Experience Te Puia

Our most popular day experience

Rotorua’s world-class guided experience and cultural performance.

This exhilarating combo extends out from our Te Rā Guided Experience by offering a leading cultural performance in our beautifully carved meeting house, Te Aronui a Rua. It will include a pōhiri (traditional Māori welcome), waiata (song), mōteatea (traditional chant), poi and haka.

Must be booked in advance.

Subject to availability and confirmation.

Experience a day filled with excitement, culture, and connection as you explore Te Whakarewarewa Geothermal Valley. Encounter our national treasure, the kiwi, and immerse yourself in Māori culture.

Discover awe-inspiring geysers, bubbling mud, and lush native bush during our guided Te Rā experience. Get up close to Pōhutu Geyser, the largest active geyser in the Southern Hemisphere.

Visit the kiwi in a specially designed nocturnal enclosure at the Kiwi Conservation Centre, dedicated to preserving this iconic bird.

Dive deeper into Māori heritage at the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute, where students hone traditional skills in weaving, wood, stone and bone carving. Our wānanga (school) serves as a beacon for indigenous culture.

Our knowledgeable guides will share their Māori traditions and heritage with you, passing down ancestral stories and insights along the way.

Take your guided experience to the next level, upgrade to a Te Rā + Haka Combo!

Te Rā guided experience has a duration of 90 minutes.

Embark on a two-hour premium experience that takes you to hidden areas of our valley. Discover how our ancestors have utilized the mineral-rich geothermal pools for centuries, using them for both cooking and bathing.

Savor samples of sweetcorn or eggs cooked in an ancient boiling ngāwhā (hot pool) while hearing the captivating tale of Hatupatu, a brave warrior who escaped the mythical birdwoman, Kurungaituku. This legendary escape, whispered far and wide, holds a secret known only to Hatupatu: amidst the peril, a fleeting love was born—an enchanted bond.

A moderate level of fitness is required to enjoy a scenic walk-through enchanting bushland, along winding geothermal sinter paths and into the heart of the mysterious geothermal valley. Your journey concludes at the Kiwi Conservation Centre, the sacred Rotowhio marae grounds, and the renowned New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute.

This exclusive guided tour is limited to 20 participants aged *+ and departs daily at 10:15am and 11:15am.

Our most popular night experience.

An evening of culture, kai and connection!

Te Pō Combo begins at 4pm with a fully guided tour of our valley, followed by a buffet dinner and cultural performance—each element designed to deepen your connection to our historic geothermal valley and immerse you in Māori culture.

Explore the stunning landscape of native bush, geysers, and mud pools, and feel the natural power of Pōhutu Geyser—the largest geyser in the Southern Hemisphere! Your guided journey takes you through the geothermal valley, where you’ll also visit the Kiwi Conservation Centre and the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute.

Savour a delicious buffet at our Pātaka Kai Restaurant & Bar, which overlooks a geothermal wonderland. Enjoy freshly-sourced produce, traditionally cooked meats and vegetables, kai moana (seafood), and a selection of sweet desserts.

Be captivated by a cultural performance in our beautifully carved meeting house, Te Aronui a Rua. The performance includes a pōhiri (traditional Māori welcome), waiata (song), mōteatea (chant), poi, and haka.

Wrap up the evening with a stroll back into the geothermal landscape while sipping on hot chocolate.

Experience a night that will enlighten you - see, hear and taste Māori culture.

This experience lasts approximately 4 hours and 30 minutes and is suitable for all ages.

Experience a night that will enlighten you - see, hear and taste Māori culture with a hāngī buffet dinner and cultural performance.

Savour a delicious hāngī buffet at our Pātaka Kai Restaurant & Bar, which overlooks a geothermal wonderland. Enjoy freshly sourced produce, traditionally cooked meats and vegetables, kai moana (seafood), and a selection of sweet desserts.

Be captivated by a cultural performance in our beautifully carved meeting house, Te Aronui a Rua. The performance includes a pōhiri (traditional Māori welcome), waiata (song), mōteatea (chant), poi, and haka.

Wrap up the evening with a stroll down to Pōhutu Geyser, the largest active geyser in the southern hemisphere and sip on hot chocolate.

This experience is approximately 2 hours 45 minutes long and suitable for all ages.

A two-hour guided night-time experience through our geothermal valley under the night skies.

When darkness falls the true love story of Rotorua’s geothermal wonderland comes to life.

Until now, the magic hidden within Te Puia has remained a secret that only Mother Nature has truly been exposed to. For the first time, the geothermal valley is revealed under night skies, providing a multi-sensory experience that cannot be replicated anywhere else in the world.

Walk through our valley and see geysers Pōhutu and Waikite illuminated by lights. Visit the ngāwhā (hot pool) and learn about traditional Māori cooking techniques.

With steam cascading through the valley, your kaiārahi (guide) will share their Māori traditions, heritage, and ancestral stories, offering unique insights into our rich culture.

Geyser By Night begins at 7:45pm and concludes at approx. 10pm. Please allow two hours for this experience.

Please note:

The Geyser By Night experience is only available Thursday - Sunday.

Walking shoes and a moderate-medium level of fitness are needed and can be subject to the weather. Recommended age of 8+ and must be able to do a late night walk.