Emma and Jake were fantastic guides! Both are knowledgeable and funny. Being from Florida, my…read morehusband and I are pretty familiar with quick weather changes. We did not expect the heavy rain early in the morning to last the duration of this experience. Emma and Jake gracefully led the group and it was extremely impressive how effortlessly they worked in the pouring rain. Everyone had a blast and the views while on the lines were unbelievable! The lines were the longest we've been on and even the guides knew that the whole group was light. Not a single person got stuck. Emma and Jake teach cannonballs better than lifeguards and swim instructors! 15/04/2026

We recently visited as part of an organized tour through EF tours, (earlier this June), and it was…read moreamazing!!! I'm afraid of seemingly risky activities but Minka and Max did an awesome job explaining everything and making us feel safe and at ease. Their knowledge and professionalism truly shines. Thank you for an unforgettable and educational experience!

Booked this rafting adventure last minute and everyone was so nice! Before going on the trip you…read moregear up in your wet suit, life jacket and helmet. They then make sure to go through the basics of rafting and what to do if the raft flips over! It's a short 2 min drive to the rafting start point but once you're in the water it is so much fun! It has been raining pretty hard, but the whole experience was great! There were two shorter waterfalls and of course Tutea falls. It seemed intimidating, but our guide Elvis helped guide us and everything went great! They even got some good pictures of us! We even had the opportunity to get in the water and feel the rapids first hand! Overall great experience, would recommend to anyone looking for a thrill!

Just from the things I've seen on like r, I can't wait to go and try these class V waters!…read morehttps://kaitunacascades.co.nz/

Way back when in 2015 we came to NZ as one of first bucket list trips. This location is must to…read moreappreciate the nature of NZ. One gets a guided tour and see nature coming up out of the ground. Bonus points if you can pronounce the name place. And appreciate the Maori culture and lifestyle.

We went on a day tour to this village from Auckland and the experience was worth the long drive. It…read morewas freezing on the day we went but our village tour guide was still informative and entertaining. We learned a lot about the Maori culture and how some still live day to say in their old school customs. We saw and learned about the geyser and boiling pools used for cooking and bathing. We saw active geysers from a distance. We saw a native performance that was upbeat and cool to see. You were able to take pictures with the performers at the end. There are a few local vendors selling native products. The best part of my experience was the local food that was delicious. We were able to taste the local dish, hangi pe that was very tasty and hearty. Definitely a place to check out!

We took a tour with Volcanic Air out to the active volcano, White Island. There were 5 passengers…read moreand 1 pilot on the excursion (standard load) and it was one of the highlights of our trip to New Zealand. Our pilot and guide Josh was fantastic and made for a great morning. We were on the 9 am flight which returned around noon. Tips: bring only water and sunscreen and your camera- you can't take bags How it works/what to expect: -check in (or purchase tickets) in their shed along the lake near the park -sign a voucher and get weighted (there's a total weight limit for the helicopter) -fly to White Island volcano(around 30 minutes)-flight is smooth and easy and some great views -land on volcano, don hard hats and gas masks (just in case the wind shifts) and be led around for a little over an hour to get crazy photos- it's really safe Tip: were sturdy shoes it's rocky -load back up, fly to dormant volcano-highest spot around -land walk around get more crazy good photos (elev. 3500 ft) -get back in and return to the starting point When we were on the island we were one of only 3 groups and had the place to ourselves for the first 30 minutes and on the mountain top, it was just our group. Highly recommended!!

Well we really enjoyed the geothermal wonderland and the geysers. There is one geyser they set off…read moreat 1015 every day it was good but Yellowstone was better The grounds were amazing and Robbie our guide was terrific. Only downfall no snacks or water bring your own

(This is probably closer to 4.5 stars to me.) We went on Nature Connections' "Geothermal…read moreWonderland Tour" and thought it was a thoroughly enjoyable tour! It was very cool to learn more about New Zealand's volcanic history and to see remnants/signs of that. And the sights -- a wonderful variety -- were beautiful, especially those at the Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland! You travel from place to place by van, but at each stop there's a lot of walking on paved and unpaved trails. All the paths are relatively straightforward; however, the unpaved or steep sections may not be great for those with difficulty walking though, as the park notes clearly. A wealth of information is available with (which I recommend) or without an outstanding guide.

