Great place to learn about Maori culture. Highlights & Recommendations for Te Puia: 1) 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! read more

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We got the ticket for the full guided tour, dinner, and the show. It's pricy but we enjoyed it very much 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. read more

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Te Puia kind of reminded me of the Polynesian Cultural Center in Hawai'i. But I don't think Te Puia is run by the mormon church.... and PCC doesn't have a hot spring geyser.....so really it's not really the same. We were able to come here because we booked a tour through our cruise ship. They basically unloaded 3 or 4 buses here (maybe that's what makes me think it's like PCC...). We were greeted with a haka presentation, which was a little jarring right off the hour long bus ride. I don't see the haka performed on a regular basis and to see it up close and in person was moving. This kind of reminded me of greeting protocols that we do in Hawai'i, except oli in Hawai'i are much more calming, I think. We then followed the performers to a building where they sang and danced. It was beautiful and welcoming. So far, everything was very touristy and I tried to experience it in a genuine way, but it's hard when you're seated in rows and rows of fellow tourists. We then were taken on a tour of the "classrooms" where a select number of tourists learn Maori Arts and Craft. It was interesting to learn about the different materials they use and see the students working on their projects. We then went to the kiwi observatory and then to the geyser, both of which are experiences on their own that were fantastic. Our tour included a buffet lunch that was excellent and then we bought quite a few things in the gift shop. It was a great experience and our tour guide was fantastic and informative. read more

We only went on the free walk-through of the art exhibit which is why I gave this place 5 stars. It's awesome to see the amazing art pieces and crazy craftsmanship that went in to each piece of work, and to actually see the artists in action. read more

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This is a must do even though it may seem pricey. We did the guided tour and cultural show combo ticket and it was worth it. Our guides were very knowledgeable and the show was fabulous - the dancers, singing and choreography were beautiful. Be sure and stay after your tour to revisit the geysers and explore the numerous trails that are not part of the initial tour. We spent an additional 90 minutes walking the various paths and revisiting the main geyser area and Kiwi exhibit. On many of the trails we saw no, or very few other people. read more

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Te Puia is an extraordinary spot with tons of cultural and natural geothermal richness of Rotorua. The highlight for me was the bubbling mud pools--nature's art in motion. The area is also home to the Pohutu Geyser, a geothermal marvel that rivals some of the features in Yellowstone. Amazing and worth the 90 minute tour. read more

Te Puia - Museums Near Me - Rotorua, BOP

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Really solid experience. Normally this type of stuff would be a bit too touristy for my liking but I'm so glad I did this. The full 3-4hr experience I did included the guided tour in the geothermal park, buffet dinner, and the show performance to end it all. Highlights: + You get to see two Kiwi birds in this park! + Buffet dinner is solid. My favorites were the smoked salmon and plenty of raw oysters to go around. Meat selection was good too. + The staff for the show was highly entertaining and it was a nice educational experience to learn a bit more on Maori culture. The whole experience feels elevated and well thought out. If you're into parks and learning more on the culture, it's a must see for the area. read more

Te Puia provides an excellent primer on Māori culture, a performance and a great meal as well. The evening begins with a buffet meal that includes seafood, chicken, beef, lamb and vegetarian dishes plus a great assortment of desserts and drinks. The evening's entertainment in the meeting hall offers a sampling of traditional Maori dance and songs that includes skillful use of staffs, sticks and poi balls. The finale is a trip to the two geysers in the valley (via foot or tram). Day trips to Te Puia offer a tour of actual cultural practice areas as this is a training location for Māori youth. We took the evening tour but we would have loved to have spent the day at Te Puia as well. read more

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We did the guided tour, kiwi experience, and cultural show. I cannot recommend this enough for folks interested in learning about Māori art, geothermals, and anything else about the area. We loved every part of our tour. The restaurant was closed when we were there and the cafe had very limited options, but we still loved our visit read more

Best of local cultural places to visit. Depending on your guide, it might be a little goofy but all in all, very good. Be prepared for the weather especially in winter. We got the more deluxe package that added a show at then, highly suggest! read more

Natural geothermal geysers. It's a natural wonder to see it up close and personal. It's activated at random. You can smell and feel the steam from the geysers. Ate some traditional food, basic ingredients, very filling and hearty, not a lot of flavoring or seasoning. We watched some traditional dance and music. The most stunning part of the tour is of course walking around to all of the different geysers. Watching earth bubble up from the thermal heat below. read more

