Reviews of Whakarewarewa - The Living Maori Village. (Museum) in Rotorua (Bay of Plenty).
Whakarewarewa - The Living Maori Village
17 Tryon Street, Whakarewarewa, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand
Description
Information of Whakarewarewa - The Living Maori Village, Museum in Rotorua (Bay of Plenty)
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Map
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Reviews of Whakarewarewa - The Living Maori Village
T.One of my favorite places to go. Went here on a solo trip and I can't wait to come back with my family and friends. The people were BEYOND friendly and kind. My tour guide was the sweetest and hand so many jokes and genuine historical accounts to provide. My advice is to follow your guide and then tour the grounds on your own because you'll get the best experience that way.
Get the corn, get a lot of hangi pie. My biggest regret is not getting 10 of them for myself.
Thanks for such an amazing experience to everyone there and for allowing others to your your home.
B.Came here at 10am on a Friday to do the Whaka Trail. Pretty unique place in that there’s all these geothermal sites in a fully functioning village. It’s very well maintained and there people there are very friendly and welcoming.
k.A must to do if you want to get away from the commercialized stuff in Rotorua. Its definitely worthwhile and a must with the tour guide, our tour guide phillip was amazing with his witty charm and Koro jokes makes the tour a fun one. The corn was beautiful.
I.An absolutely beautiful experience!
Great tour guide - very funny and made it quite personal, so it didn’t feel touristy or gimmicky.
Performance was nice and the views were just stunning.
A cute gift shop and lots of educational information.
Probably not the best place for kids. It is definitely interesting but more of a ‘look but don’t touch’ place.
R.You should get the guided tour and see the cultural show if you're interested in the history as well. I highly recommend it. You should come prepared to walk a bit. It'll be a bit warm if you go in the summer, but that is the best time to go. Don't forget to try the sweet corn inside the village. Take an umbrella if you don't like the sun. It was worth the money!
R.An amazing experience to brought on this tour of an actual Maori village where families still live and call home. I really felt like I was being given a home tour and the points of interest are fascinating, especially with the geysers and the cultural shows. Definitely get a hangi pie and some corn - such a delicious snack.
B.A very insightful tour. Best to go along with the tour guide to make the most of it if you are interested in learning about the village. Younger kids may find it a bit boring but the geyser definitely gets their attention. The cultural performance is a must watch! Just make sure you time your visit accordingly
T.Wonderful experience and our guide was fantastic...we enjoyed hearing the history and way of life for those in the village.......the sweet corn was beautiful.......the walk was easy and interesting. Thoroughly enjoyed our experience...thank you
d.Great place to experience and learn about the Maori culture. We arrived early and actually had some parts to ourselves. The corn cooked into the hot pool is delicious, as were the pies.
G.We booked the guides tour, and are so glad we did.
Our guide Michael (his non-maori equivalent name) grew up and still lives in the village and was a fountain of knowledge from now, from his childhood, and from his parents and grandparents knowledge.
The village had some amazing geological features, and we were lucky to see the geysers blowing while we were at the lookout.
We wandered around the walking paths while we were awaiting the cultural show to start.
The paths are well maintained, plenty of viewing platforms and maps as you go around.
The cultural show was very good. The main presenter of the information was the most senior of the group, and she was easy to understand, informative and funny also.
The performances was very well synchronised, and fun to watch and also participate in.
K.A really interesting place to visit. Highly recommend the guided tour of the village.
M.A must to do if you want to get away from the commercialized stuff in Rotorua. Its definitely worthwhile and a must with the tour guide.
M.Nice day out walking around the trails and the Village.
E.Very interesting tour led by the family members of this local tribe. They have huge gazers in the area! Nice short trails around thermal lakes. Very friendly prices as well!!
They do have a local souvenir shops and cafeteria.
A.We spent an excellent afternoon wandering through the Maori village at Whakarewarewa, We started our village with a guided tour by one of the residents - who told us lots of stories about the history of the village and the research work that is going on with regards to geothermal energy (unexpected, but really interesting!). The guide even sang some of the traditional Maori songs. We then had a chat with the very friendly cafe/gift shop owner - free cup of coffee too!
Later we watched the show - with traditional dancing and singing - very good.
We ended the afternoon with a wander around the hot water lakes and mud pools, and saw the large geyser in the distance.
A great day out!
R.An amazing experience to brought on this tour of an actual Maori village where families still live and call home. I really felt like I was being given a home tour and the points of interest are fascinating, especially with the geysers and the cultural shows. Definitely get a hangi pie and some corn - such a delicious snack.
d.Great place to experience and learn about the Maori culture. We arrived early and actually had some parts to ourselves. The corn cooked into the hot pool is delicious, as were the pies.
B.This is a terrific place to visit. The town site has been occupied for centuries and has been open to visitors for over 100 years. Even the guiding here is a cherished tradition. The town is a real place where the residents' culture is strongly influenced by being on and around geothermal features they use for cooking and bathing. The cultural presentations are a fun and engaging window into a cherished and rich culture. And the nature walks let visitors experience the pools, mud pots, steam vents and more as well as local plants. Thanks for sharing it all so welcomingly with us!
J.Such a privilege to be able to explore this beautiful place
J.Highly recommended, if there is only one Maori village to visit on your trip, this should be the one. It has everything - performance, great guide who is very knowledgeable and entertaining, thermal features - crater, geyser and lake, and the cafe serves amazing pie and sweet corn cooked from the thermal pool. A very genuine, educational and entertaining experience.
A.We spent an excellent afternoon wandering through the Maori village at Whakarewarewa, We started our village with a guided tour by one of the residents - who told us lots of stories about the history of the village and the research work …
n.It was a good tour. Loved the tour around the village and got good exposure to their culture, history and practices. The cultural show was fantastic and engaging. The guide showed us around, gave us a good insight but due to the size of the group we had little bit trouble keeping up with guide. Finally, we were keen to try the Hangi meal but were turned down twice (hour and half apart) as we didn't book the meal with our tour.
M.For anyone in the area, this is a cultural experience you shouldn't miss. It was a great experience and very informative.
First, the town is a fully functional town. The people who live here use the baths, they cook in the steam boxes and they live in the houses. They are even your guides, welcoming you to the tour as well as their home.
They freely answer questions on how they live now and how they have lived in the past. Which hasn't changed much.
It is a spiritual experience of thought and education. A welcome insight into another culture. Bring your family or come out alone, it is a fitting experience for all ages.
M.A must to do if you want to get away from the commercialized stuff in Rotorua. Its definitely worthwhile and a must with the tour guide.
N.We did the tour (45 min) - which is included in the entry price - through the Maori village. Our guide Mikaere was fun to listen to and very informative. you also have a pretty good view on the geisyrs from the neighbouring park. In the entry fee there is also a maori show included and of course you can discover the village yourself. Great experience!
K.Love the Maori performance. Very genuine and entertaining. Lots of laugh. And their vocals are amazing. The guided tour of the village is also very educational. Our guide Micheal is also very amusing guy. Highly recommended!
L.Amazing experience. Highly recommend going. If you go definitely to it with a guided tour as you learn so much about the history of the Maori and the village. The cultural performance was brilliant. We went back and watched it for a second time.
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T.A good place to understand and experience the local Maori culture. We've joined the tour before the show, the guide gave us lots of information about the history and the village.
The culture show at 11am is amazing.
R.We went there on the 1st Jan and the place was super busy. Lots of visitors here and it was hot. But we had an amazing experience. Loved the performance from the group and Haka as well. Trip in the village with our guide "Michael" was excellent. We saw geysers as well.
E.Beautiful, authentic village surrounded by volcanic trails and geysirs. Skip Te Puia and Wai-o-tapu and take your money to this real community. The guide was a lovely old lady, inviting us to her village, the cultural performance well put together and inviting.
ฟ.Enjoyable and informative tour, lovely and impressive performance concert afterward. Value for money, worth every dolllars. Souvenirs and food sold inside the attraction also in reasonable price. Would recommend everyone this village.
A.Excellent New Zealand experience!! The tour was funny, informative and giving a detailed image of the Maori way of life! The performance was excellent too. We did a nice walk through the geothermal park and had excellent views on the big geysers. Would recommend!
A.Thoroughly enjoyed walking around and taking in all the culture and looking at the geo thermal attractions
L.Beautiful village, lovely people are living in and I admire how they are working together like a big family to say welcome to us. Wheelchair people are welcome too, car park and few shops and toilets available. Don’t miss the show and bring some coins with you for the kinds under the bridge. Thank you for sharing your stories.
L.This is a great spot to see how the Maori people have lived and used their lands in New Zealand. A guided tour is available as well as moving at your own pace. Interesting and informative.
G.Super Cool! I'm always a little skeptical on these things and worry about being invasive into other cultures. But they were super welcome and happy to share all they could. The cultural show they do was pretty cool especially the Haka. And the corn cooked in the spring was flipping delicious. Of course the pools and geysers are really cool. Make sure you do the extra walk around the back of the town. Everyone in the town is lovely and welcoming 😊
L.Or visit here was in the rain, but totally worth it. We walked around a little before our tour, but we learned so much by walking around with our guide. He taught us how to say the village name and all about living in the village. From cooking techniques to religious options. He also told is about the pools of water that are heated by the magma below. I really enjoyed hearing about everything there!
E.Amazing heritage in this are, very friendly and inviting. A must see. So glad I can support the villagers in the community with our contribution.
M.Loved the visit and the tour.
We had a dilemma whether to go in an evening show or this, and eventually decided to take a short show in the whakarewarewa village.
It was a great show, enev though only a few maoris danced and sang
The haka was performed by only 4 adults.
The tour itself with the old maori lady was educating even though she could shorten it by a few.
Too bad they didn't gave them hangi corn ready to buy for food..
J.Included a guided tour, guide was very good in explaining the different thermal pools. There was a Maori cultural dance that was very entertaining as well. Spent about 2 hrs in the entire place, it has a active geysor.
