Wai Ariki, Māori Village, Hangi Pie & Pōhutu Geyser Tour

Highlights

• Discover Māori culture on a guided tour of a traditional village
• Learn about native plants and their spiritual uses
• Visit the site of New Zealand’s own love story, Hinemoa and Tūtānekai
• Enjoy a Hangi Pie Meal cooked with geothermal steam for lunch
• Explore a geothermal valley with steam vents and bubbling hot pools

Description

Begin your journey at Wai Ariki Hot Springs & Spa, where you are welcomed into the Māori world under the guidance of Ngāti Whakaue ancestors. Your guide introduces you to the stories of the Sky Father and Earth Mother, sharing the deep connection Māori have with the natural world. Take a short stroll to a traditional Māori village, where carved meeting houses tell the stories of ancestors and the importance of genealogy. Visit the site of New Zealand’s own love story, Hinemoa and Tūtānekai, and discover how legends are preserved in local culture. Next, experience the spiritual heart of Māori society at a marae, the traditional meeting grounds. Receive a warm welcome inside the meeting house and observe Māori protocols first-hand. This is a unique opportunity to learn about customs, rituals, and the role of the marae as a place for gathering and sharing knowledge. Lunch is served at the Café in Te Whakarewarewa Living Māori Village, featuring a Hangi Pie Meal cooked with geothermal steam. After lunch, enjoy a private guided tour of the village. Hear the story of the Pink and White Terraces, once known as the ‘eighth wonder of the world’, and learn how the 1886 eruption of Mount Tarawera shaped the Tuhourangi/Ngāti Wahiao people. Explore a geothermal valley with steam vents, bubbling hot pools, and witness the power of Pōhutu Geyser, the largest in the southern hemisphere. Your experience concludes with a closing prayer at Wai Ariki Hot Springs & Spa, leaving you with a deeper understanding of Māori culture and the natural wonders of Rotorua.

Includes

Guided tour of Wai Ariki Hot Springs & Spa Visit to a Māori reservation Tour of a traditional Māori village Visit to a marae Lunch at Te Whakarewarewa Living Māori Village Guided tour of the village Visit to geothermal valley and Pōhutu Geyser

Excludes

Transportation to the starting point

Important Information

• The tour involves walking, so comfortable shoes are recommended. Photography is allowed, but respect local customs and protocols. Pets are not allowed on the tour.

Easy cancellation

Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund