Discover Whakarewarewa – The Living Māori Village in Rotorua, a Māori village Rotorua is known for. Here, geothermal wonders, rich Māori culture, and traditional hangi come together. Explore bubbling pools, steaming vents, and centuries-old traditions. Afterwards, taste authentic Māori kai cooked naturally by the earth.
Owned and operated by the local hapū Tūhourangi/Ngāti Wāhiao, this unique cultural attraction offers a genuine look into Māori life. You will experience local traditions and community in a stunning natural setting.
We are open daily from 9 am to 4 pm. Closed Christmas Eve, 24th December & Christmas Day, 25th December.
Māori Village Experience Rotorua
Book the Whakarewarewa Guided Tour to meet friendly local guides who will bring the valley’s rich history to life.
Explore our Self-Guided Nature Trails through geothermal fields, steaming lakes, and bubbling mud.
Enjoy performances by our talented Kapa Haka group, showcasing traditional Māori song and dance. There’s so much to discover.
Whakarewarewa Legacy Guided Village Tour
Enjoy our Legacy guided tour and home of the Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao people. These people have been sharing their way of life with visitors from all around the world for over 200 years. Moreover, you can discover how our people have adopted and survived to live on top of a caldera. This is a truly intrepid human journey since the devastating eruption of Mt Tarawera in 1886.
Māori Culture Performances
Experience the vibrant world of our performing arts by attending our daily Māori Cultural Performance. Additionally, our local performers will captivate you with melodious songs and dances that reflect our heritage. This includes the powerful and world-famous ‘Haka’. Please note that seating is limited for each performance.
Whaka Geothermal Trails
Our new geothermal nature trails provide exclusive access to an untouched geothermal landscape. Here, Visitors can experience the raw nature of Papatuanuku (mother-earth). The Jurassic park-like landscape is described as providing regenerative powers. You may find yourself face-to-face with Nature, Hot Spring Lakes, Mud Pools and native manuka bushlands. Please note that there is no access to Pohutu Geyser on our Geothermal Trails.
Traditional Māori Kai & Geothermal Cooking
Experience authentic Māori kai in Rotorua at Whakarewarewa – The Living Māori Village.
Here, food is more than a meal — it’s a cultural tradition rooted in manaakitanga (hospitality). This tradition also connects to the natural geothermal wonders of our valley.
Māori have long cooked using the earth’s natural energy, from traditional hangi (earth oven) to geothermal steam and boiling pools. At Whakarewarewa, our unique geothermal landscape lets us cook kai the way our ancestors did. Specifically, this means using hot springs, steam vents and natural mineral pools.
Geyser Café – Māori Flavours in Rotorua
Visit our Geyser Café, open to all visitors without a ticket. Enjoy cabinet food infused with Māori herbs and spices, homemade treats, and barista-made INCA coffee.
Taste Authentic Geothermal Kai
Complete your Whakarewarewa experience with our signature dishes:
- Geothermal Corn on the Cob – cooked in Parekohuru, our largest boiling mineral pool.
- Geothermal Hangi Meal – chicken, beef, potato, kūmara, vegetables and stuffing, cooked in natural steam vents. Includes our famous steam pudding with custard, cream and fruit.
- Hangi Pie – all the flavours of a traditional hangi wrapped in golden pastry. Available in beef, chicken or vegetarian.
Upgrade to a Hangi Pie Meal with salad and geothermal corn cooked in Parekohuru.
Discover a Once-in-a-Lifetime Food Experience
Cooking with geothermal energy is a unique tradition found only in specific Māori communities. At Whakarewarewa, you can see the geothermal kitchens on your guided tour — then taste the food cooked right in front of you.
Bookings are essential to secure your kai package.
All Day Pass to Whakarewarewa
Our All-Day Pass gives you, our guests the opportunity to experience everything Geothermal & Māori Cultural at Rotorua’s most iconic Living Maori Village, Whakarewarewa.
You will join one of our Iconic Village Guided Tours at either 9am, 10am, 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm or 3pm. Next, attend our daily cultural performance at 12.30pm. Spend as much time as you desire exploring our self-guided Geothermal Trails. This is an experience ideal for the entire family with views of the mighty Pohutu Geyser. Some highlights include tasting corn cooked in our largest hot pool, joining audience participation at our cultural performance, and finally, taking a leisurely stroll through the untouched landscape that is our Geothermal Trails.
Guided Geothermal ECO Tour
Only available on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s, our guided geothermal ECO tour provides exclusive access to an untouched geothermal landscape. In addition, our guide will interpret the land, plants, animals and nature of this rare environment.
Departing at 9.30am, our ECO tour brings together a mātauranga Māori kaupapa (Māori knowledge framework) with modern science. This tour shares knowledge spanning earth sciences, ecology, biodiversity, health, environment and climate change.
Educational Experiences at Whakarewarewa
We accommodate educational groups of all ages and areas of study through Rotorua Education Network. Rotorua Education Network partner with a range of Rotorua businesses. They help schools or groups arrange custom itineraries that suit their educational needs. Whakarewarewa’s unique combination of rich culture and impressive geothermal forces makes for a truly memorable learning experience.
E-Bike Rentals
Go electric — the easiest way to explore Rotorua!
E-bikes let you control the pedal assist, so you can cruise gently or boost your power to cover more distance with less effort. They’re fun, fast and perfect for all riders.
Our team will get you set up, explain the bike, and recommend the best local routes. Check out our range of quality e-bikes and start your Rotorua adventure the electric way.