W.We loved it!!! So many different tours to choose from and we're so glad we picked Whakarewarewa! We joined the 10am tour and 11:15am show without any meals. Though later we did decide we want to try the hangi meal having seen how it's done - we had to order it at around 11:45am ($31 for the meal and $3 for the pie). Also since there's an additional show at 12:30pm, we joined the show a second time... coz first time we were too busy taking photos and didn't have a chance to enjoy the show. The tour was interactive allowing lots of chances for questions and answers. There is a long legacy and tradition of touring at the Whakarewarewa village too, their guides have given performances to the Duchess of York and gave tour to Eleanor Roosevelt! Do leave enough time for the beautiful and tranquil scenic walk behind the village too, lots of bush flowers including the manuka flowers and scenic hot lakes... that was a real nice surprise because its website didn't mention the scenic walk much. We spent 6 hours at the Whakarewarewa village and left at 4pm! You get 10% off if you book tickets online on their website, so very much value for money, considering you can spend however long you want there and it's a genuine living village with a legacy and history tracing back 11 generations... not many of them left in New Zealand. A great thank you to the Whakarewarewa Maori people welcoming us and showing us their community!
M.Decided to come here over any other Maori culture centre in Rotorua. It was my second visit but my partners first. The tour is well planned out, its cool seeing locals living there, there's a kindergarten. Seeing where they Bath and the Maori microwave was a favourite. Recommend booking online as you get a 10% discount. Also hungi pie.. amazing!!! My partner who's from the UK said it was the best meal he's had in NZ so far.
M.Absolutely amazing. With a lovely local guide, it was one of the best tours we were on. If you want to learn about Maori culture, this is the place to go.
R.Absolutely incredible. Book ahead for a meal, definitely hit a dance and tour. Food was a unique experience, but the dance was without doubt the highlight. Strongly recommend.
K.No words can do justice to how great the place and the people of Whaka are. We had an incredible time at the cultural performance and with our guide 'Chief', who had some amazing stories about the land, people, culture and geology. He was very funny and quite engaging.
Highly recommend a visit to this place.
Y.You can not only see the maori culture,but also see lots of different lakes and springs and mud pools. Relaxing and beautiful.
R.Visiting Whakarewarewa Living Maori Village is a great opportunity to learn some Maori culture and history. Village is also placed in marvellous, mysterious volcanic area and you can freely observe (and feel) the geothermal activity and for what purposes the geothermal energy can be used - e.g. for natural cooking :)
In fact, you can watch the geyser, but the most important - you can also see the Maori performance - great show with local songs, Haka and Poi dance. It is a great opportunity to taste a bit of the Maori culture.
F.We were able to spend some time here with a Maori elder. The geothermal activity and it's use by the community are facinating. We had lunch that was cooked by the steam activity and would recommend it. The dance and singing demonstration was a lot of fun.
a.great show . excellent knowledge of maori history an life style in years gone by. guides are very knowledgeable on geothermal activaty. Best maori experience in rotarua
M.Great experience! The guided tour and the cultural show were a joy to participate in and see. The shops had lots of souvenirs and momentos available as well. The Hangi pie and corn were a treat to have.
A.The best Maori culture experience in Rotorua! The performance was amazing they were singing and dancing and making a great show. You can also see the biggest geysers in Te Puia from two lookouts. Refresh yourself with traditionally prepared steamed food in local cafe. A solutely worth the money. For discounts have look at bookme you can save a lot of money with buying your ticket in advance.
K.Wonderful moari people.
My tour guide, Micheal was absolutely lovely.
Fascinating how they could use natural resources to make a comfortable living.
M.Amazing experience any great guide. I have really enjoyed it. I'll definitely recommend it to anyone who is interested to learn about Maori and enjoy the local geothermal activity.
M.The geothermal pools, geyser, and surroundings are incredible. Seeing the ways that people use the hot water and ground is very interesting. The Maori part of the tour seemed forced and exploitative, I couldn't tell if some of the performers were proud of their heritage or just performing because they need the paycheck. Expensive, but unique. Some of the other Maori experiences have been reported as better. As with many things like this, they've taken a natural wonder and used the opportunity to sell knick knacks.
s.I visited the village Jan 2020, with my wife. After the cultural concert, we had the guided tour. I think since that was a peak period, we havent had the chance to do the Maori dance ( swinging balls) on stage with the group. Anyway its worth visiting the village.
f.If you want to explore What NZ culture is, this is the right place to go. Right from the way Maori’s used to live and how they still are keeping the culture and customs intact, this place has all. Enjoy the Hangi( Maori authentic food cooked with the geothermal steam ) on the village itself. Make sure you indulge in the Haka ( Maori warrior dance) which is also showcased by the local Maori people.
N.Our Koko took us for a stroll down memory lane... Thoroughly enjoyed it
B.Myself and my fiancé did the Hangi Pie package at Whakarewarewa Maori Village a few weeks ago. Location is great, just outside of Rotorua. The thermal park itself is very pretty, but brace yourself for the smell of rotten eggs! We started off with our included lunch, pie cooked in a Hangi (thermal pit in the ground). It was quite nice, but the salad was overdressed which made the pastry on the pie soggy. Sweetcorn cooked in one of the thermal pools is definitely a highlight! If you're trying to choose between the Hangi or Sweetcorn packages, I would probably recommend the Sweetcorn. Hangi pie was nice, but nothing too special.
Our tour of the village with Tipene was brief but very interesting and informative. We covered off cooking, bathing and special events in the Maori Village. The highlight of the day for me was DEFINITELY the Maori Cultural Performance. The performers were so talented and passionate and it was a really beautiful insight into some of the old Maori culture stories etc. - absolutely worth a look if you're in the area!
It's also much more affordable than the other parks nearby... We looked into a few options and Whakatane was definitely the best for a day tour and cultural experience.
K.Good place for a quick but meaningful experience of the Maori culture - the performance, way of living, food, language and history. Well run with a cafe and gift shop. Our guide Michael was hilarious.
H.Lovely welcoming place by pleasant male staff,nice array of beautiful Maori gifts, and the taste of their raw fish was yum & divine, The fried bread was wow delicious, I'll be back Whakarewarewa cafe and souvenirs,Thank you.🤗
N.Really enjoyed our time on the site. The meal was nice. The hot springs on the land were awesome to see and the concert/ceremony was great to see with the local people who grew up in the village.
j.Loved our visit. Our guide was local so she has alot of knowledge about whakarewarewa and surrounding areas. Highly recommend taking this tour
A.Its a small village with some houses, 2 churches, few shops, a performance center, thermal pools(only to watch) and a lookout for three geysers.
Including the performance, 1~2 hrs is enough. not big.
Got discounted tickets on Bookme, so it was ok for me.
If u want to see a big, well-decorated maori town, i recommend Te Puia
L.great cultural experience. is a working village so be prepared for residents to be driving in or out. We had a tour, a performance and a hangi meal. Great value for money. A good budget alternative to other Maori experiences.
Q.Truly an amazing place to visit! Definitely go on a guided tour. It gives a very good explanation of the Maori village and the people living there...plus the geothermal activity and cultural performance!
K.A really interesting place to visit. Highly recommend the guided tour of the village.
M.A must see in Rotorua! This is the real Maori village! Don't go to Te Anua! This village is a real living village and you can see the same geysers from here as from Te Anau! The guides are very friendly and the handmade souvenirs are of high quality and also cheaper than in Auckland. We booked the visit online and we took the tour at 10:00am, enjoyed the dance show at 11:15, then nice we had lunch cooked in boiling volcanic pool and then we joined another dance show again and also listened a bit to other tours that were passing near us when we walked around the village by ourselves. In addition, we did the nature walk with many interesting mud pools. In total, we spent around 7 hours in this village, it's really interesting! Thank you very much!!! Kia ora!
R.A wonderful personal tour of an amazing village filled with such loving people. Highly encourage a small group tour to get some truly amazing stories.
R.Marvelous place to visit. Thank you "Girly" we found the tour fascinating and informative. The geothermal scenery must be seen to be believed The Mauri show was a delight and we thoroughly enjoyed our lunch cooked in the steam boxes and boiling pools.
A.I went there just expecting one those things where they do the things and they you need to leave the place for the next group, but it was quite the opposite. We could stay for almost the whole day, walking and knowing the village. It was good to know a little bit more about the Maori culture and costumes.
D.Go there: amazing experience. Just amazing to see how Maori people are cooking with geothermical heat coming out of earth, and how they are enjoying a bath there as well. So interesting. Exciting.
Has also a nice coffee shop with snacks and ice cream. And wifi there. You can also taste the traditional Maori food cooked with steam.
Maori, singing and dancing in a performance is not just a "show" : they sing with their hearts. So, yours will also open up. Even a short stay in this area makes obvious what is missing in so called "normal" life: vibrant contact to Mother Earth and everything she provides us with.
N.We weren't going to bother coming here after seeing the thermal pools in the park but I'm glad we did it was well worth it. A very informative tour for an hour, then a Maori show for half an hour, then we had lunch there, then wandered about with plenty more to see.
D.Very interesting look into the recent cultural history of the Maori (last 100 years).
Our guide wasn't great. It felt like she was a bit inexperienced but she had a lot of stories about growing up in the modern Maori community on the hot springs, and on her culture in general. We listened in to one of the other tours and she was more polished in her presentation.
The walk around the lakes behind the village is very beautiful and worth the climb if you can manage it.
D.A wonderful afternoon spent here in the village. The guided tour (by the awesome Michael) was extremely insightful and it was fascinating seeing how the natural geothermal waters are used for everyday life.
T.Unique experience, had a very lovely guided tour which provided lots of information. The walkways to the lookout points are a very nice stroll, make sure to go the big round so you can walk over the boardwalk of the hot lake, that was really amazing. My wife and I had a lot of fun. Also the performance was really cool. Dont miss out on your hangi meal in the cafe!
A.Had a great experience with our tour guide Michael. Watched the Maori show twice. Kids enjoyed the natural thermal pools, Geyser and learning about the history of NZ.
K.This place is amazing, the views ,people and the food is perfect. I brought my husband and son here for their first visit to NZ to experience some Moari culture. They were so happy and so was I. Thank you for such a wonderful day .
