wednesday

9 a.m.–9:30 p.m.

Thursday

9 a.m.–9:30 p.m.

Friday

9 a.m.–9:30 p.m.

Saturday

9 a.m.–9:30 p.m.

Sunday

9 a.m.–9:30 p.m.

Popular times

Monday

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Tuesday

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Wednesday

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Thursday

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Friday

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Saturday

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Sunday

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Reviews of Te Pa Tu

p. d.

One of the best ways to experience true culture of the place. We saw their dance, way of living of the Maori people. We saw amazing carving and sculpting as well by the students there. We were shown their way of life in great detail. We also saw the hot geysers and mud geysers, which are commonly found there. It was a very peaceful and serene place.

A. V.

Ahakoa, he iti he pounamu. We loved our experience here! Our host/guide took SO much time to answer any and all questions about the Maori Culture. He was super funny and friendly plus the food was delicious (we make our own fried bread burgers now thanks to this tour) and showed us around the village. As someone from Europe, this was an amazing opportunity to connect and understand another culture better and I would recommend it to everyone!

J. R.

Welcomed in the Maori way, with the reason behind the following explained: chant, prayer, and freshly prepared meal and we helped with the prep! There were "take -away"bags as it was too much to eat in one sitting! I learned so many new things about the culture that I do believe will stick with me! Loved that the leader had activities for us to do. Our leader "Mike" was knowledgeable and encouraged questions. Groups are small right now, so we got lots of individual attention. It was an added bonus that his children helped out and joined in in a song! Wonderful way to spend an afternoon!

This place is must see when in NZ to get the real Maori experience. When purchasing tickets the bus picks you from the town centre and drives to the village about 15min outside of Rotarua. We did the evening tour which was phenomenal. The dancers and warriors put on a great show. Food was simple nothing gourmand typical Maori style everything steamed underground. Had a great night.

C. A.

It is wonderful to be welcomed into a different culture and see and understand the Maori way of life. You are welcomed and entertained with games and food and a show of the traditional crafts and ways of cooking. We also got to learn a song which we performed for the rest of the public, a good experience. The endless food and hospitality that is offered is so different from anything i have known before. I recommend a visit as this preserves the way of life of the Maori people and their generations to come. Thank you for my stay, the hot tubs were a nice way to end a wonderful day and evening. 😊

M. G.

Very nice cultural and entertaining experience from bus pickup to bringing you home. The Maroi hosts enjoy sharing their culture and making u feel part of their village. Tea and coffee provided other drinks for sell. Eat around 730 after getting introduced to their culture exhibits. Bring your good fun attitude and you will enjoy.

S. I.

An amazing experience which must be had. Such friendly welcoming and entertaining staff, all the way from the bus driver, to the kitchen staff and actors. Meal is great too. A must visit!

p. m.

This was a very unique experience. Singing, dancing, learning of the maori culture. It's very interactive and entertaining. Mark was a great driver and very entertaining with his many unique humor.

J. R.

We had the best time of our lives! this is the highlight of our visit in NZ! The cultural experience is really great! learn a lot about Maori culture how they lived back in the days. Will definately recommend Tamaki Maori Village when you are in NZ!

P. S.

Place is amazing... a must visit for people who are looking to find the roots of New Zealand... Maori people are very welcoming and they share as much as details possible about their culture. Free pick up and drop facility is available for selected points spread across Rotorua... start of tour... First they tell about their roots... then they take you to village where they choose a chief within the visiting group...followed by a welcome ceremony... then they will take you inside village where little huts will depict original life style...then cultural programs... then fine dinner again followed by some music and a ride back.... now this is where you will feel the difference... driver of the bus will constantly tell you stories and will keep you entertained through you 25 minutes journey back...

This was amazing, very informative, very hands on, incredibly hospitable, the shows were amazing and the Haka intimidating even the bus driver was entertaining. The food was unbelievable and all you could eat. The best thing I've done on the North island!!

An amazing experience which must be had. Such friendly welcoming and entertaining staff, all the way from the bus driver, to the kitchen staff and actors. Meal is great too. A must visit!

T. N.

Really great evening with free pickup from your location. The village is well done, all the info, demonstrations & interaction really enjoyable. Perfect way to experience the Maori culture. Davey was a fun coach(waka)driver😆 and the food was amazing.

Although I expected it not to be such suited to tourists, I still enjoyed it, as the Maori are presenting the diversity of their culture in a funny and relaxed way without losing their seriousness. The buffet at the end was very delicious too :)

M. B.

The Tamaki Maori Village is a great way to learn about indigenous New Zealand culture. We went on the evening tour and thoroughly the experience. Our driver to & from the village Wallace was great, teaching the group some Maori phrases and protocols in preparation for our arrival. It was also great to take part in some traditional games and activities like the haka. The Hungi that was served for dinner was superb and the Maori songs that were performed were just as good. I would recommend this to anyone interested in gaining some insight into the local culture.

This was a very unique experience. Singing, dancing, learning of the maori culture. It's very interactive and entertaining. Mark was a great driver and very entertaining with his many unique humor.

An Absolutely incredible experience that gave a real insight into Maori culture. Our guides were really informative and encouraged questions throughout the day. If you can, I’d recommend the overnight experience as you get to learn Maori games and songs in addition to the cultural shows and fabulous hungi meal served in the evening.

S. A. J.

This place is magical. A place for tourist to learn New Zealand's history and culture. The local guide is very nice. The attraction itself included with local Maori cuisine dinner. When we came into their site, they welcome us with an opening ceremony and then they allow us to ask any questions about their culture and daily activities. After that, they did a dance shows. Then, we get to eat our dinner.

The Tamaki Maori village is very fun! Getting tour the village, seeing how they lived, and what some of their customs are was very interesting and they made it entertaining so people of all ages could enjoy it. Our tour bus driver was great. Definitely worth doing.

K. S.

I thought really hard about this review and the rating. While this was certainly an informative experience about Maori culture, there are several things about it that rubbed me the wrong way. In short, it takes itself way too seriously in all the wrong places, and not seriously enough in others. First, before boarding the bus to the village, a long video about Maori culture plays. This is fine, but it has some powerful 2002 Science Channel vibes and didn't really do it for me. It either hasn't been updated in a long time or is just behind the times. Then we boarded a bus and the bus driver informed us that we would need a chief for the evening. Obviously, no one wanted to do this, so the bus driver selected one poor fellow and he was forced to do a ton of work throughout the night. Then, when we arrived, after an admittedly very cool welcoming ceremony, each chief accepted a peace token to allow entry into the village (note: this is not a real village, it is a set filled with actors). From there, we were shuffled to approximately 5 stations in the village set where we learned a bit about Maori culture. This was cool and I enjoyed learning about the culture, but I really could have done without the forced participation at each station. Seriously, it felt like a 5th grade field trip. "Everyone come up and do the haka! No exceptions!" Not my cup of tea. Further, while they said at the beginning that we could ask questions at each station, there was honestly no time to ask any questions and the people at each station actively discouraged anyone from asking questions with unfunny comments like "if you have any questions feel free to ask them at the next station." We then went to see where the food was being prepared. We learned how the Maori prepared food for special events in an earth oven and saw the food that we would eat later on. After that, the groups were brought into an auditorium to view some cultural dances and songs. Honestly, no complaints at all with this portion of the experience. It was really cool and well done. Then, it was dinner time. Probably the worst meal we had in New Zealand over two weeks. I'm talking about a powerfully underwhelming buffet with almost no flavor at all. Perhaps food cooked in an earth oven is just bland but I mean, come on. For the price you pay for this trip, the food was just plain bad. The staff sang some songs during dinner and then it was time to leave. On the ride back to the pickup point, it was more forced participation. The bus driver would seriously not stop forcing people on the bus to sing songs. It was honestly really uncomfortable. I was ready to get off the bus and walk the rest of the way back. Overall, I guess I'm glad I took this tour because I learned a lot about Maori culture and got to see the people that are keeping that culture alive, but the bland buffet food, the awkward forced participation, and the fifth grade field trip vibes were just a bit too much for me to give it anything over 3 stars. Trip Advisor calls this one of the top ten best experiences in the world and let me tell you, it is not. Pretty much everything we did in New Zealand was better than this, even other Maori culture experiences! If you're in the market for a Maori cultural experience, I would recommend Te Puia over this any day of the week.

