Whakarewarewa - The Living Maori Village — Attraction in North Island

This village was phenomenal. We were looking around for a way to experience the Māori culture and also see some geysers and we came across Whakarewarewa. Initially I only saw this as a cultural experience, and when I asked the reception at our camping grounds on how we could see some geysers as well they informed us that we could see them on this walk too. She explained that this walk would have the same geysers in view as the Te Puia experience. What she did not tell us was that this was was owned and operated solely by the Māori people and Te Puia was government owned. I'm very glad that my money went directly to the Māori people of the area, so that choice was a good one.

Our tour was given by a local of the town, and I think most of the tours are. He had so many little jokes and made the walk so educational. We even got to have a piece of corn cooked from their hot pools! So delicious and a welcome surprise.

We also opted to do a self-guided walk around the area. The paths were easy to follow, and the views were spectacular. Pretty incredible bits of nature in the area.

The part that lost a star for me was that had ordered 2 Hangi (traditional) meals to have after our tour and I had said to the girl taking the orders that one of the meals needed to be vegetarian (twice). Unfortunately when we got back from our walks, we found 2 meat meals waiting for us. We informed the kitchen and they took one of the meals back to "fix". When we got it back, we noticed they had simply taken the meat out and replaced it with some corn. We still had remnants of meat in the box that needed to be picked to the side and contaminated pieces of vegetables set aside. I know it does not seem like a big deal to some, but this would have made my partner very sick if they had consumed it.

I would also recommend buying tickets when you get there because there were some options for exploration that weren't available online. You can do a self-guided walk, look through the gift shop, or have a meal while you wait for your tour to begin if you get there and the current...

Beware of a tour guide (man in picture) ! It’s a bittersweet experience for us to visit Whakarewarewa village today. We're an Asian family of four from Singapore,planning to have a fun and an enriching experience in knowing more about Māori culture and the people. To begin with, we were 5 mins earlier to queue up the first in line and we met our first tour guide (in picture) who didn't bother to talk with us to introduce himself to us. We just knew he had a doggie. 5mins past 12, he asked only 4 of us to step out from the tour group and went to the other guide without giving any valid reasons. He then started his introduction to the 12pm tour group which consists of all Caucasians. The other guide and the rest of guides were utterly confused why the guide (with the doggie) otracised us like that.For the first time, I felt l was seriously discriminated against. The management opologised to us and by right, we shouldn't be treated like that. In the end, we're guided by Michael,our second tour guide, to tour around in the cultural village. We had a wNonderful time with him and from his dedicated explanation, we had learnt so much about the life styles and spirit of Māori natives. He is sincere in sharing and felt bad for us to be otracised like that. His professionalism as a tour guide is highly commendable. We'll forget the unpleasant experience and move on in our New Zealand adventure. Just to put forth a word of cautions,discrimination is real! We can forgive and forget but the hurts from racial discrimination cannot be undone. Beware of the tour guide (with a doggie) in Whakarowarowa village! His biased and divisive handling has certainly smeared the virtuous reputation of the respectable Māori Village. He needs to learn how to show basic respect for all races and nationalities and show generous hospitality before he guided people around in...

Whakarewarewa - The Living Māori Village is a must-visit cultural and geothermal attraction in Rotorua, New Zealand. This unique experience offers a deep dive into the traditional Māori way of life, set amidst the dramatic landscape of bubbling mud pools, steaming vents, and natural hot springs.

Highlights: Guided Village Tour: • Visitors praise the knowledgeable and engaging guides who share the history, traditions, and stories of the Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao people. • Insight into daily life in a geothermal village, including how residents use the natural hot springs for cooking, bathing, and heating. Self-Guided Tour of Thermal Pools: • Stunning geothermal features, including brightly colored pools, steaming vents, and bubbling mud. • Clear signposts and explanations make this a rewarding independent exploration. Traditional Māori Cooking (“Hāngi”): • The highlight for many visitors is seeing how food is cooked in the steaming hot thermal pools and earth ovens. • Some tours include tastings, such as corn cooked in the hot springs or meals prepared using traditional methods. Cultural Performances: • Live demonstrations of the famous haka (war dance) and traditional songs. • A fantastic way to immerse yourself in Māori culture. Unfortunately I missed it because I was late for the day they were ready for the Christmas holidays.

Tips for Visiting: • Book the guided tour for a deeper understanding of the history and geothermal features. • Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a camera to capture the stunning geothermal landscape. • Don’t miss the chance to try food cooked in the hot pools—it’s a unique and delicious experience! • Allow at least 2-3 hours to fully explore the village and...