D.I chose this village among some various options and I am totally satisfied with experience and moments in Whakarewarewa. People living in Wakarewarewa are so nice and I learned many things that I had now known about Maori culture. They do performances which are must-see! I certainly fell in love with songs such as Pokarekare ana and Hoki hoki as well as Poi, a traditional instrument. Comparing to other villages, I think Wakarewarewa is cheaper. You can also get Hangi meals and pies. (But for Hangi meal, you need to double check or book) I had Hangi pie and corn which was boiled in one of the boiling pond and they were so delicious. I strongly recommend! Kia Ora, Kakite Ano!
P.A great place to visit with a super interesting cultural experience tour. It begins with a mix of dances and songs and then you are taken through the village with a guide who explains the history of the village. The tour is excellent and the guide was really friendly, informative and happy to answer any questions that we had.
M.While I understand the Maori want to keep this an important active native community, I worry about their health and safety living among the geological hot bed. May all the Gods protect them whichever has the will to do so. Thanks for continuing to educate the visitors about your native history and modernization of the culture.
G.We had an awesome experience learning about the Maori culture and loved the haka and traditional performances...
E.The Living Maori Village, as the name implies, is an actually village that the Maoris live as their residence. As tourists, we are shown the Maori traditional way of living in terms of the marae, the cooking pits and the bath house, particularly how they take advantage of the geothermal condition. It was interesting to see the real things that they actually use. Of course, the village is also set up for tourists and we did not get to see an actual dwelling rather than passing them by, They put up a show with Maori dances and haka demonstration that are very interesting. Our guide was very nice and related a lot of her own experience being a Maori as well as having been to the big city. Her description of the interaction between Maoris and other New Zealander is most interesting.
The same cannot be said with the person trying to organize groups of tours into the village. The arrival of a tour bus confused the issue. We were given conflicting instructions and when trying to find out what is going on, we got shouted at. That was the first time I saw anyone being angry in New Zealand in about 10 days.
R.The village is very hospitable and well informative about their culture, our tour was guided by Michael one of which he was born and raised on the village itself.
A.Interesting place where the Maori still live in the village. The cultural show was very nice and the your guide explained about the way the Maori live very nicely.
N.The authentic experience!
Cultural Show: only 6 performers, but some great singing, and one man who’s fearsome looks left me quivering! Nicely done, not spectacular.
Tour: brilliant guide, with family in the village, details you would never hear anywhere else.
Hangi: I bought the pie, corn, salad option. Best corn ever, but still left a little hanging (😉)- The only disappointment here, a little too expensive too.
Summary: You are supporting real Maori’s here and get honest, authentic information. Te Puia across the fence is a recreation on Maori owned land. Do the nighttime show elsewhere for more spectacular shows and mightier hangi, but this feels like the ‘real deal’.
Price: bookme website gets you discounts: however 3pm booking is too late for show or hangi.
Tip: pre order your food as you enter, or supplies may run out.
F.The Whakarewarewa is the only living Maori village left. Our guide, Mykal (I apologized if I spelled that wrong) was amazing. He gave us a great deal of insight as he grew up there. We saw the geothermal activity in the ground and even had a facial. Watching the members of the community perform the Haka was amazing. They sang and danced incorporating the Moi and Ti Rakau. They explained things and answered questions. It is an experience every member of the family, young and old, should experience!
We were there on the anniversary of the eruption of Mount Tarawera. Members from all the tribes come to remember their family. It also happened to be the anniversary of the death of a great Cheif which meant we witnessed, from far away, a special unveiling ceremony.
C.We spent several wonderful hours at this Maori village. We arrived just in time to catch the early morning, 10:30 tour, when there were fewer visitors. Our guide, the young Meri, was wonderful. We had a 90-minute walking tour of this working village. We then enjoyed the 39-minute performance of traditional songs. The Hangi lunch was so-so, consisting of chicken and beef (veggie option available) as well as sweet potato and corn. You can continue to wander the village after lunch. There are, of course, the requisite gift shops. Be certain to ask your hotel for a 10% discount coupon. All in all, a really worthwhile day ! If you like this review, please give me a thumbs-up. Thanks.
J.Fantastic performance and tour. Amazing that these people open up their lives for tourists. Even got up on stage to learn the haka!
M.Really interesting place to visit. Our guide was lovely, was happy to answer any questions & gave us lots of facts & information about their family & tribe. Cultural show was insightful & interactive. Enjoyed visiting the village & would recommend a visit.
J.Amazingly well kept and still lived in original village. Take the tour and lunch at around NZ$75. Check $$$ on web.
P.Mind blowing food! Damn! That chicken hangi was the best chicken I’ve ever tasted in my life so far! Must try! Awesome experience. Lovely place to walk around and contemplate. Good vibes. Mother nature is amazing.
P.Our first encounter with the real maori culture. It was very interesting and would recommend it, when you're not sure which maori experience you want to see in the region.
A.The Maori performance was amazing! Loved the village where the Maori people actually live and explaining how it all works.
E.Culturally rich .. comes with a very positive and amazing experience.. must visit if ur interested in knowing about history
M.Nice day out walking around the trails and the Village.
z.great place for a good mauri experienc. only problems were:1. show was much shorter than we expected 2. food in the package we bought was not enough for us. the tour was nice and informative
allover experience was worth the money and very enjoyable
A.Nice and interesting place! The people are kind and very friendly! The place to learned more about another culture
N.This tour was amazing! I have to admit i had limited knowledge of the traditional Maori ways of life and i got such a culture shock. I was simply in awe. It was an incredible village and im so glad they opened it up and welcomed tourists in. Thankyou
J.Such a privilege to be able to explore this beautiful place
P.Interesting look into Maori culture. You can also join the cultural performance and have the Hangi meal.
J.Lovely place! Fantastic guide that gave us a very interesting tour in the village. Good mixture of humor and information. Very good Haka performance. Recommended!
R.Great people fill this village. The tour was extremely educational and then afterwards we got to stay and met a few of the locals that live here. They were all very nice.
J.Great morning with a cultural show and tour. Highly recommend walking to the lake too!
C.Very interesting cultural and geological experience. Please do visit here when you can. I enjoyed my visit.
N.Just spent over an hour and a half on a guided tour and was blown away. Our tour guide, I think her name was Shan (sorry, so bad with names, but she lived in the blue house) was absolutely wonderful. She had so much knowledge and it was wonderful knowing generations of her family have lived in the village. I would highly recommend the tour, everything about it was brilliant.
E.I could give 10 stars if google allow it. Our guide was witty and funny and really good at answering all our questions. She is really informative too. The girls in the school came back exactly when we gathered in front of the hall so we got to have a peak into the hall. The whole village is eye opening. I love the culture and how they preserve their tradition. We took the full hangi pie package. The food was Exactly what we needed after a tiring drive from Auckland. Free coffee n tea too. We devour the pie and the filling was really soft and tender. I attach the pie picture. Later we learn it was prepared with the Maori method. In Steaming bag. The corn on cob too, was a great snack throughout our trip. And the traditional dance! We love it so much. Mum and day learned about Maori in their school time so they were really excited. Only thing. I wish the seats are elevated. We were seated at the sides and everyone stood up to watch the dance so we stood up too. The lady behind us huff and puff the whole time.
M.Nice place to visit and learn about the Maori culture. One of their town has the longest name in the world. During our visit they demonstrated how to cook food by usin the hot steam from the earth. They build outdoor bathtubs to collect warm water from the earth.
P.It is interesting there is a best time
In the morning to see the gêiseres Check on internet before you go
L.Came with my family in 2018, but just found a photo from our visit. Great experience, allows an insight into the local First Nations culture and how they have thrived in a hostile environment.
M.A stunningly natural, living, breathing authentic Maori cultural and geothermal reality - no makeup, no bull. Thank you.
C.Amazing experience, a must do in Rotorua. Take time to enjoy the tours and the geothermal wonders
S.Absolutely not to be missed. Friendly tour guide.lovely performances and its a real village where people are still staying there
D.Nice Maori village. A must visit place, plan for whole day
D.Was wonderful to learn about the geysers and thermal pools especially how these were alkaline based. The show was wonderful and heard some great songs and loved the haka
M.Excelent attraction. Culturally rich and the corn cooked in the thermal water is delicious. Doesn't smeel like sulphur
s.Must visit place with hot thermal pools and geasers. Maori village lifestyle experience
R.Had really good time here. The show was interesting. The weather was hot. The guide was good too.
M.Thank you to Chief for our amazing 12pm tour of your wonderful village yesterday. Your passion for your home was so beautiful and genuine. The waiata to finish the tour brought a tear to my eyes. We had the most amazing time and it was a joy to visit a place that celebrates women, its people and the human spirit x
B.I liked this village more than The Puia. Very authentic Maori village to walk through and take in the sites, listen to the guides. A nice good walk around the lake and mud pools.
J.A true immersion into the maori culture and modern lifestyle. You can see everyone in the village is really happy to receive you there and share their history and stories with you. The performance was touching and thrilling, a visit to the whakarewarewa village is a MUST when traveling to Rotorua.
J.Great tour by local Maori residents. Very informative and interesting.
l.Had such a fabulous cultural experience. Great history and the thermal pool cooked lunch was amazing. Kia Ora.
J.Super nice and instructive tour. Our guide was amazing and explained everything in detail. The cultural dance was super entertaining. Loved it!!
H.Well that was just INCREDIBLE. Our guide, Ringahora Huata, gave us a really special tour of the living village and we all learned so much, had so many a-ha moments, and enjoyed her singing immensely.
3 teens and 3 adults, and we all loved every minute. Thanks for the kai, too! Beautiful and a must-do for every person visiting Rotorua. 💗💗💗
J.Excellent place to visit! The Maori culture was delightful explained and the dances and songs were amazing!
J.Greatly enjoyable. Informative and entertaining. It's where they live!
B.A must go in New Zealand. Fantastic tour with amazing residents sharing their unique and vibrant culture.
S.Great tour guide, humour and history combined for a memorable and enjoyable tour.
M.Really enjoyable experience that seems authentic. Enjoyed the corn cooked in the hot pool if only for the novelty factor. Definitely recommend a visit
S.Amazing experience. Highlight was watching the corn cooked in the heated cooking pools, and then eating it. DEVINE!
Our amazing tour guide Ringahora (apologies if incorrectly written) was fantastic with a wealth of knowledge.
Such a beautiful village 😍
A.Fantastic cultural experience. See if you can get on the guided tour with Rob, he is very entertaining.