W. A.

L. C.

One of the best experiences I've been part of. I really felt immersed into a whole new culture with the maori village. The singing and performaces were absolutely beautiful, and super exciting. You can feel the familial love once you enter with your own tribe. Food was a solid buffett style. I stuffed myself with fresh oysters, and fresh shrimp. The bus driver on the way to the village was another unexpected highlight - he was funny and very cultured. The entire bus sang different national songs! I totally recommend this to anyone that visits rotorurora

More than dinner! It is an experience. Went in September, dress a little warm. The whole event took +/- 3 hours (w/20 min bus ride).

D. H.

Excellent demonstrations of historic Maori culture and way of life. The hosts engaged with everyone, and particularly with our 2 year old daughter who was a little nervous at some of the louder displays. The meal was delicious and the serving plates kept being refilled. The organisation of the meal was very good. The bus driver was very entertaining.

C. H.

A truly fantastic way to learn about the Maori culture. A must do for any visitor to New Zealand. You learn about different aspect of the Maori culture through interactive experiences by the friendly, funny and informative hosts. Then it's followed by a delicious dinner cooked a traditional way.

I. K.

Yes, some of it's maybe a tad twee and frozen in time, but done so well with just the appropriate amount of dry Kiwi humour that it ends up being a rollicking good night out with a great feed.

B. D.

My favorite experience from my New Zealand vacation! Thank you for making the experience feel authentic. Coming with Kiwi experience I had the extended experience at the village. The setting felt authentic, experiencing it after dark helped set the mood even more! The hangi dinner and culture show were amazing, only to be topped if with an overnight stay! Thank you for sharing your culture with us and keeping it alive for the future. A highlight of my vacation!

L. B.

An interesting learning experience. Overall positive, but dinner wasn't quite warm and I felt like the tables, chairs, etc. could use some updates. There was a snafu when leaving and they couldn't locate our bus driver. After a 10 min delay they made alternate arrangements. Nonetheless, an enjoyable evening.

R. S.

An absolutely unmissable experience. The Maori village does such an awesome job of taking us through their culture and history while keeping everyone engaged. The dinner at the end of the tour was really good as well. The Haka performance is worth the entry fee.

n. A. F.

More than dinner! It is an experience. Went in September, dress a little warm. The whole event took +/- 3 hours (w/20 min bus ride).

T. P.

Fantastic evening spent learning about Maori culture from modern day Maori natives. Hosts were friendly, funny, entertaining and down to earth. Would absolutely recommend the Tamaki Maori Ceremony experience to anyone unfamiliar with Maori culture and wanting to learn more.

Such a phenomenal experience!!! Must try this village!!!!!!! From the minute you're picked up by the driver, to the time you meet the tribe, it's an extremely informative and pleasant time. They truly immerse you in the culture of the Maori. The Hangi feasts are really delicious and so is the kiwi punch!!! So much entertainment and knowledge and the mini Maori concert at the end just might have you in tears of appreciation for this beautiful culture. If you're in Rotorua, book this event if you can!!! Also got picked to be the chief of our bus haha, if you get to be a chief... DO IT!!!!! 100/10

R. R.

Excellent! Just need to experience by itself! Sharing few photos. Very organised tour, loved performances, very delicious food! Perfect from begging, had very funny shuttle bus driver 😂

E. R.

Visiting the Maori village was an interesting process from beginning to end. First you're taken to a gathering place with other tourist and given some insight on Maori beliefs. Then you're shuttled off to the village where you are introduced to Maori warriors who perform a ceremonial greeting. Once inside the village, everyone is welcomed to take photos of various stations found within the village that inform guests on various aspects of Maori culture. Then you're in shown the "hung-ee", which I'm sure I've just butchered, which is a meal prepared for guest who are arriving for the first time in the village. Before the meal, the men perform a haka and you're educated a bit more on the ancient practices. Finally, there is a meal and dessert. The meal consisted of of chicken and beef, potatoes, carrots, and some of the sweets cob corn I've had in a while. There are vegetarian options as well. The salad was delicious.

J. S.

It was a very good experience overall. Loved the songs, welcome and dance. Hangi is my all time favorite, although the meat was a bit dry. What we experienced maybe just the history and culture from back in the days, kinda like an expensive history lesson. People are very nice, kind, friendly and funny. Keep this wonderful thing going.

L. T.

Must visit in Rotorua 👍😃 picturesque places, fascinating Maori stories told around small fires, warm welcoming dance and even teaching you to dance haka - Maori breathtaking dance. Delicious dinner served in the end. Bus driver entertained all the road, singing songs with everyone together. Booked the trip a few hours before in the same day.

A. B.

Great experience. You will learn lots of interesting things about Maori culture and the whole experience is interactive and fun! The performance was great too, everyone performing had great voices and it was really a great show. Not to forget the hungi after, deeeliiiciousssssss. Make sure to try the pavlova!

J. D.

Absolutely wonderful! Everything was even better than expected. Fun and educational demonstrations, beautiful performances and absolutely delicious hangi (dinner buffet). Thank you!

S. G. D. S.

Little bit expensive and maybe too short (2.5h) but worth wile anyhow. Culture, dance, music, tools, skills, food and show. If you are man volunteer for being your tribe (group) chef

P. W.

As a proud Kiwi who left for Australia 24 years ago, I’m ashamed to say it took me to 50 years of age to experience something like this. Totally fantastic! Almost brought me to tears at times - especially the songs that reminded me of how special it was to grow up in New Zealand. If you’re visiting NZ do yourself a favour and get a ticket. From the bus ride fun at the start, to the hangi at the end it’s 100% pure Aotearoa.

This was truly an awe inspiring experience. I've never been a part of something quite like it and I've been all over the world. It was exciting and exhilarating, it made me smile and laugh. The mauri people are so kind to open up their world to us so they we can understand their culture and share our experiences. One of the number one things you need to do if you come to NZ.

S. A.

Tamaki Maori village was incredible - not least due to the drive back to Rotorua with Hare! A guaranteed must do/visit experience in New Zealand. The cultural education, performances and hangi really help build an appreciation of the Maori people and culture, something that can't be gleaned from visiting museums or guide books. This place is certainly one of the highlights of my trip so far.

L. W.

Visited the Tamaki Maori Village New Zealand learnt about their culture, had a Hangi for lunch, listened to their music & watched the dancing

P. V.

We did the night experience here. It was a nice family run experience where we learnt some parts of Maori culture. It was very entertaining but I probably would have liked more information/education rather than songs for entertainment, as I really enjoyed the parts when the chief was explaining history and customs. Still loved it all though! We had the buffet dinner included which was ok, but wouldn’t have minded if we didn’t have that part as I didn’t feel that it added much.

M. T.

Excellent experience. Infomative tour of traditional Maori culture and folklore with a delicious Hungi to finish. Davey our coach driver was very entertaining.

L. W.

My husband and I visited the Tamaki Maori Village in May 2019. The village offered a great introduction to Maori culture and the opportunities to learn about the different facets of village life was fascinating. My only complaint would have to be the food. It wasn't as good as some Hangi meals that I have had elsewhere. For instance, at Te Puia. The meat and vegetables were quite dry and tasteless. Saying this, I didn't come here for the food, but it was a let down on an otherwise great experience. There were moments where I felt as though we were being herded like cattle through the village, so if you are claustrophobic, be prepared.

P. A. P.

This was one of the best experiences that I had in my life. Great people, wonderful food and music, what a awesome cultural tour!!

M. D.

Fantastic experience. Much better than our Hobbiton banquet we did the night before. Of course this is a touristy thing to do but it does not feel awkward as some tours are. It's a celebration and a showcase of the culture in an engaging and entertaining way. The food was excellent.Gluten free was catered for at the feast. From our waka driver to the guides, teachers and Hangi chefs everyone was welcoming and we felt embraced. I would highly recommend this. A super evening.

J. R.

A highlight on my trip, loved this experience! Had a pickup from my hostel by one of the most hilarious and genius drivers I've ever met: he welcomed our group in more than 40 languages and made us laugh until we cried. We were then welcomed to the village with a traditional Haka, after which we got to learn several cultural traditions of the maori. The evening ended with songs, the traditional feast Hangi (so delicious!!) and a second haka. Our busdriver took us back to the hostel and let me just say; the drive back was as hilarious as the first one! I recommend this to everyone and I am still sad about the fact that we were unable to stay the night at the village.

B. M.

Fantastic experience with great performers. Sometimes lost a bit of the show because of the large numbers of people going through. Food was delicious and plentiful. Thank you to all.

I can't describe how awesome this experience is, it is a must have if you're interested in the Maori culture, you get to see it up close, and in a very fun a descriptive way!

G. B.

So much energy and good fun! The food was amazing and the Maori were so nice and had great jokes

C. W.

Absolutely amazing well worth to see, would go again. Beautiful people wonderful atmosphere

B. M.

Such a great evening. Make sure you have a snack before you come as you might not eat until 8:30pm. Great singing, educational, and such a beautiful set-up.

M. A.

Very enjoyable introduction to Maori culture with plenty of opportunities to join in. The feast was a welcome climax to the evening. The staff were engaging and welcoming.

T. H.

Excellent for Maori culture experience. Everyone we met there were very friendly. We learned a lot through engaging in discussions. There were interactive performances. So much delicious food, so bring a big appetite when you go. They also have twilight experience in the summer months which I recommend if you don’t mind the later time.

D. D.

I recommend everyone visit the Tamaki Maori Village on their next visit to Rotorua. My family and I went to the evening session. The ceremonial greeting was surreal, like being transported back in time. Needless to say the guys doing the haka do a great job of makung you feel like you are facing up to fearsome warriors. The hosts are great and friendly and there was plenty of good food to cap off the night at the traditional hangi buffet dinner. Highlight of our NZ to North Island so far!

M. C.

It is one of the top ten activities to do in the world, according to Tripadvisor. It is awesome! Book your tour in advance, be prepared to be amazed by the kindness of your hosts.

J. R.

This was such a fun and educational experience! It was great to see the ways of the Maori people and then enjoy a nice warm meal with them :) I highly recommend this tour, especially for families!!

Absolutely amazing. It’s a small glimpse into Māori culture, but it’s a very wholistic one. The hāngi dinner was amazing as well. Definitely recommend to anyone interested in Māori culture!

R. R.

Wow! Can I just say that again - WOW!!!! Incredible experience. From the office customer care, to the transportation, to the location, to the education, the entertainment, the flow, the food, the new friends made. Tremendous value. Highly recommend.

D. E.

Truly an extraordinary experience. One of my most favorite memories of visiting New Zealand.

A. K.

The Actual location of Tamaki Maori Cultural village. The place is amazing, has really warm and welcoming Maori people who tell you all about Maori culture, their history, do the world famous haka dance and of course give you special Maori food call Hammi. A must place to visit in Rotorua.

Absolutely loved this experience. I have learnt so much about the Mauri. The maidens are really great singers and very clever. Totally recommend this. Put off other things and go here. Amazzzzzing.Loved this experience. The learning, the singing, the maidens (hotties), the food was amazing. Loved it. One warrior has a problem with Aussies though! To him I say 😛😝😜

R. D.

We stayed overnight at the village, ca. 15km outside of Rotorua. You arrive and have a traditional welcome ceremony where the chieftains express friendship and peace and chants are sung. We were welcomed into the village and explained the carvings and rules/traditions of the sleeping house (big warm room with 20 comfy single beds). Later on we did some team activities and at night, we witnessed the haka, learnt about Māori culture and indulged in hongi. Great experience!

P. C.

It was more artificial than natural, charges are very high, Can recommend some other village.

R. B.

Major Maori culture explained. I really like their performance and the buffet haha!

X. Y.

Very delicious dinner with very insightful information about the tribe and history of the Maori community.

Y. Y. W.

Awesome show n very delicious meal we have...🤤

K. K.

Very informative. Delicious food. Wonderful performances.

J. M. M. A.

Truly enjoy the experience. 140 NZD for 3.5 hrs experience inclusive dinner. The lamb is halal. Definitely recommended to go.

J. A.

Fantastic cultural experience! 100% recommend, Kia Ora!!!😁😁😁 Plus an amazing hangi feed🤤👌

M. S.

The best in Rotorua! Shows, interactive demonstrations, and we'll above average buffet make this place an absolute must.

I loved the experience and the information the food was fantastic and also the entertainment. The driver to and from the village was amazing. However I do think it was a very expensive evening.

R. I.

We had a good time. The staff- Maori tribe members- were very welcoming and I learned a lot about Maori life and culture.

O. C.

Had a great time, all the staff were amazing and entertaining, beautiful singing and the food was delicious 👍👍

G. U.

Had a very nice experience of the Maori culture. The games were fun. The shows were engaging. The vegetarian food was very good. It had Samosa and some special Maori food. The staff was very friendly. We reached the place without a booking and not only the accommodated us but since we were on Honeymoon, they charged us for only one person which was very generous of them. Thanks again for the same and the warm experience at the village.

A. D. M.

Tamaki continues to be my favourite cultural experience in Rotorua. The people are so friendly and provide an authentic ‘taster’ of Maori culture. And the food is delicious and plentiful

J. A.

Absolutely spectacular! We were blown away by the quality of every moment of the experience, from our booking through to getting dropped off at our hotel at the end of the night. Definitely a must-do for foreign visitors: Even though we've lived in New Zealand for a while, we learned loads from the incredibly informative team. Food was also outstanding, and they paid special attention to dietary requirements.

Friendly hosts that are happy to have you for a guest. Food is good, dessert is great. This village is meant for tourists and guests, but their demos and performances are good and interesting. Would recommend if you are interested in a crash course on Maori culture. Be prepared to be involved in some of the demos!

What a wonderful experience! The extent of preparation that went into making us all feel like part of a family. I came to New Zealand to learn more about the Maori culture. The ability to interact with the chief and his village by asking questions made the experience so much more meaningful. My 14 year-old twin daughters were able to open up to these people and ask relevant questions. Great food and great entertainment! Be prepared to participate. You don't learn everything there is to know about the Maori, but it is a good start. As an American, it made me incredibly sad that our native people are so separate, and to my knowledge, don't have ceremonies like the Maori to teach others about their culture. Things to know about Tamaki: book through your hotel because they send a bus to come and get you and bring you home. It is expensive, but well worth it. For a family of four, it was about $240 NZ, which wasn't too bad, in my opinion.

T. H. K.

Outstanding experience! All the staffs are very helpful and we really loved it. The food was so delicious. Very recommended.

N. P.

Excellent introduction to Maori history and culture with performances, activities, and food!

S. M.

Such a beautiful cultural experience and teaching about the Maori people.

D. M.

It was great. Dinner was good and the demonstrations were interesting. The hosts were extremely inviting to all of the guests involved. What made it really great for us was the "chief" of our bus (one of the guests that sat in the front). He had took every task very seriously and made it extremely engaging for the entire group. My only advice would be to have a light snack before leaving your hotel (especially if you skipped lunch like we did) as all of the demonstrations were before dinner which made you really hungry by the time you got there. For reference, our start time was 7:30 (picked up from the hotel at 6 or so) and dinner wasn't until around 9:30ish. This activity was still really cool though.

J. T.

Great experience, I went when I first came to nz 5 years ago and went again with my parents. My dad is in a wheelchair and the staff were very helpful and accommodating. Their whole set up is fantastic, as close to a real Maori Village as possible I think. Obviously it's not going to be 100% authentic, I would love to know where the reviewers who are saying they would rather go to a real Maori Village are going, I'm pretty sure no Maori actually like like that anymore 🤣. All the staff are helpful and seem to actually be enjoying themselves, which always makes for a better experience. Yes as mentioned in other reviews there is an aspect of participation, but I'm quite sure if you really didn't want to the staff would understand, however if you're doing an experience like this I don't understand why you wouldn't want to participate.

R. L.

What a phenomenal cultural experience! We loved it🇳🇿

Amazing historical story telling through music, dance, food, and culture.

H. C.

Surprisingly entertaining and educational in respect to better understanding Maori origins and traditions. The entire family of entertainers and staff presented a lively and interactive experience, one that will truly not easily be forgotten. I would recommend not being concerned with photo taking, but rather enjoy the evening as an experience not to forget. Oh, and the evening's food is uniquely delicious.

Audio video and practice performance energised our night and filled our happy memories with deferent flavour

m. d.

