Reviews of Te Puia - Rotorua, NZ. (Museum) in Rotorua (Bay of Plenty).

Te Puia - Rotorua, NZ

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Museum

Tourist attraction

Hemo Road, Tihiotonga, Rotorua 3040, New Zealand

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Information of Te Puia - Rotorua, NZ, Museum in Rotorua (Bay of Plenty)

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Open hours of Te Puia - Rotorua, NZ

Sunday

9am–4pm

Monday

Closed

Tuesday

Closed

Wednesday

10am–4pm

Thursday

10am–4pm

Friday

10am–4pm

Saturday

10am–4pm

Popular times

Tuesday

10
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Wednesday

11
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Thursday

10
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Friday

10
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Saturday

9
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Reviews of Te Puia - Rotorua, NZ

Great experience to all ages! If you haven't seen a kiwi bird yet, visit the kiwi conservation. 3 birds were in cage and the young one would be set free once the bird reach to its maturity and can live independently outside. While the other 2 were expected to mate. Best to go with a guided tour so you get more information plus the yummy volcano cake shouldn't be missed at the end of your tour😊

We did the nighttime geyser experience and would totally recommend it to others. Take a guided tour through the park without melting in the summer sun like you would during the day. Learn about history of the site as well as about the carvings and school. Such a cool experience to do. Main Pohutu geyser didn't go off while we were there despite waiting extra time but a number of the other geysers did. Would have been nice to see but still very special to see the others go off. The guides were awesome story tellers.

What can I say other than perfection? To learn about a new culture, see kiwis, tour a school and see natural geothermal wonders was an absolute treat. Not to mention our tour guide Kahu was an absolute delight.

Fantastic tour and outstanding staff. We did a guided tour (1.30pm 3/1/22_ the guide was great, patient, interesting and humorous. Steamed pudding at the end with erupting Pohutu geyser was lucky. One of the hottest days of the year and all staff - lady driving the tuatara train (let my sons ride at the front and even honk the horn buying their love forever) kindly picked us up at the Pohutu geyser when it must have been 34 Celcius, to drive us back. Also the lady working at reception also very welcoming, friendly and couldn't help enough. Best customer service I've ever received on a day out. The park itself is wonderful and kiwi house, geothermal sites and the Maori culture introduction unique.

Great morning out. Amazing place with varied things to do and see, including some great food at their restaurant.

Absolutely loved the Geysers by Night tour. Felt surreal walking around and seeing all of the geothermal features at dusk. The weather was pretty rubbish but our guide kept us moving and shared so much knowledge, that the rain was easy to ignore. We loved it so much we came back the next day to see it in the light. The fact that despite covid eliminating most of their visitors, they have continued to stay open and innovate shows vital their mission to support the Māori Arts & Crafts Institute is.

All my 34 students of ages 5-13 plus the parents enjoyed our guide Tamati's Humor, knowledge of the different attractions. We enjoyed Matua Kahu's korero and knowledge i te reo māori especially our train ride a must do. The professionalism of the chiefs of the preparation and presentation of kai our hangi even my students that don't eat hangi are now hangi lovers. All the different speakers the students, workers and kiwi enclosure. Amazing experience. Hope to make it an annual thing.

Thank you Kahu and Te Puia staff for an amazing time! Learnt more in 2 hours, then I have living here for 4yrs. And the steamed pudding... Tu Meke! Staff are so friendly, down to earth and welcoming.

Te Puia is New Zealand’s geothermal wonderland, featuring dramatic geysers, bubbling mud pools, traditional Māori carvers and weavers, Kiwi birds as was well its world famous restaurant, Pātaka Kai. Entry fee applies and guided tours are offered at 10.30am and 1.30pm. Stunning place to visit. Highly recommended

My Mum and I went here today weather wasnt the greatest but our guides were awesome. Friendly, helpful and a wealth of knowledge. Was honored to have Ariana, if Ive spelt your name wrong Im sorry, as her first tour group she has taken. You did an amazing job. Thank you to all the staff and students keep up the good work. As for the Lollie Man 🤣 I didnt get any lollies but did have a good laugh instead.

We did the night tour and it was excellent. Tour guide have good sense of humour and made the trip enjoyable. The night scenic view and backdrop during the summer was cooling and peaceful but also exciting to see the geysers. The smoke effect at night is also very magical. Some surprising treat during the middle of the session. Legs are tiring but very well done.

We were lucky enough to do the night tour and see the geysers in a whole new way. The guides were amazing and definitely the right people in the right job. We went back the following day and was also very impressed by the scenery. The school is also a fantastic idea.

An absolutely beautiful natural wonder that has to be seen to appreciated. An enjoyable walk with lots of interesting facts and hilarious bubbling and spluttering mud. Beautiful Maori art and builds and if you're lucky you'll even see some Kiwis!

Had a great night lights geyser tour with our guides on Sat 7th. Guide was really welcoming and genuine... the mention at the end he was 18 and spending his Sat night out giving us a tour really reflected in the information and stories he passed on to us. We saw geysers erupt, took some amazing photos, heard a Kiwi call... even got a great steamed pudding and hot chocolates! Thanks team!

Highly recommend doing the tour, really interesting (and included in price)

We had an amazing 3 hours here and learnt alot about the natural wonders, as well as Maori history and culture. I would highly recommend the free guided tour, as the tour guides are knowledgeable and entertaining. Bonus - You get to try the hot pool steamed pudding 😋 at the end and you are transported around the park on a transporter

What a fantastic place, must do when visiting Rotorua! We did the 10.30am guided tour and it was outstanding. Over 2h of Māori culture, crafts, kiwi conservation, and geothermal tour. Our guide Kahu was very friendly, knowledgeable, and fun. One of the best experiences I've had in NZ.

Tour guides are very knowledgeable and it's great to learn about the valley and the cultural side of things too seeing the Maori arts and crafts institute. The kiwis are so cute!!! Was cool to see the valley. Definitely recommend supporting the business!

Absolutely fantastic experience! We did the night tour and would highly recommend! Our guides Manaaki, Tamati, Nelson and Perez were so knowledgeable and provided a fantastic evening! They went above and beyond to give us a good time with loads of fun touches and facts (some singing to!)! This is a must do if you are in the area.

Awesome atmosphere, great tour guide and spectacular geyser.

Te Puia was recommended to us by some locals when we asked them what Rotoruas best geothermal attraction was and we weren't disappointed. We chose to do the guided tour and our guide Jamar was friendly, engaging and knowledgeable as was every Staff Member we came across. We got some amazing photos, had a delicious lunch and fantastic day and will definitely be back

The Gem of Rotorua. Worth visit and time you spend over there

This place is amazing! I really recommend a trip. The night time experience is incredibly good. Patrick was an amazing guide, and it was really engaging. Fun and adventurous for everyone.

I have always loved Te Puia and when I heard about the Geysers by Night, I couldn't wait to bring the family. Such a great experience and thoroughly recommended! Manaaki is amazing, as were the young men who accompanied him. Their knowledge, generosity of spirit and vocals(!!!) were impressive. Our 11 year old also declared the hot chocolate whilst waiting for Pohutu was the best in a long time. :-). Highly recommend as a NZ Must Do.

We went to the cafe for a birthday lunch, and it was a lovely meal with great service. It's a beautiful place to soak in the views and atmosphere. Highly recommended. We'll be back.

Again until here we found Rotorua not v friendly but this place was amazing,oh also for goodness sake have the waffles!

Was not sure what to expect when we paid at the front gate. We arrived fairly late in the afternoon, it was cloudy and light showers had us wondering if it was a great idea. Turns out, perfect time. The walk was fairly long but not overly difficult, you can choose to ignore some areas to shorten the length of the walk if needed. We happened to visit when the geyser was overly active and it was worth seeing this spectacular part of nature. My pictures did not do it justice. Due to the rain, the mud pools looked awesome and the steam shrouding everything was like a scene from a movie, it was picture perfect. We ONLY did the geyser walk, there was a lot of other things to do and see but I can't comment on those, but we did catch the Kiwi exhibit. We apparently were extremely lucky, only the wife and I in the exhibit and the kiwi literally less than a metre from us, right in our face. No pictures or talking in the exhibit but that's fine, it's not something easily forgotten.

We joined the guided walk and our guide, Liam was great! It was nice to hear from the carvers and weavers, and learn the history. We were lucky to enjoy beautiful weather on the day and delicious steam pudding cooked in thermal pit. The kiwi house was a highlight as the breeding pair were so active and chasing each other, which was unusual to see. We finished it off with a quick yummy buffet brunch at the restaurant. Would definitely recommend.