This was the top attraction that we wanted to do while we were in Rotorua…read more Skyline offered a host of different activities starting with just a round trip gondola ride, zip lines, luge, walking trails, mountain biking course and beautiful views of Rotorua. Due to our time constraints, we decided on the three ride luge and gondola ride. It was a perfect day. For the luge, we headed right after exiting the visitor center. We had to grab a helmet but we spent some time rummaging to find one that did not smell so bad. Staff scanned our ticket on each run and quickly went through the ride instructions before letting us choose our starting track. We rode three different tracks and enjoyed the speed and scenery. Our luge was easy to control and being early there was no one else on the tracks so we ride as fast or as slow as we wanted. At the bottom of the track, we got out of our cart and had to push it forward until it attached itself to the bottom of the chairlift. It took about 10 minutes or so to get back up to the top. Eventually more people showed up and kids as well as grandparents joined the luge ride down showing that any age could ride!

There's something cool about a gondola ride, and the Skyline Gondola in Rotorua takes you high…read moreabove the city for unparalleled views. You're above lush forests, treated to panoramas of Lake Rotorua, and the geothermal landscape. Once at the top, we took a nature walk on Mount Ngongotaha. The scenery was remarkable. The views seem to stretch forever. For anyone who loves being high up and surrounded by nature, this is for you.

We got the ticket for the full guided tour, dinner, and the show. It's pricy but we enjoyed it very…read moremuch and it's a unique experience. The tour starts with some quick stops at the traditional way the food is cooked and at a carved canoe to give a glimpse of Māori life. You get to see some kiwi birds, then cruise around the geyser area. Lots of lookouts and viewing sites. You finish the tour in the art center where the intricate carvings and weaving are done. Next is dinner. The buffet has a ton of meat (meat coma) along with vegetables, salads, desserts, etc. so many options. You are given a seating assignment so we conversed with folks from Denver and California. Funny we go all the way to New Zealand and end up hanging with folks from the US. Finally, you end with the show. It is well done. You get a good variety of battle, love, and storytelling songs. It was an educational and enjoyable experience.

Great place to learn about Maori culture. Highlights & Recommendations for Te Puia:…read more1) NZ Maori Arts & Crafts Institute (NZMACI) - A fascinating school that allows Maori adult students to study (tuition free) traditional crafts such as wood, stone, and bone carving and weaving, using tradtional methods. This allows the students to perpetuate Maori culture. Recommendation: NZMACI should offer classes (for a fee) for Pākehā (non-Maori people) who could also learn the techniques, and their fees would also help subsidize the school. The classes could range from the full course for NZ residents, to shorter courses for tourists. 2) Geyser- Spectacular! 3) Cultural Show - Interesting, Informative, Entertaining. Recommendation: Do a full Haka, and outside where everyone can see. Also, give a more full explanation of all the parts. 4) Maori Staff - All of the staff were superb! I was with Kia (sp?) and she very patiently answered all my many questions about the Maori language. Recommendations: I would like to have known a little about each Staff member- origin, tribe, etc. 5) Maori Culture- I cannot imagine a better place to learn about Maori culture! Recommendations: I would like to have known more about Maori tattoos - designs, placement, symbolism, etc. It's such a visible part od Maori culture that it should be featured. If it would be offensive to do so, I would withdraw this comment. Overall, and exceptional visit to a very entertaining place. Nga mihi!

Do not come to Rotorua without taking the Duck Tour!…read more You will learn so much about the city, where to go afterwards, float on the lakes, pass the Redwood forest, incredible scenery, and more. The guy who ran it--wish I could remember his name, has a great personality and makes this fun! Just do it--you won't regret it.