Amazing! Words can not do Tamaki justice. Highly recommend for any visitor to New Zealand

Good authentic Maori village. Warm welcome, great entertainment followed by an excellent hot buffet.

d. m.

I highly recommend this tour. The best opportunity to learn Maori culture and enjoy their food. Totally awesome.

Z. K.

Great experience that was well executed and a nice buffet dinner at the end. Performers did amazingly and I’m happy I got to learn about Maori culture. Only gripe is that it does feel a touch not genuine because you’ll be with a large group of ~100 people, perhaps doing the overnight you’d get a more personal experience.

The food was fantastic and the welcome ceremony with the Maori is the best part. It was fun and the staff were highly engaging. The bit around the village was a little less interacting, a bit rushed and too many people per group with multiple groups going at the same time. One of my favourite parts was the bus journey with an amazing lady who made it great fun (you get to drive the bus if you can pronounce her name... she drove) I would recommend

l. p.

Very nice experience, money well spend. And the food is really good

I learned a lot about the maori culture while having a ton of fun too. The show and the food are outstanding. The whole place feels like it's situated in a different time altogether. A truly wonderful experience! Would recommend to anyone.

A magical place and a fantastic experience. Really is a must do if you want to find out more about Maori culture.

Great way of getting to know the local history

Wonderful experience, great activities to join in, lovely people and dinner. Highly recommended!

Good authentic Maori village. Warm welcome, great entertainment followed by an excellent hot buffet.

Brilliant. Great team, beautiful telling on the Maori stories and crafts. Food was excellent. Cannot fault

Good host ,good food and entertainment

Absolutely amazing. It’s a small glimpse into Māori culture, but it’s a very wholistic one. The hāngi dinner was amazing as well. Definitely recommend to anyone interested in Māori culture!

A magical place and a fantastic experience. Really is a must do if you want to find out more about Maori culture.

A. D.

We had such a great time here. It was very educational but not cringey at all. It was very well organised, we were moving on to different areas before anything got boring. The food was very tasty with lots of options. The roast lamb was delicious.

Our driver was hilarious and could do a really good imitation of the Indian accent. The performers are all superb singers! Love their voices! The food cooked in the Hangi Oven, were tasty, tender and just so good. Really enjoyed the whole experience

The whole tour from start to finish was brilliant. Everyone explained clearly and passionately about various aspects of the Maori culture and I personally learned a lot. The buffet dinner was delicious and the performances were heart stoppingly good. I'd definitely go again.

D. B.

Learning about the culture was amazing. Our bus driver, Dennis, was phenomenal. He was hilariously entertaining. The food was fantastic. Needed a little more guidance when transitioning to the dining part of the experience. Seemed more like a cattle call than a structured experience. Overall, something everyone should experience.

H. N.

Had a great time learning about Maori culture and history at the Tamki Maori Village. Really enjoyed getting to participate in activities and share a beautiful hanging buffet with others. Definitely aimed at larger groups so not too intimate, but still cool.

Great introduction into Maori culture with a bit of fun and fabulous food.

Great show, ok dinner, misleading info of the duration. Expected more. Online it says that the whole thing lasts about 3 hours. You don't get 3 hours of village entertainment, however. The time starts running 1 hour BEFORE the "show time" you booked (17:00/18:15/19:30), and include a 10 minute video at their offices in town ("The Gathering Place") and the transportation to the village itself. The village entertainment (welcoming ceremony, tour and activities, and 20 minute show) lasts about 1 hour in total. Then dinner, dessert, and a goodbye-performance by one of the bus drivers, on guitar. We had booked at 17:00, were picked up from the hotel at 15:45, and were home by 20:30 ish. So, all in all, I was disappointed by "One of the Top 10 Experiences in the World". I had been super excited for the Maori village experience, and had expected more. However, as mentioned, what you get from the performances is great. A variety of traditional dances and modern acts featuring song and guitar play. The performers clearly enjoy themselves, and have a good laugh together. Dinner was also ok, nothing special. Don't expect any exotic dishes, everything is heavily derived from the english, with cranberry sauce, sticky toffee pudding, and custard. There was a variety of different meats, some fish in sauce (ok), and mussels. Potates, kumara and stuffing (yum). The vegan and veggie options were tasty, but the portion you are served is tiny, so we helped ourselves to the buffet after. Would probably not buy the dinner package again, but rather just see some performances. I can never get enough haka!

The best I can say is wow! We went in sceptical to this one. How do you process hundreds of people and still let us experience your culture? How do you ensure everyone gets something out of the experience? How do you feed hundreds of people efficiently and with some sort of quality? Well, let me tell you, they nailed it. The setup of multiple stations with Maori tribes-people working on items and answering questions felt personal and perfect. The dancing and singing was amazing, and they pushed us into the second row they were holding for families with kids. The kids loved it. The hangi meal being pulled up was super cool and everyone had a great view. The meal was super tasty, especially recognizing they were cooking for hundreds of people. And again, they let families with kids get to the buffet first. We were blown away. Thank you Tamaki Maori Village!

Brilliant. Great team, beautiful telling on the Maori stories and crafts. Food was excellent. Cannot fault

D. S.

Absolutely brilliant experience. Valuable insight into Maori culture and history and felt really authentic and well thought out from start to finish - was skeptical at the beginning when it was included on our tour but staff were warm, friendly and hard working to ensure we all had a great evening. Fantastic singing and dancing and haka! The hangi was also delicious. One of the highlights of our trip.

I was part of a St Olaf college group lucky enough to visit this place, and the Maori people were incredibly welcoming and friendly. They seemed to be genuinely excited to teach others about their culture, rather than putting on a show just to entertain tourists

Harae Mai! A wonderful evening, interactive learning Maori culture: pois, games, haka and then delicious Hangi dinner. Exceptional experience.

Absolutely excellent experience and a must do if you are visiting Rotorua. The bus collection was very accommodating when we were running late and the entertainment on the bus, during the evening and on the way home was engaging and educational. Highly recommended. I would have preferred to have tasted some more traditional / authentic Maori foods and Tohu Wine.

B. O. S.

What an incredible experience. Amazing people teaching us inspiring aspects of their culture and heritage. And the buffet after was beautiful. Could not recommend more, what a fantastic evening.

C. A.

Amazing experience! Think of all your questions up front as we got to end of it all and then thought of loads of things we wanted to know! You get a bit of everything with this - time to talk to the Moari people, experience their cultural dance/song/entertainment, including learning the Haka, and then have a Hangi meal. The food was amazing as well. This is an absolute must-do in NZ!

K. S.

This was the highlight of my stay in Rotura!! Superbly friendly staff. Doesn't feel like your ushered round like tourists - felt a bit more like being welcomed into a family. Fantastic food, epic portions and good quality - something for everyone. Great insight into the Maori culture, very interactive. Bus driver was also such a laugh! Got everyone singing and talking on the journey back. Would return again if in the area!

Wonderful experience, great activities to join in, lovely people and dinner. Highly recommended!

Thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Took my family and we all had a great time. Shame the bus was having problems which seemed stressful for the poor bus driver. We had to eventually change buses but under the circumstances they still did a great job. Learnt lots about the Maori culture.

J. W.

This experience was one of the best on our trip so far. We've been to Luau's in Hawaii before and wondered how close the Tamaki Maori Village would be to this. This was far more enjoyable as an experience due to the interactivity of the entire evening. On the bus, the driver Lindsay nearly stole the show with great information, education, and humor as our tribe was driven out to the village. I was fortunate enough to be named the chief of our tribe, which included some extra responsibilities to ensure we made it safely TO dinner and not AS dinner. It's all good fun and if you have the chance, definitely volunteer to be chief of your tribe as it affords an extra special experience. Once the greeting ceremony concluded, it was time for a tour of the village, some education, and some music and games. Really interesting stuff. Before dinner, we were treated to a show of music and dancing and the tribe really brought their A game. Finally, it was time for dinner and the buffet style was just great. There were many gluten free options, only the gravy and stuffing was not GF, and they made a dessert specially for my dietary restricted partner. Desert was also delicious, and there was more entertainment while we dined. Once finished, the bus tour back with Lindsay was as good as the ride out as we sang and reminisced over the evening's highlights. This is a must do activity when you're in Rotorua. 10/10, Hongi with the chief again.