Came here with my 3 littlies (5,4 & 4). We joined in the tour and our guide was really informative, however we had to seperate from the group part way through as my kids were getting restless and disruptive. Lots to see with some great photo opportunities. The Pohutu gyser was quite cool to watch when it went off. If you stand on the bridge you can be engulfed in warm steam. The mud pools were OK but there had been a very long dry spell in the weather so there wasn't much mud and the ground was dry and cracked. I think going in autumn/winter would actually be way better! The sun can be relentless in summer and there isn't much shade on the walk around. The kiwi house was very cool. The kiwis were very active when we went through and were running around right up at the window, worth a visit. Overall it was a really good way to spend a few hours. Pack a picnic lunch or dine at the cafe, either way it's a great day out!

Maori school information and craving was good. Happy to see kiwis. Was nice walk to Geothermal place and mud pools. The mud pudding was yumm. They baked it with the heat of SULPHUR....

One of the must places to see in Rotorua. Allow 3 hours to walk and rest, the place is huge. The infrastructure is amazing, with a classy restaurant and coffee. We bought the basic family pack, which is good if you have small kids. Bring your baby carrier to take your little ones, it helps finish the whole itinerary. Food is allowed inside the park for picnic, but you have to carry your belongings all the time, no lockers. Avoid the peak sun time and enter around 8:30 to enjoy less people and more freedom to walk and take photos. One of the most interesting places are the institute of arts and the galleries which exhibit the Maori art and how it is done. Geysers are another must see, great to see the earth releasing some stress. Worth coming and recommended.

Te Puia should be on everyone's "To Do" list that visits New Zealand. What a fantastic introduction to Maori history and an amazing way to see geothermal geysers in action. The welcome we got from our tour guide was very interesting and his commentary as we walked around the location was very helpful. The work we saw being done in the training workshop was inspiring, seeing Maori youths being taught the different crafts by their elders.

Recently they have started doing a guided night tour at Whakarewarewa in Rotorua. It was moon-like and wonderful. Our guides were eloquent and connected to the land. Stories came to life. We sat by the boiling pool and had piping hot steam pudding and custard. Magic. As the temperature dropped, warm stones beside the geyser Põhutu provided a wonderful place to gather and drink the rich hot chocolate privided while we listened to the geology of the area. All up, this was seriously one of the best tours we've ever done. Thoroughly recommend it.

The most amazing time, and that lunch.... oh my wow. Would totally recommend doing the arts tour, so awesome to see our culture being kept alive.

An super interesting place to see the geothermal activity of the area and get an understanding and appreciation for the culture. The place really feels like a family. The dinner I had was great and the percormance was interactive in the best way! We could volunteer to try certain dances and activities. The museum part that shows the schools was incredible to see as well. Our guide walked my group through the buildings to see what each focus was working on and the importance of that craft to the culture.

Rotorua has so much to offer, still Te Puia should be on you must visit list as it provides a concentrated cultural experience that would be hard to replicate. Go to the geysers first, the are shooting up all day long and are an impressive sight (even on a rainy day when we were there). Then the arts and crafts workshop are a great place to learn how the ancient arts are being preserved, and how nature is incorporated into everything. Ending with a tour of the great meeting halls and hearing the stories is a perfect close. There is the standard tourist trap shopping :), even if you don't buy anything there is some good art there to browse through.

We did the day and night experience as a family and were rapped with our tour guide. He entertained us throughout the afternoon with his personal history as well as tribal facts. We were impressed with the geysers and thermal park but not so much with the kiwi experience. It was very dark and you were moved on without getting time for your eyes to adjust and seeing the kiwi. The entertainment and dinner package was great. We enjoyed all the tasty food and the special toasting drink.

Awesome night tour...sitting on hot stones, drinking hot chocolate and watching steam and geysers and light show

Wow, wow and wow... I don't know where to start! Well first and foremost, tēnā rawa atu koe to Patrick, our amazing guide, he is incredibly kind, knowledgeable and friendly which from my experience is a characteristic trademark of the amazing Maori people. Now on to the review... I wish I could give this place more than 5 starts, you NEED TO VISIT THIS PLACE if you are interested in NZ Maori culture, NZ's beautiful natural environment, flower, fauna and native animals, handicrafts, natural mud baths and geysers. Make sure you book a guided tour for multiple reasons: for one, just looking at things without the background info & knowledge is far from ideal and will dramatically reduce the fun factor, also this amazing place needs the tourism $ in COVID times and your money will go a long way to support the establishment and the great people, last but not least the fee is low if you consider what is on offer and Patrick will make you a delicious Volcano cake using the natural oven of earth if you are nice enough! I would allocate a good 3 - 4 hours here - as I love taking photos and looking at everything in details - but a minimum of 2 hours without a guide and more if you go for the guided tour. There is a slight natural sulphur odor in the air from time to time but that is part of the amazing experience so embrace it! I will add A TONNE OF PHOTOS, make sure you check it out but honestly nothing beats seeing them in person!

