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Rotorua
Things to do in Rotorua
Te Puia

Te Puia, Rotorua: Hours, Address, Te Puia Reviews: 4.5/5

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Te Puia

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Te Puia
4.5
5,687
#6 of 65 things to do in Rotorua
Historic Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks • Hot Springs & Geysers
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10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
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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.
Suggested duration
2-3 hours
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What is Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best?
This award is our highest recognition and is presented annually to those businesses that are the Best of the Best on Tripadvisor, those that earn excellent reviews from travellers and are ranked in the top 1% of properties worldwide.
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The area
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
222 within 5 kms
Chapmans Restaurant
202
0.6 km$$ - $$$ • Seafood • International • New Zealand
Mr Yakitori
93
0.7 km$$ - $$$ • Japanese • Barbecue • Asian
Wild Bean Cafe
1
0.5 km
The Chirpy Cafe
2
0.6 kmNew Zealand
Pavillion
34
0.7 km$$ - $$$ • New Zealand
Baked Rotorua
14
0.7 km$ • Bakeries • Cafe
Pepper's Cafe
25
0.7 km$$ - $$$ • Cafe • European • Vegetarian Friendly
Matai Restaurant
26
0.9 km$$$$ • Contemporary • New Zealand • Vegetarian Friendly
D Bar
6
0.7 km$$ - $$$ • International
Stolen Bike Cafe
6
1 kmCafe
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Attractions
43 within 10 kms
New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute
168
54 mArt Galleries
Whakarewarewa - The Living Maori Village
2,693
0.6 kmHistoric Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks
Centennial Park
8
0.5 kmParks
Redwoods, Whakarewarewa Forest
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2.9 kmForests
Fancy Meow Cat Cafe
495
3.2 kmPoints of Interest & Landmarks
Rotorua i-SITE Visitor Information Centre
348
3.2 kmVisitor Centres
St. Faith's Anglican Church
293
3.9 kmChurches & Cathedrals
Volcanic Hills Winery
609
Wineries & Vineyards
Eat Street
950
3.3 kmNeighbourhoods
Government Gardens
1,180
3.3 kmHistoric Sites • Gardens
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Popular mentions
4.5
5,687 reviews
Excellent
3,233
Very good
1,753
Average
510
Poor
134
Terrible
57
Stephan Stephan
Christchurch, New Zealand8 contributions
A Must Do
Jun 2022
Amazing indeed. Highly recommend the night tour as so informative along with spectacular veiwing. The three guides who were all cousins were amazing not only with their knowledge but humour. Very relaxing and was the highlight of our visit to Rotorua.
Written 28 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Pauline D
Perth, Australia11 contributions
Te Puia, Rotorua
Jun 2022
A must do when in Rotorua. Such a fabulous cultural experience learning about the Maori people and their traditions. The Geo thermal landscape, including the spectacular geysers, was incredible! We did the free 2 hour guided tour led by Kahu who was so informative, friendly, funny and very passionate about his culture and country. I cannot recommend it enough.
Written 23 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
TePuia
Kia ora PaulinaMD, We always love jumping online and reading such positive reviews from manuhiri like yourselves. Thank you for taking the time to tell everyone about your experience here at Te Puia. There is truly so much to see and do here - NZMACI really gives you an in-depth look into the next generation of our graduates- who aim to perpetuate and preserve the Māori Culture through its Art and Crafts. Our guides are so knowledgeable and like you have mentioned, always such a great laugh! Kahu has at times, even been compared to Hollywood Actor, the Rock- so loves to have a laugh with our manuhiri. Your recommendation is acknowledged through this message and the entire whānau here at Te Puia and NZMACI. Ngā mihi!
Written 27 June 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Sally P
2 contributions
Amazing authentic cultural experience
Jun 2022 • Friends
We spent about half a day here and would highly recommend it! It was a fantastic experience, where on our free guided tour, we were immersed in the Maori culture. Our guide was Kahu was amazing and very knowledgeable. If you want to learn about the Maori culture and the amazing work their doing at the Maori arts & crafts institute this is the place to visit! Last but certainly not least, don't forget to see the amazing geyser. A sight that won't be forgotten. Thank you all at Te Puia for the amazing experience.
Written 17 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
TePuia
Kia ora SallypP6509EC, What a beautiful review! Thank you. We are so glad you had the time to jump onboard our Guided Tour and immerse yourself in the beauty of Te Puia and NZMACI for half of your day- there is so much to see and learn here onsite. Kahu has quite the fan base with our manuhiri- he's such a laugh and genuinely passionate about his mahi (work) within our whānau. Isn't Pōhutu Spectacular!! I sight we will never tire of. We hope to host you again one day in the future- or perhaps your friends and whānau. Ngā mihi.
Written 27 June 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Jannine M
Brisbane, Australia13 contributions
Te Puai adventures
Jun 2022 • Couples
The whole experience was amazing for an Australian. The guides were entertaining and the experience of the geothermal activity was impressive. Good to see skills being passed on to apprentices and a new generation of Maori youngsters.
Written 17 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
TePuia
Kia ora 307janninem, We are so pleased you enjoyed your trip to Te Puia and NZMACI and can appreciate the work happening with our students and tutor's at NZMACI. To learn the Māori Arts and Crafts of generations before is something we all take pride in - isn't our Geothermal Valley magnificent!! Ngā mihi.
Written 27 June 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Joan T
Sentosa Island, Singapore51 contributions
Amazing experience
Jun 2022
There is a free guided tour if you are able to catch their timing. Experienced an amazing guided tour by Kahu. An eye-opening experience to have been on location at Te Puai and understand the Maori culture and also the geothermal landscape of Rotorua
Written 15 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Abilash N
Singapore, Singapore8 contributions
Amazing Te Puia and Mr Kahu
Jun 2022
We had the pleasure of a wonderful Tour with Kahu. He is really passionate about his work and the stories he tells about the Maori Culture. Most importantly he has an amazing positive energy and humour that makes the whole experience more personal.