B. H.

The Tamaki Maori Village was a wonderful experience. Our bus driver was very entertaining and funny. Upon arrival to the village, we had to elect a leader for our group. They then accepted our leader in after a demonstration, and then we got to see different activities and lifestyles that the Maori people participated in. They fed us a delicious dinner cooked their Maori way. Absolutely recommend!

G. W. P.

Fun and cool experience walking through the well-decorated Tamaki Maori Village at night, learning about their history and culture. A good opportunity to watch a live haka performance and try food cooked in the traditional way (in the ground). Dinner buffet was sumptuous and their staff was very friendly, knowledgeable and enthusiastic in making sure everyone was having a good time.

C. H.

Wonderful experience!! If you want to know something about Maori, this is a great place to visit! The Maori people there will show you there traditional lifestyle and you might also have chance to experience it. The dinner they provide is very delicious~ I enjoy the night very much

B. B.

Highlight of our Trip to NZ. Best cultural dinner I have ever attended. Very well planned evening from the pick up from our motel, bus ride to the village and all the activities at the site. I cannot recommend this enough to other travellers, it is a must when you visit NZ.

J. D.

Overall experience was decent, worth it... idk. Informative and put together well. Little hokey at times and staff sort of breaking out of character. Biggest issue is price is a bit high for what you get compared to other average tour cost. It’s really not worth what your paying. Info center sort of sold it as a personal small group event but really they book it very packed. 4 or 5 bus worth of people causing crowd control issue for the entire event. Dinner buffet rushes the food portion and immediately picked up food after 1 round. After paying almost $150/pp drinks are still not provided with the dinner. Bit more aggressive performance may scare kids.

D. A.

Quite enjoyable even if it was a little hokey at times. Singing was surprisingly well done. Some very good voices. They certainly aim to please and educate. Food was average but plentiful. Might be scary at the beginning for young children.

I would absolutely 100% recommend this tour to anyone visiting Rotorua, which you're from overseas on just want to learn more about Maori culture and history. The bus ride to and from the village is so much fun and educational. The maori songs and traditional dances were beautiful and powerful, and the hangi feast was so delicious to the point where I ate far too much. The non-alcoholic punch at the bar was delicious too! Everyone there was lovely and answered all questions we had.

A. G.

A great evening and a real pleasure to see and learn about the Maori culture. And they cooked a great meal for 400 people in one of their below ground thermal cooking areas. An absolute must on any tourists agenda.

N. T.

One of the best ways to experience the local culture. More than enough food to go around.

An amazing way to spend an evening in Rotorua! Away from all the hot pools (and their distinct rotton-egg smell), the dinner begins with a film introducing Maori culture and creation story. The pōwhiri greeting ceremony was very moving. I felt honored to be able to participate in Maori culture for a little bit. They followed with small group interactions showing different aspects of Maori culture. The performers gathered us in a big house and then off to a fantastic buffet dinner of fish, lamb, and chicken cooked in a pit over fire-heated rocks. Vegetarian dinners are also available. Desserts were kiwi fruit Pavlov (a New Zealand specialty) and hot molasses cake with warm vanilla custard sauce. A cash bar is available if you want to pair you meal with a local wine. Loved the evening, including an amusing ride with Dennis, the bus driver.

Absolutely amazing! You can see why they've won so many awards. Great experience, amazing food, and all of the people are so friendly and welcoming. Must do in New Zealand!

Amazing introduction to Maori culture for tourists and locals alike. Amazing food at the end - a buffet style traditional Hangi with choice of lamb, chicken, fish, and seafood! Well worth checking out if you've got guests from overseas or you just want to learn a little more about Maori culture.

This has to be one of the best places in New Zealand to visit. The whole experience was awesome and the people fantastic. Especially loved learning the Haka. A special mention also for our bus driver Mark. I have never laughed so much in years.

They did a great job! Staff was excellent; from the drivers that picked us up (Isabel & Mark) to the performers & village staff. Singing was very entertaining, they have so much spirit! Food was delicious

Great experience and food. We loved the whole night. I felt pretty lucky to be selected as "chief" of our little group. I would definitely recommend visiting.

C. K.

The cultural experience is great. The food though... Don't look forward to it if you're vegetarian or vegan. I was assured there was a veggie option, which turned out to be potatoes, sweet potatoes and bread. When I asked if there was anything else they said you have to ring up beforehand to ask for something else to be prepared which I wasn't told or asked when I paid for it five hours earlier. Then they sent someone who knew 'exactly what was in all dishes' who then proceeded to ask me what vegan was. Fair to say I'm surprised people are allowed to work with food who don't understand dietary requirements. If you're allergic to anything I'd be careful.. Seems the traditional food (three kinds of meat) was good but anything else wasn't understood. 100% the most expensive potatoes I've ever paid for (it's over over $100 for the whole thing).

N. &. J.

The village was very interactive and they were creative in the way they allowed visitors to join in on the cultural experience. Staff were polite, very experienced and had alot of knowledge on maori culture! The only thing i would reccomend would be a longer tour for small activities we jumped from to run a little longer so guest can really take in everything properly ! But it was really amazing and fun !

M. S.

Fantastic show! Great experience for everyone. From the Chief right on down to the tour guide and the bus driver, they were all very informative, funny and friendly. Now we're part of their tribe. Kia Ora!!!

P. P.

Great Maori experience, very authentic. The price is ludicrous though and should be at most half of what they are charging. You get to see the welcome ceremony, learn about their culture, get entertained for a few dances and songs, and eat a (disappointing) buffet style dinner. I would pay around $80 at most, especially given how many bus loads of people they ship in each night!

A truly moving evening that my partner & I will never forget. The whole experience from hotel pick up to drop off was world class. I highly rate this experience & recommend any visitors to Rotorua to make this evening a must.

S. H.

Was totally enthralling. Loved it. Top quality. Tons of food too.

G. A.

Best must do on the North Island of NZ. Had a beautiful Hungi and cultural experience.

C. L.

Absolutely awesome, full of education, amazement and humour. Best part of my trip to NZ so far, lots and love and passion for their culture. Feel extremely lucky to have seen such a wonderful display of Mauri culture.

H. H.

Go there and look with how much dedication they keep their traditions alive!

Great evening of learning about Maori culture. The demonstrations were fun and educational and the dancing and show was great. The buffet dinner was also delicious. The people there truly care about sharing their heritage with the tourists.

J. B.

The Maori people were really lovely, but it's not my cup of tea to be ferried round with hundreds of other people, to a 'recreated' (ie. fake) village and then queue round each part of the experience. The haka was a memorable experience as was the interaction with the Maori people but we wished we'd gone to an authentic village on our own for something more genuine. Food very average. But hey, thousands of people do love it.

Z. C.

I think my rating was a generic and not updated. The experience was amazing. Learning about the culture and history was a once in a lifetime experience. Everyone involved was amazing and you can tell they all cared about sharing their culture.

Truly worth the price of admission. The entertainment was nonstop from the bus ride until the end of the evening. The cultural tour was educational and the dinner was delicious. Highly recommend this tour to visitors in Rotorua. Maybe not good for small children.

N. B.

The maori village itself is really interesting and the fact that they make you part of the history is very good. But the dinner was not good at all (meet overcooked, not enough choice and the beverages were very expensive). Skip the dinner and enjoy the Maori experience during the day.

Great cultural show. Awesome food and hangi. One minus point was that the ticket showed hotel pickup time of 4.45pm however the bus did not turn up until 5.15pm. Otherwise it was a wonderful experience!

Food: 2/5 Value:2/5 Learning Maori Culture: 4/5 Performance: 3/5 Maori People and Hospitality: 5/5 Experience this once. But do be aware that this is not a real authentic experience but more of a Disneyland experience with "actors" that give you insight into their indigenous culture before the Europeans came and "spread their colonization" plague. The performance ranges from a superb and serious introduction to the Maori tribe (ewi) and mixed bag introduction of their various traditions briefly performed at separate huts (school houses). Warrior and ancestor education was great, tribe female roles and performances were not as much. The food is quite subpar but I guess they didn't really have salt and seasonings back in the day, but do keep in mind it has no taste. As long as you don't have high expectations of some truly authentic and mind-blowing experience and realize this is a Disney-isque revisit performance with some bland food, you will have a good time. Do it once! But not worth a revisit. But for the insight into some Maori and Polynesian history alone, it's worth a one-time admission.