On our day heading out of Rotorua, we were recommended to stop by Te Puia, which really didn't fit with our plan. It ended up being one of the highlights of our trip, and we were both glad to be flexible. Te Puia is essentially an outdoor natural park with added man-made attractions that complimented the experience. The day we attended it was cold, overcast, and raining off and on, but we loved it nonetheless. Te Puia has large signs and a pull off ramp to the free parking area. It's secure especially since there were many campers. The ticket area is at the front, with all the packages and tours clear to see. The employees were happy to answer questions. It's not cheap to come here, with even the smallest packages at over $50. It's worth it though. You're given a map of the entire park. They have live demonstrations and shows that run at specific times. They also have docent led tours of the entire park that give you more information than simply reading. Toward the entrance are the Maori experience areas showing what life was like centuries ago up to modern Maori culture. My personal highlight was the kiwi enclosure, a dark habitat for the endangered birds to see them up close. They're larger than I thought, and run around quickly. We loved spending a long time here. The main attraction are the hot springs. There are trails that zigzag around the area, offering countless angles of each spring, geyser, and the lake. It's gorgeous here; there's so much to look at. I recommend budgeting 3+ hours for your visit, especially since you don't want to rush. They also have a gift shop with all New Zealand made items for sale. There are a number of convenient restrooms around as well. read more

Absolutely recommend coming here! If you want to learn about Maori culture, this is a great place to go. We had a tour guide who brought us through the art school, where artists apply to learn the Maori crafts of wood working, carving, weaving, tatooing, etc. I'm glad that our dollars help support these arts and the students. We also went by the geyser and our tour guide had timed it so that we got there at the peak time. Very cool to be there. We also visited the mud pools and the kiwi enclosure. Wish we had gotten more time here. There are other walking paths around the property and I'm sure I would have liked exploring, as well as checking out the cultural performance when they happened. read more

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One of the highlights of our trip to New Zealand was our road trip to Rotorua, a town set on its namesake lake on NZs North Island, renowned for its geothermal activities and the prominence of Maori culture. Te Puia village showcased all that. I was amazed at bubbling mud pool that emitted a pungent odor of sulphur and the 30meter tall Pohutu geyser which erupts many times daily. You can hike all over the area and there are many trails you can follow. The village also showcases its arts and crafts such as wood carving and weaving. They have a factory that doubles as a school and its products are exported world wide. Your free guided tour will also teach you much about the Maori rituals and their dwellings. I even learned and saw how kiwi (not the fruit, but a nocturnal flightless national bird) lived in its natural habitat. We really learned a lot from this village and definitely worth your while spending a couple of hours here read more

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I did not do the tour or village programs, but came here specifically to shop at the gift shop because of the Maori arts school they have on premise. They have a carving, stonework, and weaving school done in the traditional Maori way and they sell 100% Maori made items in the giftshop here. I was a little leery at first when it was first recommended to me as the best place to get locally and handmade art, but it is legit. The prices are not over the top or tourist-gouge level either. I bought a beautifully hand carved medium-sized wood mask w/opalesque inlay eyes and a hand-carved two-tone wooden box with a gorgeous maori symbol in stone inlay for under $70US. Very happy with this place as a find for not only supporting the local community, artists, and economy, but also supporting the teaching of Maori traditional arts. read more

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We took the guided tour with hot box lunch. Our tour guide was amazing. She was very knowledgeable and demonstrated the weaving well. We walked through the carving studio and weaving area - we were able to talk to the head of the carving studio (Stacy) who was very informative. The work these artisans do is absolutely stunning. The hot box lunch was an experience! We selected the items to be placed into the cooking chamber and the geothermal steam cooked our lunches while we walked the tour. The kiwi house was neat. Since kiwi are nocturnal, the enclosure is dark with no photography allowed. Two of there three kiwi were out making a show, with the female sleeping in her burrow. A must do experience when in New Zealand! read more

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The buffet was amazing. I enjoyed the smoky flavors of everything cooked in the hāngī, especially the Kūmara, lamb and venison. I tried the pavlova, so sweet and decadent, as well as the steamed pudding cake w red fruits/syrups. We also enjoyed the performance but we're blown away by the geysers and hot chocolate afterwards. read more

Excellent place to visit to learn about the Maori culture. One of the best places to see an active geyser! Must visit. The hangi was yummy! Make sure you do the whole day tour including dinner read more

Te Puia - Museums Near Me - Rotorua, BOP

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Te Puia may be an attraction for the more commercialized side of the Māori experience, but it is quite an experience if you know nothing about the Māori people! Part of our tour was a stop at Te Puia and we made it just in time for the kapa haka performance, which, at first, may take you back a bit if you're unfamiliar with their culture. The performance was excellent--they explain why the do certain facial expressions as they go, which is very interesting and was also fun to watch. The performers interacted with the audience and were really fun. You really can't complain about watching shirtless men with (mostly) six-packs dancing. I really enjoyed the Maori experience, including the wood carving (which students spend years at their carving institution) and ropemaking, using only a flax leaf and a mussel shell--mind-blowing! I got to see a real, living Kiwi bird, which I learned the quiet and the dark was its natural habitat. Afterwards, walk down to the geothermal valley and indulge in the breathtaking geysers--it is really a hell of a view and experience with the massive steam overshadowing the scene, accompanied by the rotten eggs scent. Depending on how long you stay, you may see a strong one from the blowhole, which we couldn't see. The mud pool was also an experience itself--it is said that Rotorua mud is just as great as mud from the Dead Sea. Try it at least once! Te Puia sums up some of New Zealand's best attractions and is perfectly located in Rotorua, which is also a great town to vacation in. Nothing was as amazing as feeling the enthusiasm of the people who work there, wanting to share their love for their culture! read more

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I love love love this place. Auntie Carol was amazing!! She had great energy and was fun and taught us so much about the Maori culture. There is plenty to learn: dancing, carving, weaving, food and history. The geysers go off about twice an hour. The kiwi exhibit was great. I highly recommend!! read more

Te Puia - Entrance area - Museums Near Me - Rotorua, BOP

Te Puia was the last place we visited on our three-week trip New Zealand. Previous to our trip we had booked and paid for a tour and Cultural Experience online for Sunday December 4th 2022 at TE Puia. We arrived at Te Puia just before 9am and were told the cultural experience had been cancelled for the day. We were asked if we would like a refund for the cultural experience or if we could "come back tomorrow". We explained we had a flight out of Auckland on Monday December 5th and this was our only opportunity to see the Cultural Experience. I asked the staff member if they would be willing to "comp" the tour price for my wife and I since we really only wanted to see the Cultural experience and had been to Hells Gate the previous day. They explained they were unable to do so. The staff explained they only learned earlier in the week of the cancellation of the Dec 5th Cultural Experience. I asked why no one had bothered to let us know since they had our contact information. They did not have an answer for us. I asked how many other people had also booked online and was told one other couple. I reached out to Connor Rogers, Te Puia's Guest Experience Manager when I returned home and was never given the courtesy of a response to my complaint. Usually when a business makes this type of error, they compensate the customer in some form. My wife and I were disappointed we were unable to participate in the Cultural Experience and were appalled Te Puia did nothing to rectify the situation. My takeaway and advice: Te Puia mission is to make as much money as possible with no consideration for the "Customer Experience. It is way overpriced There are better places to see New Zealand's geological marvels and experience Maori culture. read more

This place is a complete wonder! It's an amazing experience that I'm so glad that I got to do. Te Puia is a Maori village, cultural experience, museum, and natural phenomenon. It's located just outside of Rotorua, but accessible on the bus. It's situated along a river, on a geothermally active area with geysers, bubbling mud pits, and volcanic vents spraying steam. While walking around the park, you get to see lots of examples of Maori art, examples of their architecture and sample their cooking. They make a dish with meat and veggies that they bury in the coals, and dig up to serve. I marveled at the huts that they build and little shacks up on stilts to store their goods in. The Maori are fierce warriors, and many of their gods look awful mean. The nature walk that surrounds the park is amazing! I've never seen anything like it. It's a stroll along a river that's fed by geysers and hot pools, going through a rain forest. The whole area smells of sulfur. You can see how the earth seems alive here. The ground here is so hot in some areas that it can literally melt your shoes off- or worse! Pay attention to any warning signs. When you veer off the main trail on to the side paths, things aren't as improved and a little more adventurous, where steam sprays out of random holes in the ground. Carvings of Maori gods line the pathways, along with signs letting you know what's going on with them. They also have an actual kiwi bird here! I was excited to see the national bird of New Zealand, but it turns out they're nocturnal. They have a specially darkened room with a large aviary in it. But when I went, the kiwi was hanging out in its kiwi house, which was only visible from a video camera inside the house. It looked like it was sleeping when I went. The gift shop had excellent stuff in it. They have an arts and crafts school on site, and work with the locals to make some cool stuff. I scored a Maori war mask! The prices were high, but the quality matched their prices. When I went, they were in the process of construction - improving the place with expensive, high tech buildings, whose design seems quite out of place. The new buildings they're working on seem to take away from the rustic charm and authenticity of a Maori village, with sleek concrete and chrome designs. I hope they do something to make it look more authentic when it's completed, as their conceptual drawings look a bank plaza located in the rain forest. Of the Maori villages, this one seems to be the best one, since it's open during the daytime, do regular hourly shows, and have people standing around to answer all your questions. I can't recommend this place enough! read more