D.If you go to Rotorua this place is a must. Lovely people sharing the home and there ways with us.
J.I like it here the tour is great, if you get to have the food do so. Show is interactive.
M.Must VISIT in Rotorua. See, feel and learn their culture. You can also see the GEYSER for free from here. Walk in living village of Maori.
D.Great experience, professional guide and we've learned a lot. Recommended!
C.Very interesting village with houses built on thermal vents and utilizing thermal heated water for cooking and bathing. Tour and cultural display was good too.
G.Great cultural tour of the Maori. The guide was excellent in explaining and guiding us through the village. Lunch was good too.
A.Thoroughly enjoyable visit to this fascinating place. Genuine and friendly resident guide provided an interesting insight into past and present life in the village and some of the issues affecting the community. Go on the walks at the back and side of the village, there were far fewer people on them and still plenty to see. You can easily spend 2-3 hours here by the time you do the tour, cultural performance and your own wanderings.
d.The people that run the place are so friendly and helpful. The lady that did our tour was amazing and full of information. I just hope that the families are ok with us tramping through their home to see such an amazing place.
R.The tour guide was great and friendly, but I think due to low numbers (attended during COVID, not many tourists), I think some of the experiences were skipped
J.Interesting place to visit. However not happy about locals or staff speeding over the bridge and then again when we left the village. We are lucky are daughter was in the stroller and not running around.
G.It's a really nice experience and you can know more from the Maori history as well
D.This was a fantastic day out and experience, once you got over the smell. Very interesting to see how people live with the land.
S.Loved the tour! Chief was really informative and shared a lot of cultural knowledge with us! Definitely would recommend this to others! 😍😍😍
M.Amazing Maori village, beautiful people who entertained with lovely singing. Not forgetting the Haka and lovely dinner.
Y.Awesome experience. The show was really fun and cool, the tour was really interesting and informative and the geothermal spots were beautiful! I had such a good day. You can buy sweetcorn (and other food) which has been cooked in the hot water pools, which is delicious. Very cool to see it being cooked as well. The gift shops had great stuff and they have real fruit sorbet!! So so good!! I did the walking paths which I had to myself and saw loads of geothermal spots in a quiet, serene setting. Fantastic experience with very welcoming people.
A.A more authentic experience than others. Wonderful tour and performance without feeling too cliche. Tour guide was fantastic. Highly recommend the walking paths to really enjoy the full area. Very happy we supported them.
L.A good glimpse into Maori culture, traditions and customs. We found our experience interesting and enjoyable. Our guide had funny little antetodes to share and the lady at the shop shared her personal family story whilst we bought some souvenirs.
A.Such an amazing experience! I had the hangi pie experience and loved the steam cooked pie, corn, and cake. I also did the tour led by Chief, who was very informative and had a great dry sense of humor! The cultural show was also incredible and I was very impressed with their talents. It really felt like friendly people inviting us to their home and proudly and enthusiastically showing off their village, rather than a touristy stop. Would highly recommend!
P.A great introduction to the Maori people and one village's way of life.
C.We had a wonderful visit here. Our guide, Chief, was really great and a lot of fun. Was interesting to learning about the reasoning behind their architecture and community hall, their cooking with the thermal heat, and their struggles and successes. The cultural performance, while simple, was still very impressive and we had a lot of fun watching and singing along. A worthwhile place to visit
C.Great to know the history of the maori people in New Zealand. Hangi meals a definite try.
J.First of all, the food was amazing. We were hungry after a busy morning; when buying tickets the admissions person sensed this and sent us straight to the cage. The cultural performance was great and our guide on the tour was the best!
C.Enjoyed my time here... Highly recommend
D.Very interesting village where Maori day to day life happens in front of your eyes. The geyser is spectacular! Only thing is that there are a lot of crowds, but that's to be expected. If you don't have a car, take the 11 bus from the city.
J.The visit to this location started with a guided tour by an excellent guide. As a member if the tribe, he gave us a great insight into their history and culture. This included some history of the geothermal activity. The stage show that was provided was fabulous and so much fun. The food was delicious. We also went on one of the walks around the village. Loved the view of the guyser, the steam vents, the bubbling mud and the whole scene. Do it !!
U.A fantastic place to learn about the Maori culture and experience a living village.
The welcoming ceremony was great and lovely and our guide gave some really interesting facts not only about the village and hot springs but also about the culture and some political insights about the current situation regarding the Maori people.
All in all a fantastic experience.
Be mindful when you visit that this is peoples home and not a tourist attraction. Be respectful for the culture and the ground you are walking on.
K.Fascinating people and place! Citizens and staff very welcoming to visitors. Our lovely young guide so engaging and informative. The village experience is educational, entertaining, and extremely well-run. Don't miss it!
R.Was the same as i remember it as a kid but alot more commercialized
J.We had a wonderful time. We did the 10am guided tour which was interesting, informative and entertaining. The cultural dance was about 30 minutes and just the right length. We had lunch which was excellent. The spent about 45 minutes walking around the self guided areas and revisiting a couple of areas covered in the tour. We spent about 4 hrs there and had a great time.
D.Went on this tour via a Royal Caribbean cruise back in January this year from Sydney, and can definitely say it was my favorite thing out of my whole trip to NZ. Our guide was funny and friendly throughout the whole day (Not sure of his name but had long black curly hair). It was fascinating to see all the steam coming out of places. We got to see the dance which was really entertaining. We also got to see the huge geyser blow off its steam. I also loved how they showed us the way they can cook food extremely quickly in the hot pools. Very informative and interesting to learn about Maori culture. To top it off at the end was a delicious Hangi. Would definitely come back if I am in NZ again.
O.This place is amazing! I included some PHOTOS of the surroundings.
Y.The visit to the village was the highlight of our visit to Rotorua. The smell of sulphur permeated the air, it was bearable and did not cause us any problems. Our guide was knowledgeable with a sense of humour, she did a great job whilst she explained she had been a tourist guide for a couple of months. It was a very interesting place to visit and to see: The underground oven where meat gets left on the way to work and collected on the way back having fully cooked with the geothermal heat, how corn placed in a muslin bag is cooked in the hot pools, the geysers that erupt at different times, the bubbling mud pools, the steam coming out of the ground, the unstable deserted hotel, the communal bathing pools, the creek near the entrance where the kids swam and the visitors tossed them coins. The performance that followed the tour was highly entertaining with beautiful singing and dancing. It was fun when the men in the audience were asked to the stage and did the Haka. The performers were more than happy to have their photos taken with the visitors. As it was raining and we were short on time, we were unable to try the walking paths around the village. I guess places like this makes travelling worthwhile.
R.Great experience! The tour is interesting with the geothermal pools, mud pots, and ethereal steam rising throughout the village. Lunch isn't exactly four star, but where else are you going to be able to eat something cooked in a hot geothermal pool? The stage show is good with demonstrations of traditional dances and explanations of things like the facial expressions they use and the hand waving. All in all, a good several hours.
H.Great day out. The village is interesting, built over the hot springs and geysers, and the local guides are knowledgeable and friendly. The small cultural show they put on is also very entertaining. The springs themselves are impressive and the village has excellent views over to the nearby geysers. There is also a short walk to a crystal blue lake and ancient-looking boiling mud flats. All in all, well worth a visit.
d.Amazing experience, lovely, friendly and very welcoming people.
We were lucky to be leaded by their best guide a guy full os knowledge of their culture and traditions.
Also we were amazed by the performance presented by the locals, what a wonderful moment.
They told us about the origins of tattoo word’s mean and what those tattoos maori represent when drawn in some parts of the body, very meaningful.
I without doubt recommend the tour it is priceless.
D.Lovely place, full of history and amazing people. Must see in my opinion!
A.Fun place to visit and learn about Maori culture and way of life. It is not a particularly big place, but it is also much cheaper than a lot of other Maori villages in the area. Our tour guide was very interesting to listen to.
P.Friendly community and a great place to learn their history... worth the trip!
F.Great tour and cultural performance. The guides were lovely and there is a great atmosphere in the village. I think once is enough though as it is quite small but it is great to go if you want to some new culture
A.Really good place to visit!! We enjoyed getting an insight in to the Maori culture and its people through the guided tour and visual performance. Very interesting and thought provoking especially built around the environment its on. Fascinating to see that the tribe lived and built around the geothermal pools, mood pools, river and other places they used to their advantage.
Pleased we came to this place instead of the much larger and busier arts and crafts Maori center close by. Highly recommend to see this place and long live this wonderful Maori tribe.
B.I had an amazing time here. If you wish to know more of the Maori you should definitely go. Here they show you how they use the geothermal activity in their daily life, like cooking and bathing. This village is one of the most old tourist attraction in the country. Their are guided tours every hour, which takes you around most of the place, but then you can carry on on your own. Also at 11am and 2pm there is a maori presentation where you can see rituals and songs from their culture. Since the village is located in a place with geothermal activity, there a lot of other things to see, geysers, hot pools, mud pools and beautiful lakes.
L.Fantastic day exploring the Whakarewarewa living village and gaining insight into an inviting culture. The cultural performance is immersive, enjoyable, and entertaining, while being an accessible insight into Maori customs. The Hangi meal is traditionally prepared, providing a flavoursome and filling meal. The guided tour was conducted by a knowledgeable and affable guide, open to all questions, allowing me to gain answers to some difficult cultural questions. We expected to spend 3 hours total here but we ended up exploring for 5 hours, soaking in the incredible landscape and traditions. Highly recommended day out in Rotorua!
Our 11 year old enjoyed it as much as we did.
G.Very interesting, emotional and just overwhelming. Rare experience, informative and eye opener to the Maori Culture. Our Guide was excellent, calm, witty,very detailed and a joy to be with.
I was intrigued by the Sulphur smelling smoke!!!Ground that's so warm,boiling underneath. Interesting and fascinating to witness surviving skills, using the natural resources for their everyday needs. Centuries of Cutural heritage appreciated, lived,owned,and kept alive for Descendants. Shared proudly to other Cultures and their broader community. Bravo
l.A highlight of any Rotorua trip with steaming hot pools , bubbling mineral streams with hangi cooking boxes, bathing areas, geysers and geothermal activity inside a Maori village. Home of the world famous guides and bridge 'penny divers and a rich history of survival from 1886 My Tarawera eruption thoughtfully explained by guides. The meeting house and beautiful walks through colourful lakes and native bush. Modern exhibition area, souvenirs and cafe....a truly immersive and memorable experience...
