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Te Puia

Te Puia

Historic SitesPoints of Interest & LandmarksHot Springs & Geysers
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
Te Puia spans 70 hectares within the historic Te Whakarewarewa Valley, on the edge of town. We are home to the world famous Pohutu geyser, to mud pools, hot springs, to silica formations to the Kiwi bird and the national schools of wood carving, weaving, stone and bone carving. We have shared these treasures with manuhiri (visitors) for 170 years and proudly continue that legacy today.
Duration: 2-3 hours
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  • Julie S
    Pretoria, South Africa111 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Bubbling mud and steaming rocks
    This was a most interesting and informative tour. Very enjoyable, even the children were intrigued and had questions. The restaurant was good for a quick bite and a coffee. The curio shop was interesting and fun with something for everyone and reasonable prices. We loved the staff and tour guides. Everyone seemed to go the extra mile.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 8 October 2023
  • NikkiF81
    12 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Must do experience!
    Did the Te Pō experience. Started the tour with seeing the incredible Geyser, saw a Kiwi, the mud pools and the Māori Arts and Crafts Institute. After we had the amazing Hāngī Buffet Dinner, the food was incredible. We sat on the balcony watching the Geyser while we ate. Then we got to see the cultural performances, including the haka & poi. To end the night we went back to the geyser to drink hot chocolate. Our tour guide Rob was incredible and shared so much for his culture!
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 10 October 2023
  • springbanktraveller
    972 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Maori craftmanship
    On our guided small group tour we stopped at Te Pauia for a delicious buffet lunch, alcoholic drinks extra from the bar. Such a large variety of meats, salads and desserts. The restaurant was across from one of the main points of interest: a geyser erupting at intervals and up to a hundred feet high. We were then taken inside the Maori Institute for crats - waving, jewelery, wood carving and many other items of interest were explained. Close by was a darkened area where the kiwis were living, very secretive birds, so we were lucky to see just one. Onwards for a closer look at the cascading thermal geysers and pools. Well worth a visit.
    Visited April 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 18 October 2023
  • Diane S
    Fairfax Station, Virginia199 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Many attractions in One
    A great way to see many aspects of Rotorua in one location. The geothermal features such as the geysers and mud pots were fascinating and the scenery is beautiful. The Maori cultural exhibits and seeing artisans working was very interesting and informative. The Kiwi conservation area was a bonus, because we definitely didn't see and kiwis in the wild during our stay.
    Visited January 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 2 November 2023
  • daftmare
    Northern Ireland, United Kingdom200 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Excellent evening of traditional culture, geysers and food
    Visited Te Puia with my tour group. Although a lot of people moving around the site it was not over crowded to either see the geysers or take photographs. The meal was outstanding. A buffet of fresh high quality food and lots of choice....excellent. Then the highlight was the Māori presentation. The Haka and traditional songs and dances were great fun to watch although if you want to take photographs stand at the side of the seating area as if you sit you will have rows of people with their phones in the air taking videos. Easy to stand at the side and have a clear view. excellent evening of traditional culture
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 5 November 2023
  • FunBoyOne
    London, United Kingdom506 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Well worth a visit, good tour
    We walked round to Te Puia from our nearby hotel, Rydges, as we had also booked in for lunch and wanted to be able to have a drink. We were on a 10am tour and were shown round by a Māori guide who showed us the various sections of the craft institute that provides 2-3 year course in traditional crafts such as wood, bone and gem stone carving and flax weaving which was interesting. We then moved on to the geysers with an interesting diversion to a kiwi bird shelter that prepares them for release and shows them in their nocturnal habitat in a darkened set of rooms, although as kiwis use their nose in the ground for sensing, you tend to see a lot of their rears. It was interesting to hear about the significance of the land and geysers in the local culture and the mud and geysers are an impressive sight. Once the tour is finished, you can stay on site until it closes at 4.30pm. We then had our pre-booked buffet lunch (I did see some people walk up on spec, as there’s plenty of space) which was good quality and we were able to sit on the balcony and watch the geysers. On reflection, I would probably book a later tour (takes around 90 minutes) and later lunch at 1pm.
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 5 November 2023
  • adriana r
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Te Puia- day tour
    I did the day tour, where you see the hot springs, art and craft institute, kiwi birds and art gallery. We had a guide called Paul, and I could not recommend it more- it was fantastic and Paul had so much knowledge and passion about his cultural history. I would 100% recommend doing the tour and tour guide- brilliant
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 9 November 2023
  • Face_The_Elements
    Edmonton, Canada344 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Cultural immersion and memorable moments
    Te Puia in deserves an enthusiastic 5-stars! The mesmerizing geyser burst while we were there and made an epic splash and made for spectacular photos. The insightful Maori cultural performance was definitely worth adding on as you saw performers welcome your “tribe” to their meeting house and showcase their dances. The guides are knowledgeable, friendly, and enhance the overall journey. If you get time, stay for the epic Hangi lunch buffet; SOOOO DELICIOUS! A must-visit destination for anyone seeking a blend of natural beauty and Maori culture!
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 9 November 2023
  • ToujoursLaRoute
    Paris, France1,253 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fantastic place, fantastic people!
    Prepare yourself to deep dive into the culture, habits and nature of the Maori people. And they will be there to welcome you, to guide you, to teach you and to share their history with you. A great experience, the best thing we did during our short stay on the North island.
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 16 November 2023
  • guennie3
    Cambridge, United Kingdom456 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Te Puia-great Māori experience
    Had a wonderful hour and a half tour led by our guide, Fa. He showed us and explained many aspects of the Māori life and culture. We saw wood carving and weaving workshops. We saw kiwi birds. And of course there was bubbling mud and the geyser. We were lucky enough to see it active and explode but this is down to nature and there is no guarantee. An interesting and worthwhile tour.
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 24 November 2023
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4.5
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FamGorgas
Munich, Germany9 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
Te Puia is a commercial place but we have been impressed by the carving education center. This is the only one in New Zealand and really worth to visit if someone is interested in the Maori culture. In order to get the most (historic) value we joined a guided tour which was performed very professional and with fun. The geyser of course was impressive too as well as the whole landscape. We didn't visit the Maori show as we did at another place, so I can't evaluate this. But I assume also this would be very professional.
Written 11 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tena Koe, Glad to hear that you enjoyed our little bit of paradise down here at Te Puia! We are so proud of our schools and the beautiful artwork created through weaving and carving. Thank you for the kind review and we here at Te Puia would like to wish you all the best on your travels. Ngā Mihi Te Puia Whanau
Written 12 January 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