A definitely must see for geo thermals and culture!! They do free one hour tours which commence near the entrance after you enter the gate. Here you can see kiwi birds which are nocturnal and endangered. You cannot take pictures of the kiwi for their protection. You can also see weaving and Maori carvings being done on site. I would allow 2-3 hours here if you want an in depth tour. Or if you want a running walk through which I don't suggest but you're pressed for time an hour and a half or 2 hours will do. read more

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Don't get me wrong Te Puia is beautiful--5 stars+ for the scenery, and it was a blast to walk around and see the geyser and boiling mud. However, this place is super touristy...and I felt a little swindled into the "traditional show." It would be good for kids, but for adults its on the juvenile side. Also, I'm pretty sure acoustic guitars weren't a part of the traditional Maori songs. If traveling with children go with the native package, but if solo save yourself the extra $30 and head straight to the geyser and primeval landscape. Before you exit through the giftshop it's absolutely worth a look around. read more

Te Puia - Museums Near Me - Rotorua, BOP

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Geyser is on and off so if you see it bursting, go over and take your pics. If not, enjoy the delicious lunch buffet first. Great selection with carved ham, chicken legs, lamb, rice, potatoes, pumpkin, etc at one table. Another table has a salad bar option. The dessert section is also great with pavlova, ice cream, cream puffs, and local blackberry ?syrup?. The area also has some history and historical artifacts of the Maori people but we needed to jump back on our tour because of our tight schedule. read more

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Booked as part of the "Experience the Trilogy" travel package (the other two being Hobbiton and Ruakuri/Waitomo Glowworm Caves), Te Puia ended up being a real highlight on par with the other two experiences. I'm making an effort to review good places I'm fond of and want to see succeed, and this is definitely one of them. During the daytime, we were on a guided tour and saw a live kiwi; granted, it was inside a small, dark building behind a glass wall and couldn't take pictures, but we didn't see one anywhere else so that was unique. The rest of the park is surprisingly large and home to several geysers. Our guide had time working against her--the sun was setting, and we started late--but she was spirited and had a great sense of humor while giving us a bit of a crash course on Maori history and culture. During the evening welcoming ceremony they did the Haka and invited male guests onstage to quickly learn a little bit (the females learned a different dance that involved a ball on a string). The dinner buffet was surprisingly solid, especially for a buffet, with lots of (at least seemingly) healthy options. Kiwi juice was on the menu; as an American that was new to me so I ordered that and it was good, very green. After dinner we were invited to a bus ride back out to the geysers where the guides talk a little bit more about their history, providing hot chocolate and blankets. One could also sit on the geothermal-warmed rocks to keep warm. Nice way to cap off the night. It's also non-profit, locally and family-run. The ladies who took our tickets at the gate were also our tour guides for a time and then also the co-MCs for the dinner and evening proceedings. read more

We visited this very interesting place as part of a ships tour. It was quite busy with tourists but after a great meal we explored the grounds that were part of an old volcano Well done presentation and guided tour. We were able to walk numerous trails and paths in the area exploring the various volcanic activity A great place to visit! read more

As a "kiwi" it would be criminal to stay in Rotorua for more than a weekend and not check out the geothermal activity. Avoiding the tours was the best option for us, had the freedom to do it all backwards (went round in opposite direction to most) our own pace. Took our time checking out the different landscapes at first... leaving the geyser and large mudpools as a blast at the end. read more