M.The village is an authentic Maori settlement, with houses ranging from empty to well looked after. Villagers take round smaller parties and give a feel for their life and habits, including how they use the steaming thermal vents. The visitors don't spoil the slightly sleepy feel. We attended the cultural performance where 6 locals showed us some Maori dances. We then walked the thermal pools and saw the geyser erupt. Genuine and pleasant.
J.Interesting family experience. We loved the live culture show, which included an opportunity for our daughter to go on stage with others. Slightly underwhelmed by the village itself as a tourist attraction, but the guide answered all questions and I feel like we got a very good understanding of the place in a short time.
M.The tour was super interesting. The guides are very proud, and very good. Plenty of stories, plenty of information. Cool stuff to see, cool pictures to take. A good thing to read first what's at the information/ticketing center outside the village (anyway you need the tickets!) Basically a great afternoon well invested.
N.Waimaria was an excellent guide. After helping us in the store she then took us on an extensive and engaging tour through the village. She told personal stories, shared history, explained the art and buildings, explained the science behind the hot springs and geysers, and fielded questions. There was also a great show that allowed us to share in the Maori culture. The sweet corn was a fun treat too. A must do while on the North Island!
M.Amazing experience. Loved it and would love to visit again!
C.Nothing more to say other than an amazing experience. It was special to learn more about my culture and was a new experience for a few people that visited with me from out of country. Try the food as the chicken is amazing and the scenic aspects of this village are amazing to see and i suggest you get a tour guide it really enhances your experience with them.
Kia Ora, see you soon.
Cameron
L.Absolutely phenomenal! The guides were lovely and it was an excellent touch that they all lived in the village, it made it more personal. Very interesting tour and an amazing performance by some of the tribe members. I'd definitely recommend it.
M.Great place, great experience, the guides try to involve you in the marry culture and history. They try to sensitize the tourist about the Maori present condition and about the underground water situation extracted from everywhere on Rotorua for its lodge and resort. You can even taste a proper Maori meal cooked on the steam from underground in the local cafe and buy some souvenirs in the local shop! Interesting and suggestive visit to recommend!
A.Pretty dead and disappointing. The geysers are about 100 metres away from the view points. A walking path to see the mud pools was blocked off. What looked like thermal-fed baths were drained and also cordoned off. There was a corn seller (also closed) which seemed odd - isn't corn from Mexico? I had mixed feelings about the cultural performance, but there wasn't one while I was there so that solved my internal debate. I didn't see anyone around other than manning the souvenir shops and the cafe. The ticket seller was awfully unfriendly as well.
It's a historical New Zealand village mostly comprised of regular peoples' houses, some abandoned structures, and a couple of interesting historical/cultural buildings. Given how dead it was, $45 seemed steep.
That said, the hiking paths are gorgeous and I would 100% recommend Hot Lakes Scenic Path. It's the reason I gave the place 3 stars.
L.Introduced to Maori life, the women got up to dance female dances, the men got up and taught how to do the Haka, both of which were great fun to do and watch. A thing we'll never forget which we both enjoyed. The Maoris are such welcoming people, you cannot deny that. A place and a country I'd recommend to anyone to go, it's a fantastic country to go.
C.Our tour guide Chief was awesome. So funny and informative. The geysers and baths were gorgeous and I'd go back there again without hesitation. The food was delicious and there were plenty of souvenirs and momentos to boot.
S.We had an unforgettable day here, and it seemed quite authentic. People truly live in the village, bathe in hot water from the geyser area, and use it to cook their food. The performance included the famous "haka" war dance, chants, and songs featuring wonderful singers. The village is on a geothermal area, and you get to see those features too. Highly recommended!
J.Absolutely stunning place. I was so overwhelmed by the culture and the amazing presence the village holds. I do recommend taking a water bottle with you on a warm day.
A.Really enjoyed the tour and information, the thermal pools and how they still actively use them for cooking and bathing are amazing. The cultural show was good and even got the audience involved not something I usually enjoy but did with this one. Great people worth spending some time on a visit.
R.Definitely worth going. The guides all live in the village and each has their own view on it. We didnt necessarily take a tour with a specific guide, more of a go see and listen to a guide if interested in something specific. They also show you how you can cook stuff in the geothermal waters. We had some corn and it was great.
S.The place is incredible, blessed with natural scenic views. The geothermal geysers, pools are worth a visit. The guides are friendly, fun to be with. The cultural performances are good, kept short and crisp.
The entire experience is good but definitely overpriced. I had been there with a friend of mine and we liked being there but we were expecting an authentic cultural feel, but it certainly felt commercialised.
The 4star rating is for a unique natural experience the place offers.
Cheers!
A.We really enjoyed the guided tour and the spectacle by the Maori indigenous villagers. It was a nice cultural experience although sometimes the smell of sulphur is overwhelming. Very interesting to see tgat these people were living in this area with the boiling water ponds and the sulphur smell lingering in the air for so long. I guess you get used to it after a while. The guide was one of the best we had in New Zealand, very informative and very funny. I would recommend the visit of the Maori village to anyone.
R.Brilliant! Well worth a visit if you are going to be any where near. We had a great host, thanks Chief!! He showed us how the Maori process flax to make their dance skirts (sorry, can't remember what they are called) and made a flax flower for me 😄
E.This was a real highlight of our stay in Rotorua. The tour guides (Philip and Robert) were very knowledgeable and passionate about the village and they gave an excellent tour. Seeing the geysers was a great experience there which made a great trip all the more special. The cultural performance was a highlight as well with plenty of seating available and was very entertaining. We could have easily spent more time in the viage and doing the 45-50 minute walk but unfortunately we had a long drive ahead so we did not see all that the village had to offer, but even without that it was excellent value for money. Be sure to have some change with you to throw into the water at the children (it'll make sense when you're there!)
I'd also like to thank Delme at one of the shops in the village as he was a really great guy to chat to and shared some stories of his own experiences with people who have visited in the past and took great interest in learning words from other languages as well as teaching some Maori words and phrases.
Diolch, and kia ora!
J.I highly recommend a visit to this village. The tour group was quite large so they split us into 2 groups going off in different direction which worked well.
Our guide was funny, personable and clearly passionate about his village, culture and supporting the Moari people of New Zealand.
P.An excellent day with a show, guided tour, food and time to explore on our own. These welcoming people shared information about their lives and culture, making use in their everyday lives of the environment they are in. The steam, hot water, geysers and bubbling mud are fascinating. Such a different lifestyle, such friendly people. Thank you to the villagers.
Y.Overall I would recommend this experience a though the geothermal lunch wasn't anywhere near as tasty as they described... After all, it is steamed....
L.Excellent visit. Fascinating experience. We opted for the guided tour,cultural show and hangi meal. The guide was excellent, very informative and humerous. Pitched his talk at just the right level. The show was good but bench seating a bit uncomfortable. We enjoyed the meal but main course could have been hotter. All staff everywhere were very friendly and helpful.
L.Wonderful and authentic living village. We were kindly greeted by the chief who walked us through the village while explaining various historical aspects of the Maori. The village is ran by family members and residents who are very proud of their history. We were glad we learned about this important culture while in Rotorua.
J.great guide. Far more interesting place than I expected. Great without the foreign tourists. Though they're probably restarting v soon
R.Informative tour and fun cultural performance. We got to see the geysers go off tho it did coincide with the show so sadly missed some of the water play. Yummy hot water cooked corn on offer
J.Really interesting tour, out guide was awesome and told us the history and heaps of stories about the village and residents too. Great Te Reo Maori lessons as well. The cultural show was good as well. Would deffo go again
W.This was a great way to learn more about the Maori. We had a wonderful person to tour us. Also the cultural dance was great. Its good to see the way they cook by 'hangi'. Also learning more about their culture as tourist. Except ghe weather wasn't great as the rain was pouring. So better check the weather as it is an outdoor walk.
J.Absolutely informative place to learn the culture of the original peoples of New Zealand.
L.Truly amazing village, very informative local guide and an insight into Maori traditions. Would recommend - and the hangi was delicious too. We did the 12pm tour, 1pm hangi and 2pm live show then walked around the site afterwards and went to the earth science museum.
A.Extremely worth it! The tour is very informative and gives deep insight into Maori life as it used to be. The tour is about an hour long and after you're free to walk around and explore. There are also two (or 3?) small giftshops with merchandise that you don't find everywhere
A.This village has been here a long time and the guides are extremely knowledgeable and gracious.
J.Awesome guided tours every hour, average thermal features, pathetic cultural performance. Performance venue was too small to fit the crowd and only 1 performer was superb. The rest just looked bored. The dances are boring and the haka by the all black are much more inspiring. The hangi meal was bland and tasteless, with the corn being the only exception
S.Loved the cultural performances so much! The guide was very informative with a fun personality! I had a great time learning about the Maori culture and walking around this village.
S.Unique experience. Tells you all about the traditional Maori ways of life. There are multiple Geysers, the guided tour tells you all about it. Would recommend to go with the guide. Later you can do one of the trails along the outskirts of the village (Especially the one which takes you over one the Sulphur Lake). It a short walk but check the weather as it can get muddy if it rains.
T.A must visit in rotorua. Our tour guide and hangi as well as the cultural performance was awsome👍
M.We loved this. Seeing Maori culture first-hand is the best way to gain appriciation
C.We only had afternoon in Rotorua as we we simply travelling through. I chose the village to visit as it combined both Geological features as well as some information about Maori life. (Ive been to Te Puia before) It's very much an introduction to Maori Culture as I didn't learn much I didn't know already. The tour is short and I recommend it to learn things you wouldn't otherwise . The "Concert" was a highlight for me and I thought it was great that they posed for photos free of charge. The giftshop is awesome and not overpriced.
S.A once in a lifetime experience, that is a must-do if you want to learn more about the Maori culture.
It can be a very confronting experience when you're watching the presentation, but truly amazing to witness the customs and traditions in such a way.