I can't judge how authentic the Displays in the village actually are. But to me it was very interesting to learn about the culture. The Food was great and there was plenty of it. The busdriver was also very entertaining. Definetly recommended to any tourist visiting Rotorua. The only slight critique is that there wasn't enough time to ask questions to the Maori people, even though it was encouraged to ask them.

Wonderful show food was ok

We wanted to show our guest from the US Maori culture and this evening was just perfect. Highly recommended for the whole experience from the greeting to our "Chiefs" through the various activities explained and demonstrated and the Maori singing and dancing. Finished with a delicious Hangi.

Excellent experience! We loved all the different elements of the evening. Including the Hangi dinner. Our bus driver Dennis "The Menance" was the best - soo funny but also a great singer/guitar player.

Great evening with Maori people ans culture. The bus driver very energetic & know how to break the ice within passengers. Welcoming Maori tradition is very interesting. Hangi meal was very very nice and we could pre book vegan food if you are a vegetarian. Also they have seafood meal choice for Muslim. Overall tour is very wort it!

M. M.

Excellent evening of culture food and wine. Good luck in the world cup All Blacks 😜😛😜

Want to discover Maori history? Not only will you receive a maori welcome but also a education of customs and way of life pre-colonisation. You will be delighted with the concert and the succulent hangi meal. Finished off with stories, myths and legends of the migration of the Maori. Then bus ride back to your hotel. Enjoy!

M. H.

Good cultural experience. You get picked up in bus and driven out of town to a somewhat humourous running commentary. Village was good, hangi was good but not the best I've had. Have experienced the one of the other cultural tours in Rotorua and there's not much between them

Absolutely loved the experience, it was both educational and fun, the food was ok but it was supposed to be traditional cooking methods, so that was expected. The performances were really good, and the tripe system that they have was really fun. I would totally recommend it.

This is a very interesting place to visit. Learn a bit about Maori, listen to songs and have good food from the earth oven. No, you will not get in depth information about Maori. How should you in three hours? Yes they are shipping busses to the place and it works like a convayour belt. But you will also meet very friendly, warmhearted, enthusiastic people. Book the tour some days in advance if possible. They will pick you up in your hotel. I enjoyed the trip very much indeed.

The cultural history shared by this Whanau is amazing! Make sure you dress warmly! It's an experience that can be attended by all ages as kids and adults both can enjoy. There is entertainment, group interaction and great food.

Beautifully organised from pick-up to drop-off. An awesome introduction into the Maori culture, also with a lot of humour. I'd give it 6 stars if possible. Truly amazing!

C. L.

The performances feel authentic and moving. It's really cold in the village during evening so remember to bring a cold jacket. Finally the buffet food is not too bad either and I did bask myself in laughter on the bus ride back to hotel.

N. S.

The greatest experience of my life. I loved the Maori village and the over night stay! The culture and hospitality was incredible! 100% recommend to anyone!

The whole family had so much fun. Very educational and interactive. Food was delicious and the journey back on the waka bus was a lot of fun. Everyone seem friendly and multitalented. It was a really good evening

S. G.

Very well done experience staring with bus ride there. All employees are Maori who take pride in their heritage. Each bus selects a "chief " who interacts with Maori leaders. The founders intended this as a way to teach Maori youth about their culture as well as provide an introduction for tourists.

A truly fun and educational experience. It is more than a cultural show and good delicious dinner. Visitors will receive hand-on and engaging demonstration on Maori lifestyle and history.

k. b.

We did the over night stay. Really don't want to miss out on this one. Amazing food beds and the people that are there are super friendly make sure you got up Lady and Heke for some really good banter.

They did a good job herding through bus loads of people but it felt a bit tokenistic. They did keep asking if there were any questions but maybe people were shy. The beginning where they welcomed us was awesome. They were all very friendly and it was all very professionally done.

Amazing cultural experience from start to finish, that includes the bus trip both ways. Our family really enjoyed it. Thanks for a wonderful time Tamaki family

This is an excellent show. Well organized and informative. We learned a lot about Maori culture and enjoyed the songs, dances and food. A great evening out!

This was fine, I'm glad we did it while we were in New Zealand, but the entertainment wasn't particularly engaging, and the food wasn't particularly good. More or less what what you would expect from an average wedding in quality.

a. m.

Great experience, would highly recommend to anyone wanting to know more about Maori culture. Fun day and nice food.. thank you

This is a great snapshot of Maori culture and mythology. The performances and food were good. The Maori there looked like they were having a lot of fun.

I was hopeful. The experience was to be an educational experience. The staff for the most part was professional but some were immature and playful and did not take their heritage and customs seriously. Therefore teh few rotten apples spoiled it for the bunch. Food was good.

This is a great experience, from your hotel pick off, to drop off you'll be entertained and having a great night. Interesting to learn about Maori culture, eat great food, and meet new people.

Authentic, albeit at times almost trying to convince itself of it. Huge crowd, funneled like cattle through most of it, but, the culture deserves the recognition and for that I give it a 3.5 star experience overall. Would be a 4 if either the price were lower, or there was more time on the culture itself instead of the dinner.

Absolutely amazing! A must visit for anyone in Rotorua

Incredible evening, what a great opportunity to learn about Maori culture and the food was amazing too! And on top of that, Maori humour is the best. Would recommend to anyone visiting New Zealand!

We had a ball and learn a lot about the Maori culture. Things felt a little rushes at times but we all had a great time and felt like part of the larger family. Totally worth it.

Truly incredible experience. Welcoming hosts taught us many traditional Maori customs, followed by a huge banquet with many songs, dances and hakas along the way.

For $32.50 you get to walk around a geothermal area with different coloured pools, one area feels like a nuclear fallout zone. You also get to see the lady Knox Geyser go of and they do have good coffee at the cafe

Great place and very experiance. They really try their best to give you good entertainment and show traditional maori culture. The dinner meal after was absolutely delicious.

P. J.

The cultural side was professionally done but the meal was a real disappointment - not particularly good and not hot enough. Note that they can't provide a consistent story regarding dietary requirements - virtually every person I spoke to gave a different story.

Great guides and The Bus driver was a character. They set you up for the correct mood for entry and there's fun throughout. The people are mulitalented. They tell a good story and the Hungi needs an apetite like mine. Yum

Fully recommended Maori experience into traditional lifestyle with song and dance along with audience participation into daily learning activities followed by a most delicious hangi (underground cooked meal) You will come out fully engaged with a grasp of understanding into the Maori way of lifestyle.

Super nice evening! I think everyone visiting New Zealand should do something like this or at least go to a museum and learn something about the maori culture. I had goosebumps at the end when they performed the haka.

T. M.

Excellent experience of Maori culture with super friendly and talented guides, excellent food and entertainment. It was incredibly well organised and we loved every minute.

Great place and very experiance. They really try their best to give you good entertainment and show traditional maori culture. The dinner meal after was absolutely delicious.

one of the most important places you should visit it when you go to Rotorua.. great traditional greetings and dress.. lovely place 👍

This would be a lot better if you weren't treated like kids on a trip, with constant pressure to join in activities and perform or sing for the rest of the visitors.

Reasonably interesting but couldn't quite shake the question of whether this event was truly educational or exploitation. It does encourage me to learn more about the true state of Maori in New Zealand today.

M. B.

The entire tour is very professionally organised and gives you some insight into maori culture. From the bus tour ( special mention to our driver Davey who kept us fully entertained in the bus and kept us laughing our guts out) to the performancance and hangi everything was just perfect. They involve the audience in their performance which makes it even special. My 3yo had a blast doing the haka. They are so warm and make you a part of their lives. I will forever remember the words spoken in the farewell where the cheif said if someone asks me what is the most important thing in the world .. I will answer it is the people, people, people.

M. I.

Amazing experience cultural with excellent food

Beautiful, very energetic folks, delicious foods seemingly every nook of the tour was stuffed with entertainment. Don't hesitate to volunteer yourself for human sacrifice, and have a good time doing it!

I felt welcomed and was impressed with the cultural talks and preformances. The kai was deliciously prepared to perfection. Thankyou NgaTama tribe for a truely memorable and fun kiwi experience.

Its so good Experience . Amazing Team

M. B.

AMAZING. Absolutely loved the experience and the Maori people were so friendly and welcoming!! We learnt so much and enjoyed everything! Highly recommended!!