It was great to know of his time in Singapore and having been in the same military camp as me.

All in, we all really enjoyed the tour and was very fascinated by the rich history and culture of Maori people. Look forward to coming back again and having a hangi dinner!
Written 4 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Vladimir N
6 contributions
Great place to visit
May 2022
Great place to visit. The staff -- the tour guide, the students, the tutors -- were great speakers and I learned a lot about the place itself and the Maori culture.
The highlight of the tour was the pudding bread cooked by the steam coming from the Earth core.
Written 30 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
WRCRHP
Raetihi, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand52 contributions
History, Humour and delicious food
May 2022
We loved our visit. We had the Sunday Brunch and it was so delicious!! Loved the jokes on the guided tour, and the informative signs around the place too. Really good to learn about the school. Even the kiwi in the kiwi house were really energetic, running around and calling to each other. Perfect way to spend a winters day with the family.
Written 23 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Robyn G
Raglan, New Zealand90 contributions
Enjoyable but pricy
May 2022
The admission fee is expensive - $70. I am absolutely ok with Te Puia charging this much but on a personal level, it was a lot to spend and I don't feel like I got my money's worth. I missed out on the last guided tour of the day - and I feel like this would have enhanced my visit. Otherwise, I had a pleasant stroll around Te Puia. The two highlights were the kiwi house and I was lucky enough that a kiwi was scratching around in the dirt just in front of me! The Pōhutu geyser was also impressive and spurted up just as I was passing by. There weren't many other people around, which I feel is just a symptom of this pandemic era, but it gave the place a ghostly feel. I would definitely recommend it to overseas visitors, but perhaps it is a little out of reach for NZers who haven't got loads of cash.
Written 15 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
reneexl
Invercargill, New Zealand63 contributions
Love it
May 2022 • Couples
Loved this very informative with a guide. It was amazing learning the history of Māori right down to carving and weaving, the work that goes into it all was unreal! The geysers were cool to look at and lying on the heated rock was something different! We finished off our tour with steamed pudding. Would come and do again.
Written 9 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Te Puia
Te Puia is open:
  • Sun - Sun 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
  • Wed - Sat 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Buy tickets in advance on Tripadvisor. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel at least 24 hours before the start date of your tour for a full refund.
We recommend booking Te Puia tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 59 Te Puia tours on Tripadvisor