A bonus was to be able to see some of the glow-worms that are so famous in NZ.
Also, the spring that provides this village with fresh water is a sight to behold. It's really cool to see the crystal clear water flowing upward into the spring... I've never seen anything like it before.
A.Definitely a place worth a visit. You can see the way of life of Maori people, the village, the foods, and the environment.
Welcoming dance and village tour is included in your ticket, so make sure to check their performance timetable. The tour will show you around the village, how they do day-to-day stuff, and how they cook their food using earth thermal (aka. Hangi).
They serve Hangi lunch menu during limited lunch time only, so get in while you can. Sweet corn cooked in the boiling pond also worth a try.
If you have lots of spare time, there are walking tracks that you can do around the village as well.
S.Very interesting people and culture. We were a little disappointed because we thought we could do arts and crafts, but it was just observing locals practicing their craft. The show was really good and the people were enthusiastic--as were the tour guides. I wish there were more interactive elements though.
A.You can spend couple hours here and do walk tour with guide or just do it yourself.. try hangi pies in Cafe (YUM)
O.Excellent intro to volcanic areas, like the Maori traditional songs dances show and haka! The entrance is not cheap but the number of interesting places and the show where you can take picture after with the showmen/women is definitely worth the visit. Recommend place for a few hours.
B.Very interesting experience. Learned a lot about the Maori and their traditional way if life. The show was the highlight and I would have liked to see more.
B.We had an excellent day here at a very reasonable cost compared to others. The boiling pools, bubbling mud pools and natural steam ovens were amazing to see. The tour itself was an hour (make sure you cover up from the sun or carry an umbrella!) It was very informative. After that we were free to wander around the village, take the excellent board walk through the thermal lakes and eat a hungi pie and corn cooked in a boiling thermal pool. All in all an excellent day and my husband who wasn't keen enjoyed it immensely too. Ps the Maori show was good fun too!
M.This was a wonderful experience. Everything and everyone was so genuine. The cultural performance was informative and very professional, and the guided tour by the Chief (real name I can’t spell) was entertaining and informative. Really enjoyed the whole thing and learnt a lot.
K.Our Kiwi friends brought us to your village to visit because of the authenticity. We are glad they did. The entire family is involved from our guide, to the performers, to the shop owners What an amazing time we had. So educational and informative learning about the Maori culture.
m.Excellent tour by Michael. Great experience and very welcoming all around
R.Great authentic living village of Maori locals. A fantastic spot to see the region's famous geyser Pohutu Geyser - great look outs for this natural wonder if you want to steer clear of other local tourists traps. Self guided walks as well as tour-guided walks and other walking trails. Recommended for 2 hours for your visit! There is price of admission -- you can get a mud-bath and bathing experience, as well as a dining experience too for a full day.
W.Very genuine feel to it, will recommend the cultural show and taking a walk around the village, was a real eye opener. The hangi lunch though is an acquired taste that we appreciate having the privilege to try.
Thank you Chief and to all your people keeping this tradition alive.
E.Must visit in Rotorua... Was amazing to see how the village has evolved but still deeply tied to their roots. Our guide was great. And we saw a huge geyser erupt, although from quite a distance. The cultural show was amazing as well!!
D.Our tour guide was extremely charismatic, the sights are amazing along with the cultural shows and way of life the villagers open to their visitors. If you have a spare afternoon in rotorua I highly recommend this village experience .
K.Phillip made our experience an 11/10! Knowledgeable, friendly, and with a great sense of humor, he navigated us through hot pools and hangis. This area is beautiful, fascinating, and well worth a visit.
L.Loved it but I wish the tour actually was at least an hour as they promised instead of 40 minutes. Otherwise really good experience, not a fake like other villages but an actual village where people live. You can earn a lot about Maori culture in this little time an you get to see geyser eruption. Village has coffee shop and souvenir stores. I'm sure you can get hangi as well but if you only want a little bite you can always just get a corn cooked in hangi style in thermal water
C.Excellent place. The village tour is very entertaining and fun. Wai was our guide and she was kind and welcoming. Really unique place. Much cheaper than the government run fake village on the other side. Shame they fell out but I'd much rather spend my holiday money with the guides who've been guiding for generations.
J.Great to see people actually living in this place although I did feel like I had wandered into someone's back yard at times. Lots of shops plus a mini tour and concert. Great to hear the history and culture of the Maori people.
A.Really interesting site. We enjoyed a guided tour around. Our guide was helpful and friendly. There were some nature walks to do. Unfortunately it rained so we didn't complete them all. A few shops and a cafe. Hangi pie was really tasty!
D.This was our favourite place in Rotorua! The cultural performance was so good and uplifting and we got to learn some moves too 😁 We didn't realise the ticket included a tour after the show of the Māori village and geothermal wonders on site. Chief was the most amazing guide and it wasn't until after that we found out how much they value their guides and how far back they have been educating the public on their way of life (over 200 years). This was the best value for money experience when you consider you get the performance, a 45min to an hour guided tour, and your own chance to further explore the geothermal areas including naturally erupting geysers! Also the hangi pie is delicious haha
N.Good one time introduction to local village culture and knowing their way of living life. There is a cultural show. There are thermal geysers and a walk. 3 hours max. Ticket prices are more than what they deserve as through out New Zealand hence 3 stars.
W.It was a nice walk but not very exciting
S.Really happy with the experience, super friendly staff. I do recommend booking(a few days in advance) via bookme for a bit of a discount(it is the only maori experience on there), but make sure to book in a timeframe where you can take a guided tour and see the performance. A guided tour just gives you so much more information and insight into the maori culture, I had a great fun and knowledgeable tourguide named 'T'. He told us that the Maori cultural centre next to this park was bought up by the government and therefore is more promoted; even more reason to book a tour here for a great price(it was eventually only 20 euro's so definitely well worth the experience).
N.Our tour guide was the best and an actual resident of the village. She made the history and culture experience alive. The Moari dance group was awesome.
D.The place is amazing and fantastic. We took 50 girls from the USA on a guided tour by "Chief". The tour was great and our guide was superb at teaching us about the culture and history of the village, plus he is hilarious. This is a must see if you are in the area.
K.Amazing experience and lovely guides!
P.Amazing experience. Definitely recommend this to anyone visiting NZ
J.This is a great way to experience Kiwi culture up close. The tour guides are very friendly and knowledgeable and you get to see the lives of people who actually live there, hence the name, “living Maori village.” The stories are intriguing and the place is large, with a few souvenir/convenience stores around the place, which are not surprisingly a bit pricy. Would definitely recommend for a foreign tourist, or a Kiwi looking for insight into the Maori culture.
G.Great guided tour, a little short for the price, I expected more. But the village is beautifull and the guide explained how the live there taking advantage of the geysers and hot water. But if I have to do it again, I will go to Te Puia ($45 per person) where you have access to the hole park with geysers and some Maori shows too. Because in this village you can see the geysers but they are far away.
A.Really nice experience. Food was great, I definitely recommend for everyone to book a hangi, or at least a cooked corn. Personally I appreciate Maori way of life, even for the short visit you feel really welcomed.
A.This place has very interesting history, make sure you read the signs. We showed up late for any tours but got to have all the amazing thermal walks uninterrupted for ourselves. Certainly recommend the walk
M.Very traditional place with a nice tour and excellent Maori guides. Lots to see, ticket allows you to come back the next day if you miss the cultural performance at the first day. Lot's of thermal activity directly in the village with a lot of history and explanation from the guides. Highly recommended to go here instead of Te Puia, access and tour is also a lot cheaper. If you really want to see and learn about the traditional Maori way then go here!
T.A very nice place. Because there are still Maori living in the village one gets a real picture of their life. The people who guide you are from there. It is also very central in the town of Roratura.
M.Excellent tour from our guide - Hanna. Learnt a lot about the Maori way of life, which was very interesting. Hot pools, springs, geysers and mud pools all amazing to see. Show was also great, make sure you get there to see either the morning (11.15am) or afternoon show (2pm). Finished off with a walk around the tracks (took me about 30 minutes to do the full thing) and a Hangi Pie and sweetcorn ($5 for small combo). Pie was delicious and a great alternative to the full Hangi meal as you still get a taste of the delicious tender meat and veges... and the bonus of it being wrapped in scrumptious pastry! Yum!
M.The people are nice, friendly, and fun, fresh and clean air, but not much to see.
They provide Maori cultural performance which available two time in a day, morning and afternoon (2 pm).
D.I visited the living Maori village with my family and we had a very informative guide explain about the village and how they use the hot water to cook and bath. We also saw a great traditional Maori haka performance and I got the chance to go onstage and try it out for myself. It was great.
A.It was a really good. The performance was awesome , how three men and two lady's could sound like that amazed me. Our tour guide was really funny. Food was ok , I was hoping for a hangi, but I had accedently ordered hangi pie.. so my fault. But we had a really nice afternoon! !!
S.Spectacular scenery, rich with authentic Maori culture.
D.We loved it The guide pitched his talk just right for both us and our 11 year old granddaughter. He sang beautifully and showed other aspects of life in and history of the village.
S.Great experience and the guide had great stories. Hangi meals were already sold out when we arrived before noon which was quite disappointing. The village felt very authentic and the people were lovely.
E.We had a great time there. The cultural performance was fantastic and the tour guide was really friendly and explained everything really clearly. I highly recommend it to really experience the Maori culture
D.Great show. Performers enthusiastic and really wanted audience to have good experience. Photos with performers after show. Very informative tour around village. Good educational trip.
L.Sadly there is not much Maori culture left. They did a nice dance and thermal springs/geysers (and really good sweet corn) but other than that...
At least the guide was funny
M.We had an amazing experience here, with geothermal springs, mud pools, but above all this is an authentic village where people live, and our guide ("Girly") was fantastic in her description of the Maori culture and traditions. 10/10, the highlight of our NZ trip. Oh and the hanggi pie from the cafe is delicious.
