At Te Puia, guiding is as natural as humour. Many guides are the sons and daughters, grandchildren and great grandchildren of the guides of old. They tell stories that have been told for generations and share their own.
The special connection guides have with the land and its’ history ensures tours at Te Puia are unlike any other in New Zealand.
Rotowhio Marae
Site of a fortified village. The Marae, meeting place, was the centre of everyday tribal life, sheltering eating, sleeping, work places and most importantly the sacred meeting house, Te Aronui a Rua. It is here where daily cultural concerts, Kapa Haka, occur under the gaze of carved ancestors.
Kiwi House
Te Puia is dedicated to the survival of New Zealand’s national endangered bird, the Kiwi. In a natural and protected habitat, kiwi pair, Kenny and Colorado, are far from birds of a feather. Where Colorado is shy, Kenny is a bossy diva. While they educate and entertain others have flourished under Te Puia’s successful kiwi breeding programme, becoming the first kiwi birds born in captivity without human intervention or artificial incubation.
Whakarewarewa Geothermal Valley
A raw and powerful journey into a thermal wonderland some 40,000 years old. Mud pools, hissing steam and geysers pay tribute to the presence of Mother Nature. The most famous geyser, Pohutu, meaning big splash, can erupt up to 30 metres high in front of you. There’s no other geyser in the world this accessible.
Maori Cultural Performances
As the birthplace of tourism in New Zealand, the Rotorua region and its peoples are known as the tribe of hospitality. It is their trademark and the performing arts are their speciality. Stories of old soar to life again through song. Poi and stick games reveal how favourite past times were, in fact, training for agility and co-ordination.
Te Puia’s Mai Ora evening is a premiere cultural experience.
A banquet is provided from the traditional Hangi, where food is steam cooked by hot rocks in the earth, to contemporary cuisine. Guests are invited to see and photograph the Hangi being lifted before sitting to dine.
Mai Ora is a relaxed evening and begins at the Marae with the sound of the war trumpet, blown to alert the host tribe that visitors are approaching.
From the traditional welcome, with a challenge by fierce warriors, guests begin to appreciate this is not a standard show.
Inside the sacred meeting house, guests are treated to a polished performance of song and dance and are invited to learn and join in alongside performers. Their efforts are rewarded by the best of New Zealand’s food fare before the evening concludes with the spectacular lighting of the Whakarewarewa Geothermal Valley.