This place was fantastic, there was so much to see and many things to understand. We had a guided tour around the whole place and the guide cooked our eggs in the water for us and we got to eat with salt - delicious. We also got to see a real kiwi bird which was amazing, they are fluffy and quite large. We also got to visit the workshops to see the men carving the jade and the wood, their creations were beautiful. The gift shop is full of amazing items. Very much worth a visit. The steaming geezers were a site to see as well. The spray off of them cools quickly so you get a little wet but its nice on a hot day.

One of the must do when visiting Rotorua, a lot to see from geyser to Maori art. Wonderful 👍🏼

Wow. This place is incredible. Walking through the Māori arts and crafts center was amazing. The carving and weaving were so intricate. Then the Geyser was beautiful and our guide times our route perfectly as it began to explode. The bubbling mud bath, the Kiwis, and the Māori Welcome / Haka were all incredible as well. Super great experience and I wish we had more time to spend there. Our guide was so nice and so informative. Great place for everyone.

This place was awesome. We came here to see the geysers and were pleasantly surprised to see that it is also a school that offers scholarships to Maori people to learn the wood sculpting and weaving practiced by their ancestors--all funded by ticket entrance costs. The geysers were very impressive as well. If you're looking for a Maori cultural experience, skip the school field trip that is Tamaki Maori Village and come here. You see people actively learning the skills practiced by their ancestors instead of actors pretending to do so, and you get to see some incredible geysers too!

The Geyser is the only interesting thing to see at The Puia, I agree there were more things to see and to learn about the Maori culture and geothermal activity but I prefer Wai O Tapu for the view and the walk to do.

Cost 60NZ dollars to get in . ( Discount available with coupons ) In the summer, it might be a bit too hot to walk around between 12-3PM. The biggest geyser is the main attraction and erupts once or twice every hour . The best place to wait and watch it is at the buffet restaurant which we enjoyed every much. ( cost 38NZ dollars )

Lovely day spent here, got to enjoy tram ride thru the place, tour guides were super friendly, got to see live kiwis in their habitat, bubbling mud, live geysers & enjoyed hot food on-site.

One of the highlights in New Zealand . A lot to see from geyser to Maori arts and crafts. you need 3 hours at least to explore. I really enjoyed my time there.

We had our staff end of year function here.The food was delicious, and the staff were friendly and helpful.

Absolutely awesome, fantastic staff, absolutely awesome atmosphere, spotless and clean everywhere you go. Will definitely be back. Had a guided tour with the steam pudding at the end and absolutely loved it, the guide was super and my children really enjoyed it.

Attended indigenous night. Service was great hongi and private welcoming was excellent. Chinese staff members was very helpful. Performance was wonderful food was nice looks like they only have one show per night not like the other Maori villages where multiple shows and warriors finish one group and jump to the other. Interpretation was also well done

Wonderful place. I went as a kid and so happy to bring mine here (many) years later. Kahu is an awesome guide, fun, knowledge. Tu meke.

Smell rotten egg but good experience to see geysers still erupt and its the biggest in southern hemisphere 😅 lucky to experience this. Owhh need to pay admission for entry. Big place to walk or hoop their bus.

Fantastic! Spectacular geothermal features, knowledgeable & jovial staff, unique cultural experiences. Money goes to support the local Maori and their educational and culture preservation mission. See a geyser and traditional woodcarving & weaving all at once. Our guide, called Rob, was excellent in his blend of knowledge and humor. Free guided tours available at the top of every hour are recommended.

This place is actually 3 places in one, there are mud pools and geysers. A house with 2 kiwi birds and a cultural centre with a carving school. There is free guided tour which runs hourly. The tour is very informative. Expected to spend 2 to 3 hours here.

We had a really great time. Staff were really helpful.

Absolutely loved it! Lots of things to see, the geysers, Maori arts and crafts, hot mud pools and even an indoor enclosure where you can see some real live Kiwis! If you are coming to Te Puia you also definitely have to buy tickets for the Maori show too, it's amazing! They're all really great singers and dancers, and it gives you an insight into the Maori culture.