I went there as my grandfather had constructed the tamaki tours for the the owners Brian and Mike Tamaki, with allot of things to do there and a restaurant with maori performances. It Was a real eye opener and I'm glad I got to see it, I rate this place a 3 Star ⭐⭐⭐

Amazing recreation of a pre colonial Maori village. Great pride has been taken in every detail. Will be recommending to all our friends thinking of visiting Rotorua.

V. N.

One of my favorite activities while in NZ. You get to know a lot of the Maori culture and the staff are nothing but kind. Love it!

Amazing evening. Absolutely loved it. Full of culture, was such a nice welcoming atmosphere and great performances, great food. If you get the chance definitely go.

Without doubt, one of the most magical, magnificent, mesmerising locations I have visited. The Tamaki team, I should say, family, are such a joy. You need to visit here, even if it means going out of your way, and as our tour group where able to stay the night in a communal room, this is a must too. Cannot praise this place highly enough. I would go back in a heartbeat. To all there, esp. Hickey, JK, Leada and Moana, and many apologies for awful spelling, from Ireland I say, Go Raibh Míle Maith Agaibh. The only thing missing, is access to recordings of their music. Seriously, if you are reading this, heading to New Zealand then idiot Tamaki Maori Village.

Had an amazing evening at Tamaki Village with my family! It was made even better by the fact that you could tell the people working there really enjoyed what they do. Will definitely be recommending this!

Amazing method of showcasing culture heritage and doing it with heart and soul

Must do! Perfect atmosphere, friendly stuff, authentic maori's, super funny bus driver and delicious perfect sized Buffet. Would do it again!

Very interesting presentation of Maori culture and history. If you go, eat a good snack first because dinner is served VERY LATE.

A. C.

Was worthwhile, feels a bit commercialised, with lots packed in. The fun begins on the bus and doesn't stop until you are dropped home. Very good singing.

Great mix of learning, fun and laughter. From the moment we arrived, we felt welcomed and part of their family. The food was amazing!

Thoroughly recommend for an insight into Maori culture, customs & history, with the chance for some participation in activities. Meal was also delightful.

Wonderful. If you come to New Zealand and don't take the time to learn a little bit about the culture, you'll be poorer for it. If you are in Rotorua, then visiting the Tamaki Maori village should be on your to-do list. Kia Ora.

吳.

Great experience of Maori culture. It's educational and dinner is delicious. Its also a good example of the way how to keep Taiwan's aboriginal cultures.

1. Note if you get tickets for 5pm, I have to be there by 4pm. 2. Great experience and learning. 3. Nice food 4. A little bit overpriced.

Q. S.

Great experience with Maori dance, music, culture and feast.

Had a great time at this event. We were shuttled from the main offices in rotorua to the actual village. It was about a 15 minute drive. The bus driver was really funny and kept us entertained. I’ve been to the Polynesian Culture Center (PCC) in Hawaii and this had a similar level of quality to it. The “schools” were super interesting and the Maoris represented themselves really well. My wife was selected to do the “poi” dance and they had all the men learn the famous Haka war dance. The opening ceremony was very cool and they showed a tremendous amount of respect to their ancestors and to the traditions of their people. And they did a great job of showing us how sacred and important is was as well.

Awesome experience. Great people, amazing food. Everybody is super friendly. If you have the opportunity to go please do it

Fun event with a good overview of local culture but dinner was lackluster

Totally professional...highly recommended. It was a lovely evening and the culture, the set up and the food at the end was highly entertaining and really yum...

Would not do it again. Cost a lot, food was bland. Bus driver was very entertaining. Most of the rest felt like they were doing what they were paid to do.

best thing to do in rotorua. they get you involved in the games as you walk around the village. Food is is nice, shame it's lamb and not beef every now and again. always bring friends here when visiting from overseas.

Absolutely incredible experience. The culture is so amazing and I love that they are so passionate about sharing! They are very open to questions and I highly recommend this to everyone.

Probably the best Hangi in town! Tamaki has the Hangi down to a fine art. 3 fun packed hours learning the old Maori traditions, entertainment and a fine meal. Hard to better.

Spine-tingling hakka sent me two steps backs. It was an awesome, fun-while-learning experience. Maori culture is so rich and I can tell the seeming similitudes with that of our pre-Spanish culture in the Philippines.

Very educational and entertaining, from the bus driving, Wallis, to the village residents. Buffet was more than enough quantity. Recommended outing

Great place to see and learn Maori culture. I am so glad to see Maori culture is something New Zealanders proud of and keep the heritage so well.

It went over my expectation, and the food at the end was delicious.

Decent experience good food a good evening spent.

They were very serious about showing their culture to others. They made the evening seem more like hanging out with family. They were happy to answer questions and pose for photos.

Excellent very informative, Maori culture,food was delicious,very friendly and helpful staff they couldn't do enough for all guests.

K. B.

It was informative and creative. But we didn't eat until 9pm. The food was good. It rained all night so we were cold and tired.

Good experience, very nice and professional people.

A wonderful, educational and enjoyable dinner and evening.

This is a great place to visit and to eat.

Amazing experience! Very educational, culturally valuable and fun. The hangi is absolutely fantastic too. I would definitely recommend this.

A. W.

Tamaki village is an excellent, hands on way to learn a bit about traditional Maori culture. The food and hospitality is outstanding.

I'm not sure where to start! Every part of this was amazing! Very interested, engaging and heart warming. This is 100% worth going to! The staff are so welcoming and fun.

S. D.

I couldn't help but think of it a little like a circus. It's very much designed to be an experience for tourists and "outsiders". Still very entertaining and educative though!

A must see in Rotorua. Highly recommend

A. H.

A wonderful night with beautiful people who enjoyed sharing their culture with people from allcorners of this Earth. We were looked after beautifully. Highly recommended.

Amazing. Me and my wife loved it. Great to learn about the culture and heritage of the Maori. Great entertainment and food too. Thanks.

Good host ,good food and entertainment

One of the best experiences! My kids (13 and 11) loved the Tamaki Maori experience more than Hobbiton!

E. S.

Interesting, you will learn something about the Maori culture but kind of cliche. The ride with Marc, bus driver, was the highlight of the night, funniest guy ever!

What an educational treat! The people were wonderful and funny but you could tell this meant a lot to them and they were proud to share their culture and I was proud to be a part it!

Wonderful cultural experience and delicious food!

Great place to learn about Maori culture. Hangi dinner was great and the performers were very enthusiastic!

Starting with our amazing driver Hone the evening got better and better. Food was perfect. Cultural info really good. Just FABULOUS.

Great experience .. good food. Excellent welcome and hospitality by Maori people. And very good display of their culture

Excellent entertainment and an excellent snippet of the Maori culture. Great food. Definitely recommend.

I highly recommend this place. I've been here twice and it's such a welcoming and heartwarming experience. The evening experience with dinner is totally worth it.

I. F.

This would be a lot better if you weren't treated like kids on a trip, with constant pressure to join in activities and perform or sing for the rest of the visitors.

It is a very well polished cultural display. A good dose of humour displayed and shared by our host. A fun night out.

Great experience. Entertaining and educational. All feels a bit rushed: like a flock of cattle you follow commands.

Great evening, Introduction to Maori culture and good meal. Best bus driver ever!

This is an absolute must if you're going to stay in Rotorua. So much history, fun, and good food. Fantastic people to learn about and from.

Excellent experience, highly recommend. But as Aussie I only go for the all blacks after Australia has been eliminated.

Especially awesome...night be a bit biased - I work there lol. Buuuttt no.7 attraction in the world, according to trip advisor :)

Great time for a Maori cultur experience. The meal was also very Good. A Must do in the kiwi aventure

A very good opportunity to get closer to the maori culture, the village is nice, the food is good and definitely you are going to have a good time.

Great experience (though appreciate it is very touristy) lovely food, welcoming hosts and a great learning experience

A wonderful experience, both for my Canadian partner, and myself (a kiwi). We both couldn't stop smiling the whole night, and the hangi is divine.

It is a great experience... knowing the Maori way of life and actively participating in the actions!! The food was great too...

Fantastic experience. Well organised, performed and delivered. I can see why this place has won awards. Very highly recommended.

Very enjoyable experience. Presented in a professional and entertaining manner. Hare our bus driver was the best.