Te Puia - Museums Near Me - Rotorua, BOP

Mostly this was excellent except the kiwi part was lacking. They didn't really give us much information - was a basic walk through and maybe view a couple birds. Disappointing. I'd recommend adding a display and more explanation before viewing. Maybe show models of the bird from egg to adult? Also show the threats. The rest was quite good. We really enjoyed the buffet lunch - food was really good with lots of choices (although would recommend adding a more sugar to steam pudding and chocolate mousse - they were bland). read more

Beautiful place to walk around, although a bit overwhelming with the sulfur smell if you have a sensitive nose like me. Although I will admit that my sinuses were a bit congested earlier on during my trip but being in Rotorua and and Te Puia cleared it right up for me. You can also see kiwi birds here. We were able to see a baby when the doctor's were examining it. It was great learning more about them and seeing them in their habitat. This was a pit stop on a tour for me, but enjoyed it and would recommend spending closer to 2 hours if you can here. read more

Where to begin... amazing!! Absolutely, AMAZING. If you have time, spend a few hours here. The tour give you an overview, but I could have spent an entire day here just watching in amazement of the geysers and the beauty. The hotel I stayed at offered discounted tickets as well. I didn't have time to return after my tour, but I would suggest that for anyone that is there; spend as much time there as you can. It's worth it! My pictures don't do it justice but the memories will last a lifetime! read more

Fantastic park. Everyone is very proud of their culture and excited to educate you. The buffet lunch was fresh and delicious. Some of the best Maori food I have had. Must do experience in Rotorua. read more

This is an amazing place. The natural environment sights include geysers, naturally heated rock, and other geothermal features; animal sights are primarily represented by the kiwi house; and the cultural side of New Zealand is highlighted through Maori cultural icons, history, and stories throughout park, as well as the amazing arts school on the grounds. The guides are warm, friendly, patient, knowledgeable, and _caring_ about their subjects as well as their guests. I could've spent much more time here (especially in the art school) and hope to be back someday! read more

We purchased the concert ticket with the admission, and I definitely think that's the way to go! The concert was well done and showcased traditional Maori song and dance. We also took the guided tour, and I am glad we did. Our guide was knowledgable and humorous. She gave us time at each stop to explore on our own and told us about her experience growing up here, which added a personal touch. So, we saw a traditional Maori concert, geysers, kiwi birds, carving and weaving school, and a little village set up in a traditional way. The cafe is fairly priced. We paid $15 NZD for a glass of wine and a beer. Overall, I recommend this! read more

We visited for the daytime tour + dinner combo (Te Po + Te Ra) and greatly enjoyed touring the arts and crafts school, learning about the history of the tribe, the entertainment, and dinner. We were also lucky enough to see the geyser erupt both during the day and at night. The kiwi were sleeping-- we could see them on the video feed. We'll have to catch them next time. Thanks so much for the wonderful experience! read more

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit here. I came for an evening guided tour, dinner, and indigenous Maori performance and I liked it a lot. The food was delicious, our guide was knowledgeable and friendfly, and the performance was top notch. Have you ever witnessed a live Haka? You should. read more

We went as part of a group tour and I quite enjoyed learning about Maori history and culture. Our ticket included a concert with our admission to the park and we had free time to roam around as well as a traditional Maori lunch that consisted of kumara and other goodies including corn. Two favourite things: -The show was really enjoyable with talented performers that shared stories of war and love. -Extreme geysers which are these crazy muddy + boiling things steaming out of the ground. Pretty fantastic to see. If you go, try take extra time to walk around and go when it isn't the holidays so you can better enjoy the scenery. read more

Maori culture, boiling mud, boiling water coming out of the ground, and miles (kilometers) of trails over beautiful scenery await you here! We had a great time here and it is definitely worth a visit to see these natural wonders and to learn about Maori culture and village life in the not so distant past. read more

Te Puia - Museums Near Me - Rotorua, BOP

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Very informative and fun. The tours are worth the money and benefit the local community. The grounds are well kept and clean. read more

Te Puia - Museums Near Me - Rotorua, BOP

Hmmmm I went here because people recommended it but honestly, the geyser is impressive but that's all the park has to offer and the entrance fee is kind of high. The tour is mediocre. The geyser (once it finally decides to go off) is VERY impressive read more

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