Your visit to Te Puia: The complete Māori cultural experience

Embark on a journey into geothermal wonders

Begin your evening at Te Puia and be welcomed into one of New Zealand’s most prominent Māori cultural centres. Following check-in at 3:45pm, your experience starts with a guided exploration of the Te Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley. As you wander through unique geothermal landscapes, see the powerful Pōhutu Geyser erupt, bubbling mud pools and steam vents. Along your journey, learn about Māori legends and the significance of this region’s natural phenomena while soaking in vistas shaped by centuries-old volcanic forces.

Discover Māori heritage and craftsmanship

Continue your tour at the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute. Here, you’ll get the chance to observe master carvers and weavers preserving their customs and passing their expertise to future generations. Explore carved meeting houses, take in intricate woven art displays and gain insight into the cultural meaning behind each traditional design. At the Kiwi Conservation Centre, keep an eye out for New Zealand’s shy national icon, the kiwi bird, in a specialised nocturnal enclosure.

An unforgettable Hāngī buffet dinner

Around 5:30pm, gather at the Pātaka Kai Restaurant & Bar and indulge in a generous buffet meal. Experience the ancient Hāngī method—where food is cooked underground with steaming stones—bringing unmatched smokiness and earthiness to every bite. Enjoy a range of traditional Māori dishes prepared with the finest New Zealand produce, succulent meats, local seafood and a bounty of vegetables, all served in a setting overlooking the geothermal valley still steaming at dusk.

A celebration of culture and tradition

As night falls, make your way to Te Aronui a Rua, Te Puia’s grand meeting house, for an authentic Māori cultural performance at 7pm. Experience the welcoming pōhiri ceremony, hear powerful songs (waiata), traditional chants (mōteatea), see the energetic poi dance and the unforgettable haka. Audience participation brings guests even closer to Māori culture in this captivating display of language, movement and community.

Memorable moments by the geyser

Cap off your evening at the Pōhutu Geyser with a hot chocolate beneath the stars, surrounded by the dramatic sights and sounds of this natural wonder. Allow yourself time to reflect on the stories you have heard and the traditions you have witnessed as you take in this singular Rotorua landscape by night. Your comprehensive Te Pō combo tour concludes around 8:15pm.

Book your Te Puia: Te Pō Combo with Guided Tour, Cultural Performance & Hangi Buffet Dinner tickets now!