James H
Seattle, WA199 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
Te Puia is set amidst a landscape of erupting geothermal activity and thermal springs. It was quite interesting to see the thermals and springs. You see them in full activity and all their glory. And this was an opportunity also to learn more about the unique lifestyle and traditions of the Maori. Your guides are members of the local Maori community. We saw traditional wood carving and weaving and traditional ways of creating piupiu (grass skirts). We witnessed a traditional Haka ceremony and Maori concert. Afterward we really enjoyed a wonderful buffet which included amazing variety of seafood and fish as well as food prepared in the authentically prepared Hangi dinner, cooked in the steaming ground and hot pools (similar to a luau). The full package does not come cheap, but you can also pick and choose the activities you wish to see. If I were to leave anything out, it might be the "show". I hesitate to call it a show out of respect for the culture. But having been to many "cultural shows or performances" around the world, they do feel a bit contrived sometimes for the visitor. This one may be totally genuine, but for me, if I had missed it, I would have been okay with that.
Written 30 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kia ora! Thanks for your 5 star rating, we're pleased to see that you enjoyed yourself at Te Puia|NZMACI! Safe Travels Ngā Mihi Te Puia Whanau
Written 3 February 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Tasha U
Waitakere City, New Zealand6 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2020
Thank you so much for a lovely evening of beautiful kai with a Maori kaupapa, attentive friendly staff, great ambience and even a great view of the active geyser.

My partner and I did not know what to expect (as we only stumbled on the fact that the restaurant existed), but were blown away with the experience, the food is such value for money, cooked and presented with obvious skill and aroha.

All of the staff were great but special thanks to lovely Kahu who took time to guide us into to experience with grace and humour.

It has a high end, professional feel to the dining with a very relaxed atmosphere that would have everybody feeling at home. We will definitely be making Pataka Kai a regular stop when in Rotorua, and will also take in Te Puia on our next visit.

Highly recommended, thanks again to the team at Pataka Kai.
Written 6 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your lovely feedback and thanks for coming to see us. We will be sure to pass your feedback on to our Food and Bev team, and in particular - Kahu. We look forward to seeing you again.
Written 14 October 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Dean H
Kent, UK406 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Couples
A great place to visit. We saw the natural phenomenon of the geysers and mud baths, the kiwi in its natural habitat albeit in an enclosure and were treated to a Maori welcome and cultural show. Our guide was very knowledgeable and insightful which gave us a real understanding of Maori culture, history and beliefs. The food was exceptional quality too. The fact that the monies made are reinvested in traditional trade scholarships is extremely encouraging too.
Written 19 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kia ora, Yes, our guides here at Te Puia are of first class service with their knowledge of the land and its history being top notch. they add to the experience here at Te Puia. Thank you for your review and we hope to see you pop though Te Puia again. Ngā Mihi Te Puia Whanau
Written 20 January 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Nettiecooper
13 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020 • Solo
Great to see the biggest Geyser and it goes off at least once an hour. I recommend getting the free guided tour first so you can learn about what the park offers and some of the living Māori culture and customs they are upholding today. You also get to see a Kiwi bird in the flesh - but no photographs!
Other than the big Pōhutu geyser spurting out, the geothermal activity here is not as spectacular as elsewhere but you get more bang for your buck by getting the other experiences that they offer. I would recommend it here.
Written 10 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kia ora, Thank you for the lovely comments, glad to hear you enjoyed your time here with us at Te Puia. Our guides are awesome with their guided tours being just as good! Pohutu itself though is truly a sight to behold, erupting up to 30m high it really is something else. Thanks again for your lovely comment, we hope to see you again. Ngā Mihi Te Puia Whanau
Written 11 March 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