Was by far the best Maori experience I have had my family and I enjoyed the whole night and the food was delicious.

The whole experience seems really real and feel like you're actually in the tribe's village. The staff is amazing and very very friendly.

Great place to visit. The demonstration s are excellent and the program really gives you a good idea of Maori culture.

What an absolute privilege to have made it here for the cultural experience! Probably my favourite thing done in NZ, value for money 100 times over!

Worth to visit, very good services.

Wonderful. Great way to experience a Maori village, ceremony and customs. I absolutely recommend.

Great atmosphere with amazing hosts. Really interesting experience and the best Pavlova I've ever had!

This was the highlight of my trip to New Zealand. Great show, awesome food and everyone so friendly and welcoming.

A great place to visit have been twice now. You would be disappointed if you didn't go. Bus trip back to Rotorua will have you laughing.

Loved the experience on the Christmas Eve. They had vegetarian and vegan options as well. Was very crowded though

An amazing place. Must visit for any tourist. Show, entertainment and food excellent. Hard to beat.

Amazing traditional Maori evening.

Awesome thing to do when visiting rotorua definitely recommend it. Even the coach ride was awesome never song so much before!!

It was a great demonstration of the Maori culture by passionate and dedicated people. Well work a visit. The food was great

Beautiful location with a lovely well appointed room with all amenities and a super view. Excellent food and exceptional service. Well recommended.

Absolutely awesome experience - just be prepared to participate in certain activities if you're male *cough-haka-cough* :D

Worth every penny of it. A great way to get to know the local culture. It was enjoyable and the food is nice.

Definitely this is one of the most wonderful NZ experiences you must try! Bus driver was one of the best!

Very fun experience. Learned a lot about the Maori people, and the food was delicious!

Great experience and highly recommended. All aspects including transport, education, entertainment and dining are well organised and fun!

Great place. I learn a lot of things about Maori culture. Best pavlova ever. Kia ora

Very informative and lots of fun.

Highly recommended, show was fantastic food was was Devine, all round just awesome, Kia ora.

The best stop on our holiday. Friendly people, good food and a great show. Most impressive Haka.

Full Maori experience. Excellent cultural learning and great food. Learning the haka was a blast.

Was a great night out the meal was fantastic, the village tour was very informative and the dancing and Haka were great

Wow. Was really great adventure to see Maori history So proud to meet these people Thank you for good hospitality Maori

Well worth doing this if in the area the bus ride in was entertaining and the performances were great and your fed at the end. If you want to experience Nz do this

Best show in town, lots of music and food. Pick you up at your hotel. Let them know of food requirements

Had a blast. The chief was awesome and made us feel very welcome! Kia ora

Great experience amd beautiful food

Excellent night! A great show and the lamb was heaven from the hangi. Lovely people.

This place is awesome. The food is amazing. There wasn't a single moment where you weren't doing something.

Really a cultural immersion into the Maori stories!

It was an amazing experience in a beautiful location. Highly recommended for anyone that hasn't been!

The experience was great. A little intimidating at first. Meal was so good would recommend this place to anyone.

Just amazing. With the trip. So much participation and of course the food and show

Interesting,entertaining,great food. Bus driver hilarious,provided great entertainment on the way home.

Trip to New Zealand is incomplete without visiting this place.. amazing setup.. lovely people.. awesome culture events.. talented staff and yummy food.. must visit this place

Highly recommended...our bus driver Dave was also a very entertaining part of the whole evening.

Perfect place to learn about Maori culture

A great experience. We learned loads and had lots of fun too. Everyone was friendly and welcoming.

Amazing, really enjoyed the experience

The best experience I had in New Zealand. Authentic with great atmosphere and wonderful food in the end.

You can learn haka from the leader of the village

6 stars!!! What an experience, the family are so lovely and welcoming. Kia Ora

A wonderful experience, the best food. Learnt so much and had so much fun. Thankyou

Couldnt recommend enough brilliant entertainment and food and our bus driver was also incredable

Awesome experience, my English whanau really enjoyed the place. So did I!

Educational and fun! What a mean feast! Then an acapela group sang for us too...good times!

A beautiful journey to Mauri Culture ends with a delicious Traditional Buffet Dinner

This was fun. It wasn't quite what I was expecting as this is not an operating village where people live, but more of a re-creation for people to walk through.

The entertainment was spectacular and the food was delicious. Well worth it.

What an awesome experience. I highly recommend it to anyone who would like to experience early New Zealand.

Amazing indeed... Great kiwi tucker and best singing bus driver ever

one of the most important places you should visit it when you go to Rotorua.. great traditional greetings and dress.. lovely place 👍

Loved it

Awesome display and presentation on Maori culture best in rotorua. Great feast as well

Beautiful village with very talented artists. The traditional buffet was delicious as well.

Wonderful hospitality, delicious food, and great to learn so much. Thank you for being so open and welcoming!

Really enjoyed it. Probably better if the guests are given a time to take a photo with the performers

An amazing night with beautiful people. A great cultural experience and the food was terrific.

Interesting sharing of tradition and crafts.Yummy dinner provided prepared in the traditional Maori way.

Fabulous people had a real good time. Food was also delicious.

Great intro to some Maori culture

Great way of getting to know the local history

All of them have beautiful voice and the food is simply delicious, especially the mussel.

Amazing experience and very good consept. Little tight schedule between the groups.

Nice experience learning maori culture. Great meal follows.

Love it. A memorable momment visiting the village. Know better about Maori culture

Nice Place... Nice Culture.. and Nice People...

Your gonna love it

Loved it, had a great time, our bus driver was great and the night was fantastic

Bit commercial but good introduction to culture and background. Staff friendly and engaging.

Great hosts, well put together programme, delicious and plentiful food. What more could you want?

Amazing night, great food, great atmosphere - incredible singers. Loved it

A great experience to know more about the Maori and a good buffet to conclude

An amazing experience, from the bus ride to the dinner. 100% recomended

I got made into a chief! Honestly though, great experience with so many excellent demonstrations.

Fantastic tourism place to visit! Entertainers are amazing. Food is unbelievable!!

Travelled both Australia and New Zealand and this was by far the best trip I have had. Couldn't recommend it more!

Absolutely mind blowingly awesome! Wish I could have given it an extra star. Totally worth it!! Learned a lot!!

Incredible experience, so happy to have visited here and met the beautiful knowledgeable people here!

They made an effort, but staying in the cold for too long in April. I had to stay by the warm fire.

A awesome place to know maori

Great experience. Staff is funny. Food is plenty and good. Good value

Excellent!! Friendly, informative and passionate about their culture, highly recommended!!

Interesting view of the Maori culture plus a good typical meal

What an experience! A visit is a must do if in the area, highlight of my holiday!!! 10/10

Very good the talks before the sit down display went on too long excellent food

Great night. Informative and entertaining. Staff obviously love what they are doing

One of the best cultural experiences one can get. Very nice people/host.

A great place to visit the locals are fantastic and the food was very good

Very educational. Visitors get involve in the real culture not just watch.

Great NZ attraction with a fantastic glimpse into the Maori culture

Excellent experience, the enthusiasm and passion of the guides was infectious

Every visitor should go and see this awesome show and meal thanks to all involve this the show

Very very well done to get an appreciation of the Maori culture

Can't go to a better place to see the Maoris in action plus great traditional Hungy food

Excellent experience. Educational and entertaining. Well worth a visit.

Fabulous evening of their culture and beautiful food. Well recemend it

Great evening at the village. We were made to feel very welcome.

Amazing experience to learn about Maori culture - a must do in Rotorua.

Amazing place in New Zealand.

Mesmerizing tour, remember to go to Waka bus, the driver is God of Humor 😆😆😜

What an awesome and entertaining night. Thanks to Harry for the bus ride entertainment as well.

Great evening spent here, wonderful people great show and hospitality.

Amazing show and food. Even the bus ride is fun.

It was a good experience. And a glimpse into the original Newzealand people

Edutainment and culturally enriching experience of the native inhabitants of Aotearoa, aka New Zealand.

Great night and very welcoming and friendly, recommended to go

Wonderful experience, delightful people and a wonderful evening all round

Excellent. What a experience! We love their music!

Great night, great experience, great food, great people... Could not ask for more.

Best night ever highly recommended absolutely loved it 11/10

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1072 State Highway 5, Tumunui 3073, New Zealand