S.One of the cheapest Maori village to visit. You are basically by yourself. There is a guide tour at different hours. Is a village where people actually live and work. I had the typical Maori food which was really good. I even enjoyed the smell
W.Amazing cultural experience lead by a thorough and experienced tour guide. We were encouraged to take photos and were lucky enough to see one of the geysers erupted ! Their Haka dance show was equally entertaining and they even invited viewers to perform it too along with photos towards the end. Highly recommend this
S.Great welcoming performances including the haka, but the village is nothing like I had imagined given the description. There are modern houses, cars and everything here, and it's mainly a small geothermal display park. There's little to no history given about the Maori people on the short guided tour of of the tiny village.
P.A truly unique experience. The corn cooked in the steam water is delicious and must have. Great way to learn a little about Maori culture and specifically about their village.
D.This was a wonderful experience, a full on living village and an historical education !! EXCEPTIONAL!
D.Good experience to know their culture, one of the cheapest
R.A must see for the authentic Maori experience. Performances are very well worth the entry fee. A good place to visit and bring overseas visitors.
S.Guide was friendly and good at telling us about the village, how it is now. Nice walks as well to do. The lunch was quite nice as well.
Would of been nice to learn more about moari history.
S.Loved the guided tour. The steam rising up all over looked like we were on a movie set. We even got to see a geyser! The guide told us about the history. Great stop!
J.Absolutely amazing. A must see. The tour and show are great. We learned about Maori culture and how they live around the thermals. The food was beautiful.We had a fantastic day. Thanks Whakarewarewa!
R.Chats with residents, amazing to see how much the hot pools influenced the area's Maori lifestyle in the region. Lovely show with traditional dances and singing and costuming.
C.Very interesting view of Maori life. Guide was a resident of the village. Hot springs and geyser views were cool. Kids diving after coins was fun.
E.I thoroughly enjoyed the experience! The performance is a must see and the day wouldn't have been the same without it. Everyone was super friendly and chatty in all the shops.
I.Love it! Each time I've been I've enjoyed the tour. The walks are enjoyable. The cultural show is enjoyable. It's a place you need to visit, explore and embrace.
A.We actually visited last year around this time. I loved that it was a living Maori village it's very interesting and we had a lovely tour guide take us around. I would highly recommend.
D.The tour guide was very knowledgeable and all the shop keepers friendly and helpful as well.
Hints: pre-order your boiled corn when purchasing tickets
-the bush walks are totally worth going on, especially to see the mud pools!
-bring some $1 and $2 coins to throw the penny diving kids, they're freezing their bums off for your entertainment!
B.Very interesting experience. Learned a lot about the Maori and their traditional way if life. The show was the highlight and I would have liked to see more.
T.A very nice place. Because there are still Maori living in the village one gets a real picture of their life. The people who guide you are from there. It is also very central in the town of Roratura.
K.Make this place the place to visit when in Rotorua you will love it
D.Great show. Performers enthusiastic and really wanted audience to have good experience. Photos with performers after show. Very informative tour around village. Good educational trip.
P.An excellent day with a show, guided tour, food and time to explore on our own. These welcoming people shared information about their lives and culture, making use in their everyday lives of the environment they are in. The steam, hot …
A.Really enjoyed the tour and information, the thermal pools and how they still actively use them for cooking and bathing are amazing. The cultural show was good and even got the audience involved not something I usually enjoy but did with this one. Great people worth spending some time on a visit.
J.I highly recommend a visit to this village. The tour group was quite large so they split us into 2 groups going off in different direction which worked well.
Our guide was funny, personable and clearly passionate about his village, culture and supporting the Moari people of New Zealand.
S.Loved the cultural performances so much! The guide was very informative with a fun personality! I had a great time learning about the Maori culture and walking around this village.
N.Absolutely brilliant. One of the best tours we have experienced
The guide was fantastic and a pleasure to be with. 11/10
C.Best in NZ
C.It was a very nice up close look at the people live. Tour was excellent. Bring coin to buy hot corn cooked in steam. The show don't miss it was excellent and few ships to buy trinkets.
A.Outstanding place to visit. The steaming pools, mud pools and vents were fascinating. The guides were entertaining, engaging and informative about W..... and the lives of the people who live there and their history. I recommend W..... to any one visiting Rotorua.
A.One of the better places to experience Maori culture. Can't beat the price as they don't force you to have a Hangi meal in the ticket place. We watched a Maori song and dance performance, had some hangi pies (filling was too mushy for my liking), and watched the Pohuto geyser in all it's glory.
M.This mystical place is one of those serine experiences
D.Beautiful cultural and geothermal experience. A must if you are in Rotorua
R.Its home to me and I still walk the tracks and look at the same Geysers and am still humbled Yes some buildings are missing but that's nature. MEET the locals and find a different experience, Kia ora, 😝
J.Kia Ora! This is a great experience. The tour lasts an hour and the show half an hour. Chief was a great tour guide, very funny, very personable. Tried the Hangi pie, cooked in the steam from the geothermal activity. No trace of the smell in the taste! Really delicious. Everything is fairly priced, entry was around 40 NZD. Really good value for what you get. Kia Ora! 😁
M.Really good day guide was very pleasant and very willing to answer any questions well worth a visit
A.Was a good way to see how the past affects the present. The cultural show was really good and not pretensions at all. The participants looked like they really were happy to share their heritage. Well done.
B.Whakarewarewa village was the highlight of our trip. Despite staying at Holiday Inn, we nearly missed this. If you want to understand about the Maori culture and their relationship with the land, plan your trip around this!!! The performance was full of energy and the Maori people put their heart into bringing their culture alive. The thermal village not only had the cultural aspect but also had great views of the geysers and rotorua. Our guide (who had a native name too long) spoke at length about their different wisdom and how they worked in haramony with the land.
T.Fantastic morning exploring the village. Mike our guide was incredibly informative and interesting, really enjoyed his tour.
Whakarewarewa hds such a unique part of NZ history, and is an unmissable stop in your Rotorua experience.
Z.Very good experience of a Maori village.
S.Very good tour guide, was wonderful to see, pity its not like 40 yrs ago but can't change that
J.I had a great experience at the geothermal village. The tour guides made for a very enjoyable time and offered great insight in the type of activities and history that took place and the village. I highly recommend visiting. It is certainly worth your time.
T.Very informative, enjoyable live show, knowledgable tour guide. Great value for money. My wife and I shared a Hangi meal, kids each had a Hangi pie from the cafe .
Recommended .
C.Wow where else can you go and walk thru a village where it is truly lived in and shared . A geothermal wonderland. Our tour guides are a must we learned so much from their stories and you just have to have the meal literally cooked on site out of the steaming ground. Thank you Jamie and Paora it was quite an experience.
k.Love the beauty of New Zealand and Maori culture.
C.Very worth seeing our guide Paul was excellent!
A.Great place to see the original Rotorua. Touristy, but with a bit of an edge of being human. Has a view of the nearby geyser, and some amazing thermal pools. A lot of history here, but definately showing its age. Very New Zealand.
K.Really enjoyed the whole experience, even in the rain. The guide was really good, happy to answer the lots of questions we all had. See the same geysers as at Te Piha, but much cheaper. The hangi meal could feed a mum & small child, so good.
P.We really enjoyed it a lot there! The short show was performed with joy and humor. The one hour tour through the the thermal village - done by girly - was very interesting.
A.Did the guided tour. Was short but nice and easy walking and very informative.
E.If you like the Maori culture and you are in Rotorua you have to visit this place.
k.Had first visted Whakarewarewa when I was a kid (10yrs or so ago). Always wanted to go back and take my son and my husband. This village is amazing and the guides (especially Mikaere, our guide) cater to all vistors and are more than happy to answer your questions and have a chat. Brought me straight back to when i was a kid, exactly the way i remember it. Could visit again and again. This was my familys highlight from our 4 day weekend in Rotorua, beautiful :)
C.Amazing environment, awesome staff and great food. Definitely advise to all to come check it out 👌
A.This is the least cheesy experience that you could encounter of the depiction of life in a village set atop of hot springs just shows how adaptable we human can be. It's in a beautiful setting to begin with, you easily spend most of the day here.
R.Do not miss the performance which happen twice in a day as they are the highlight of the tour. The guide Chief was pretty good . Although the tour itself was just ok. Not that exciting.
N.Really interesting place to visit and good tour guides 😊
J.What a lovely place to visit! An authentic Living Maori Village that is surrounded by geothermal activity with geysers eruptions throughout the day. What an insight into the Maori culture and traditions.
K.Brillant display of Maori culture. Tour guide was very thorough and well educated in her whakapapa and ancestral background.
Really lovely and down to earth people who performed the songs and dance show. Captured wonderfully what I wanted to show my Australian partner about our indigenous.
Ka pai
I.Amazing place to learn and enjoy the Maori culture. Hana is an amazing guide, and makes your the tour a great day!
M.This really is a living village. The residents are your hosts and guides. Everyone was warm and welcoming. The Hangi dinner was tasty and generous. The thermals were varied. All in all, everything you need to experience Rotorua.
S.Spent a wonderful few hours being immersed in Maori culture, the tour was informative and at times emotional, the 30 minute show at the end of the tour was also fantastic
M.Maori culture and identity are at the very core of Rotorua’s existence. Whakarewarewa is just one of the villages that enable visitors to learn about the area’s heritage and customs. The Living Maori Village offers guided tours of the area’s natural treasures, as well as hosting hangi feasts, cultural performances, flax-weaving classes, and even Ta Moko tattoo sessions.
C.Wonderful! Stunning geothermal attractions. Definitely worth a visit.
N.Enjoyed the dances and singing. Then we had a very healthy tasty lunch then we got the guided tour. Very special experience.
J.Expensive for what you can see. The geyser is small, the town is small and smell really bad. Only thing worth seeing is the Maori concert. One of the singer is really good !
D.What a great experience well recommend it. Such great history here and all very well explained by some lovely people. Dont miss the show were you get to see them dancing and doing the Haka
M.Went here for my dauters end if year trip 201y. Was good to listen to the history of the place, wouldnt recommend having a guide with kids age 0-5yrs. They were getting annoyed standing aroud waiting to move on. They loved the kapa haka group, they were really awesome and the hangi pies were the best of the lot 😍
A.Amazing Maori Experience. A must do in New Zealand/Aotearoa. Great food and performances. True sense of living off the land with the Geothermal activity. Greenstone, bone and souvenir stores as well as an amazing Ta moko/art studio. See Jason for some really spiritual artworks. Wish I could live there!