What an incredible experience! I love learning about different cultures, and this was the best place! There are many beautiful geysers and mud pools. We also got to see a kiwi in action foraging for food in the kiwi center. But learning about Maori culture was the highlight! We got to meet many locals who were so passionate about sharing their culture with us. We were able to see (and be part of!) traditional songs and dances, as well and a delicious feast! I couldn't believe all we got to experience in 4 hours! I'd recommend this place for anyone visiting the area!

It's magic here and a must-visit while you're in Rotorua. Definitely do the guided tour - the knowledgeable Guides bring Te Puia to life and make you feel like part of the whanau. Nga mihi Kahu and Team Te Puia!

Te Puia is a special place. From the time you enter through the gates to when you leave, you are surrounded by the incredible Maori culture and spirit. Te Puia has so much to offer its guests, and I was really impressed by how much time and effort has been spent in enveloping the guests in Maori culture. There is so much to see and so much to learn, from the Maori greeting and welcome display (including dancing and demonstration of weapons) to the geothermal Geysers, and the fantastic workshop where the incredible sculptures, and other artworks are made. The layout of the park is great, with well maintained walkways and clear signage all over. If you are in or near the Rotorua area make sure to stop by Te Puia, you won't regret it!

Wow! This place was breathtaking! We actually got to see the eruption of the geysers, large and small. There is lots to do and see here, and you definitely want your camera. The carving school, Maori village, Kiwi house, and thermal areas are so much fun. Plan to be here for 2-3 hours at least. The gift shop was spectacular too. It had your basic souvenirs, but also on site crafted items.

Amazing tour with the great staff. Super lovely people and great info & kai shared. Definitely 100% recommend.

Such an amazing experience attending the ritualistic dance and learning about the culture. The hot springs and geyser were epic and the buffet lunch was way better than expected given this is a tourist destination. Rotorua has way more to offer than we planned for in our half day trip. We’ll need to come back and explore more.

A group of 9 went. Our orders kept being wrongly served to us Hot drinks were delicious when we eventually got them. The tiramisu waffle was delicious.

Te Puia was wonderful, especially as we went on a night tour... The korero was fabulous and you get such a different experience at night... ❤

This is a must do... we did the night walk with Shaun Patrick and Nelson last what a amazing experience thank you

Amazing tour with the great staff. Super lovely people and great info & kai shared. Definitely 100% recommend.

This place is amazing. Take the time and visit here. I got to see 3 kiwis. They are so neat. The mud pools are wicked and the geyser, it is incredible. Highly recommend. Reasonably priced now to visit for us nzers

The Night tour was superb. A must visit...super cool to see the geysers erupting. Hot rocks ...steaming away.

The tour was great our guide very passionate and added to the experience and a treat at the end was pretty cool

Great experience. Lovely guided tour with a knowledgeable Maori guide, includes lots of history, examples of traditional art and tribal life, the geothermal geyser field, and a talented and thrilling Maori performance with appropriate cultural decorum and context given. A highlight was the crafting workshops where you can watch traditional and contemporary Maori crafts being made, so don't miss it by mistake! The kiwi bird exhibit was exciting, but be warned that since they are nocturnal, the only way you will ever see a happy kiwi is in a specially-created habitat at very low red-light conditions behind multiple glass barriers that are sound-protected, and no photos possible. A little disappointing if you expect anything else, but it was thrilling to finally see a living, lively kiwi bird in person. Te Puia is worth the cost and easy to find. Great cafe too, with a traditional feast/meal option available.

Awesome! It was a one-of-a-kind experience! The geysers were just amazing. Smoke was coming out of the ground and the atmosphere smelled like sulfur. The visit also allowed us to witness the solidarity of the Maori community. They are bent on preserving the Maori culture and traditions. The language is the medium of instruction in Rotorua schools. One Maori we met only learned English when he was 14.

It is the best experience if you have the chance to go.

Best place to get up and close to some geothermal activity. Lots of great information on the local history and culture, and Pohutu Geyser is pretty cool!

Wonderful place to view geyser, mud pools, kiwi, native plants, wood carvings, weaving, cooking pool. Every hour has local guided tour which is very informative to learn more about Maori culture. Enjoy it very much with lots of pics taken.

We found it quite underwhelming since we have visited Yellowstone in the US. There are several geysers of different kinds (mud pools, spring, etc.) at a walking distance. They also offer shows around Maori people. There is a cafe which offers quick bites. Please note that there is an entrance fee. It comes in different packages (e.g. package with a Maori show, with food etc.) These vary from NZ$50-200.

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Reviews of Te Puia - Rotorua, NZ in Rotorua - Museum

Hemo Road, Tihiotonga, Rotorua 3040, New Zealand

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