D&M
Perth, Australia444 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020 • Couples
Enjoyed our first Maori cultural experience in NZ. This is quite a production and is very professionally done but extremely touristy. On the day we went we had the whole evening experience from the Cultural show which was very interesting and informative (would have liked to have seen real Maori warriors doing the Haka) we also had the traditional Hangi dinner. This was delicious but it was a cruise ship on steroids trying to feed hundreds of people in a Buffett format which loses that traditional Maori experience. Ended up being a bit of a free for all with tables going up one at a time when called and people piling their plates high so they didn’t miss out. In the end when vacating the 2 Restaurants there seemed to be quite a bit of food going to waste uneaten. Finally after dinner we were shuttled to the geyser to watch it blow. Fortunately it eventually did which was quite spectacular, unfortunately we had to wait for all the others that wanted to stay a bit longer before the shuttles brought us back to the exit. In the end we walked ourselves back in the dark and left.

Found it very touristy and commercialised. Credit to the family running this as they have tapped into a huge tourist market and are making it work for them.
Written 12 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kia ora, Our landscape truly is something else, with our kiwi birds, geysers, plus our Maori culture - it really is an experience you should not miss. Thanks again for your lovely comment, we hope to see you again Ngā Mihi Te Puia Whanau
Written 12 March 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Fjantis
San Francisco, CA6 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Couples
Even though the park was nice and I enjoyed seeing Kiwi birds in real life, the experience was way too touristy with too big groups of tourists. We took the daypass and evening experience and was disappointed that the traditional Maori food drowned in a buffet mostly consisting of ”tourist food” that we could have eaten just about anywhere else. The staff was lovely though and the daytour and dance performance really good.
Written 27 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kia ora, We’re sorry to hear that you didn’t enjoy our kai (food) during your visit, and we have passed your feedback onto our chefs. The dinner served during the Te Po experience is cooked traditionally using the hangi method that has been used by our ancestors for hundreds of years. Using many of the same foods they would have used, we harness the geothermal steam from our valley to steam the kai, which gives it its distinctive and unique flavour. We understand it may not be appreciated by all and we’re always looking for improvements, so we have taken your feedback on board. Learn more about how our geothermal activity is used to cook food here If you wish to discuss this matter further, please email us at customerfeedback@tepuia.com. Ngā Mihi Te Puia Whanau
Written 27 January 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Janice H
32 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Friends
Run by Māori, owned by Māori. Self funded all money stays with the institution and its people.
Our tour guide was friendly, knowledgeable and shared her own personal story
The new Kiwi house means you now can see all the iconic New Zealand things in one place - kiwi, silver fern, Māori customs and performances, hungi, geysers, steam vents, hot mud, traditional handmade art. Would highly recommend this to anyone. Lots of free parking. Great cafe
Written 25 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kia ora! Glad to hear you enjoyed our valley and all we have to offer here! This type of feedback is good as it lets us know, we are still on track and heading to where we want to be when it comes to customer satisfaction. We hope to see you again Ngā Mihi and Safe Travels Te Puia Whanau
Written 27 February 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Grumpybrother
Hong Kong, China592 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
Despite appalling weather we decided to give this place a try. Our guide was very informative and seeing and experiencing the geysers was fascinating. The cultural show was also very interesting and shed some light onto Maori culture which we were unaware of.

Definitely worth a visit, especially on a good day!
Written 13 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kia ora, Yes, our guides here at Te Puia are of first class service with their knowledge of the land and its history being top notch. they add to the experience here at Te Puia. Thank you for your review and we hope to see you pop though Te Puia again. Ngā Mihi Te Puia Whanau
Written 13 January 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

RoseBowlTraveler
Cincinnati, OH403 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
We joined the first tour in the morning to try and avoid the hottest part of the day. The park is very well maintained and the guide was professional and did a great job managing the good sized group.
Everything about the visit was good - we only spent about two hours there but that was enough. We completed the entire circuit of trails not covered on tour. We saw the Kiwi's in the darkened room as a group and then went back and saw them again on our own which afforded a better view. The open workshop display area was well done. They have an extensive and very nice gift shop.
Written 23 April 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kia ora, thank you for taking the time to leave us your honest recommendation and review of Te Puia | New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute. We hope to host you and your whānau again. Ngā mihi
Written 1 November 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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TE PUIA (2024) All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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