S.Awesome place to experience Maori culture. There are lots of different geothermal activities to see - volcanic water eruption, bubbling lakes and mud pools and usage of these for daily Maori life
L.Most Unique Village in all of Aotearoa! Nowhere else can you see this, People living amongst the Steam! Our Clients love the fresh Sweet corn cooked in the Boiling Pool the Geyser erupting...kids swimming..and the Wonderfully Informative Guides!😘
G.Still fantastic after the 5th visit. Each guide tells new stories. Loved the hungi main meal with lovely steam pudding treat. Well worth paying the extra for imop.
B.Amazing that this setting is really home for some Rotorua residents. Bubbling hot pools and streaming vents everywhere. Great cultural performance. Friendly and very hospitable guide.
N.It's great walk inside this geothermal area with good tourist guide.The performance by the Maori people was really awesome.I'd really enjoyed it. People should come over here and don't miss the performance
K.Good tour.
Great cultural exchange experience.
Must see
S.Awesome experience! So informative, well planned out tour and super friendly and accomodating staff! Mikaere was a wonderful guide and so was the performance. Love love loved every minute!!!
R.Excellent little village hot pools and it shows a lot of buildings and baths from back in the days showing what it was like.
S.Charming young local girl as a guide, interesting insight into maori culture and locals usage of geothermal energy. Performance was cool too. Well worth the 40 nzd.
W.Excellent 'living museum' where the Tuhourangi/Ngati Wahiao Māori tribe act as custodians and guides to a series of intriguing thermal pools and geothermal steam vents. Access to the village allows visitors to join a guided tour of the village, as well as a wonderful Māori cultural show featuring the world-famous Haka. For extra cost, add steam-cooked sweet corn, a hangi pie, or a range of souvenirs from the gift shop.
S.Very interesting, we enjoyed our visit, as a wheelchair user there were some difficulties and probably the government owned Maori site would be more accessible.
V.The tour guide described the village with humour and was most informative.A very enjoyable and effective way to begin learning about Kaupapa Maori.
H.Feels a bit strange being guided into the combination of home and museum. Good haka and a lot of friendly people. PS: two months on and our 4-year old still talks about the haka, singing and poi-dance
D.A beautiful step back into the past.
Back into a Maori past.
Into a Maori past of Rotorua and all it's surrounding
J.Very informative guides that tell you new info depending on which one you get. Also, if you buy jade (pounamu) or carved bone, buy it from the shop in the village. Ralph is such an awesome person and carver! You will also know your item wasn't mass produced!
A.A wonderful experience in New-Zealand.
Learn more about the Maori culture thanks to the great guides.
And dont forget to have a hangi Pie before leaving the village.
U.Good place to understand the Maori culture. The Maori stage show is good here. You can also see some of the thermal activity at this place and a view of geyser too.
B.We enjoyed aou time at The Living Village. We found the guide to be very informative and helpful. We also enjoyed the cultural show and the Hangi lunch.
A.If you're choosing between this place and Ta Puia. Go here. It's called the Living Village for a reason. The people here really live here. They are inviting you into their home to show you how they live, and it is fascinating. We had a Hangi Meal cooked entirely in a hole in the ground. No fire, just the heat from beneath the soil in this amazing pocket of the world. It was about as good as a baked dinner gets.
This place has far more character and is a much greater experience than Ta Puia, overlooking the same geyser but for less money.
E.This was a thoroughly enjoyable way to spend a day and was one of the highlights of my trip to Rotorua. It was a fun and educational experience. I enjoyed seeing all of the geothermal activity and learning more about the history of the area.
B.An incredible place full of history and beautiful landscapes. Highly recommend a visit if you want to have a look into Maori culture.
P.A great tour but we wre too late for the cultural pergormance :( Make sure you arrive in time for the 12.15 or 2pm shows
C.Incredible experience! Our tour guide was ver, informative and friendly, don't let me start with the amazing show. It is incredible! Definetly worth a trip!
E.The cultural performance was the highlight. The geysers were cool, but maintenance didn’t seem like a priority throughout the area. I’m not sure it was worth the $45
j.The Heart of Rotorua this is where it all begun ..steep in much history with Te Puia next door this was once joined as 1..but due to some differences between Admin& tribal leaders this Seperation led to devided Barriers..Money seems to be the over riding Principal in many Cases today..But diffinately abeautiful pl to visit& perhaps trace 1s Whakapapa ( Roots)
C.a journey of Maori culture. Fun to know their life style, history and so on from tot guide and kinds of Maori architectures. Also enjoy the Maori dance show!
K.great experience. .even though I am a local it was quite interesting listening to Haana (our guide) as a tourist attraction a definite to do. 😊😊😊 Good prices for families. .
M.A beautiful and wonderful village. Great place to escape from the world and to be one with mother nature. This village is full of historical events a must visit place
C.Very interesting tour by a village member of how they live amongst the hot water springs. Their gift shops have reasonable prices in comparison to most tourist places!
K.Its interesting, but the guiding is a bit weak and lacks any depth, there is a twenty minute cultural dance. Access to the geysers is restricted as there are two competing companies vying for viewing platforms.
K.Rotorua as a town is famous for its geo-thermal activity. Wakarewarewa is one end where you get the glimpse of the renowned Pohutu geyser. It's normally seen ones every hour to two hours. Guided tours will give you an insight to the Maori heritage.
Views for the geysers are much better from Te Puia which is the other entry of the village.
L.A real life glimpse of our past as it was... Rare to find. Absolutely fasanating n beautiful area.
p.I have been to a few other Maori villages. This one is my favorite as it is a real living Maori village. Our guide was very funny, he lives in that village and that added to the beauty of tour.
N.Absolutely brilliant. One of the best tours we have experienced
The guide was fantastic and a pleasure to be with. 11/10
P.Great place to see Maori culture and living conditions. Staff are friendly and very knowledgeable. Would definately recommend anyone visiting, I will again when I am in the area.
M.Interesting peek into Maori life, adapted to the hot springs between which the town has been for decades. A little less "put on" than the haka dinner shows perhaps.
T.Really enjoyed our visit here. We borrowed a wheelchair for my mother as the terrain would be tricky for anybody with restricted mobility. Staff very helpful and friendly.
P.I wouldn't recommend visiting the village. It's far too expensive for what you get. There are free spots in Rotorua to see the geothermal activity and the "cultural" show is with a western guitar and it doesn't seem to authentic.
C.So good!! Great guide who had lived in the village, and cool performance too every few hours. Highly recommend
A.The tour guide was excellent and the village was beautiful. I highly recommend trying to get a tour if you can while you're in town or even if you're a local.
L.Great Maori experience in a village where they really live. Thank you Chief for sharing the way of life of your ancestors and of the story of your Land.
C.What a great time we had here. Would recommend anyone in town to visit. Very informative and lots of sulphur lakes to see!
T.Considering the entry fee, the place was pretty worn out. The walk over the hot lakes was great.the stage show was also abit of a laugh!
C.Nice place to learn about Maori heritage, taste their food cooked in the hot springs, and see some hot springs geysers and mud pools. A bit pricey perhaps.
P.An intimate look at a living maori village, with tourist shops, a cafe, a kohanga reo (a pre-school in the Maori language)of thermal activity and homes of the local people living there. Plenty of walksways, with beautiful scenery! A maori concert is performed daily too.
T.A bit too crowded in the morning but much more quite in the afternoon. The cultural performance and guided tour are really worth it.
C.We hadn't booked on the tour and we had no trouble joining it soon after it hàd started, The tour guide3e was excellent.She was very friendly and informative
D.Arrived late but will return
N.First time in a Maori village. Very picturesque. There's a Maori show there as well. Also there's a guided tour. It is not free though.
C.Really good experience, the show is very cool, not a busy place, the lake is nice and the geyser incredible!
B.Te Whakarewarewatangaoteopetauaawahio (Whaka) is the best place in Rotorua if you want to learn about the Maori people. This living village is the home to over 20 families whom share there home with the world. The villages rich tourism history shines through there presentation with a warm sense of security as you walk around. from the Wharenui (meeting house) to the geyser platform, there is plenty to see in Whakarewarewa the living village.
H.Great traditional Māori place where the history is taught in depth about the surrounding areas as well as traditional and cultural items being available for purchase as gifts or memorabilia.
J.Had a lovely morning here with the tour, Māori performance and Hāngi meal! Big thanks especially to the performers. Cheers
m.Great place for a truly authentic experience. Guides very informative, food and show experience avalaible. Allow enough time to see geysers and thermal surrounds.
E.The cultural show was amazing!! The guided tour after was very informative and vey interesting...all in all an amazing experience.
G.The real McCoy, the whanau living, cooking and bathing amongst the geothermal wonderland.
D.Loved this place. Very welcoming. Authentic Maori. Great guide. Concert was fantastic. Hungi pie was awesome.
G.It's a good place to visit, most of the place is free for walk, some tours available and the gayser also need a ticket to get closer to it (you can see it from far away
M.Interesting place to visit. Very lovely guide and we loved the performance! But the smell of the fumes wasn't very pleasant.
R.Super! Our guide had the best attitude and gave us a huge amount of details about the village.
P.Overhyped and overpriced. Pick from the other geothermal choices available in the region. All a little tatty and run down and people aren't always welcoming. Just a place to fleece tourists of a few more dollars.
N.Nice Village.very good traditional cultural performance.
D.Awesome experience. Recommend it.
P.Great performance, great tour. The food, it is okay.
M.It is an amazing place to go to.. the locals are so welcoming.. We learnt a little history about Whakarewarewa.. We also discovered that this is my daughter inlaw marae.. so we live stream some of it as her mum hadn't been back to the place in Year's.. the Te Hatu Whanau
To the lovely lady who was cooking the sweet corn in the hot pools.. 22/01/18 thanks for answering my stupid question..
"Where does the steam come from" "how does it stay hot for the entire day"..
Learnt something new.. so I thank you for that 😚🤘
To the kapa haka group.. Mean Morehu Mean
Jah Bless from Porirua
R.Visited last week.... Amazing place... Awesome people... Great hospitality... Wonderful experience getting closer to the Maori culture!!
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