Whakarewarewa The Living Maori Village
4.4 179 reviews
Directions
Map
Edit
ReviewShare the love
Save 10% with promo code RANKERS
This is the real deal in Rotorua. It's a living village, not a set piece. The guides actually live here, among the geysers and bubbling mud pools, and that comes through. Travellers consistently comment on how genuine it feels compared to the more polished options in town. The guided tour is the anchor, and it's educational without being dry. You'll learn how the local Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao people have adapted daily life around the geothermal environment, cooking, bathing, the lot.
Use promo code RANKERS for Save 10% when you book, which sits well given this is already one of the more affordable Maori experiences in the area. The cultural performance at the end is worth sticking around for too. Most reviewers reckon the whole thing is good value as it stands.
One honest note: the cafe has had a rough run of reviews lately, so I wouldn't plan your lunch around it. Come for the tour and the show, not the coffee. Go early if you can, before the bus groups arrive.
Photos
Information
Whakarewarewa The Living Maori Village
Set amidst a landscape of erupting geothermal activity, hot thermal springs and hot bubbling mud pools is the living thermal village of Whakarewarewa, situated in the heart of the tourist diamond of Rotorua.
Join a guided tour and discover the wonders of Mother Nature and learn how we have come to live in harmony within this unique environment.
Sit back and relax at our twice daily Maori Cultural Performances while we entertain you through song and dance. Our melodious voices accompanied by hand movements tell the stories of our heritage, past and present.
Indulge your senses and try our Traditional Geothermal Hangi, Hangi Pie or Corn Cob, a tasteful and refreshing experience.
Details
| Feature | Value | Info |
|---|---|---|
|
Organisation |
Whakarewarewa, The Living Maori VillageCommercial organisation |
|
|
Location |
North Island ▷ Rotorua Region ▷ Rotorua |
|
|
Categories |
|
|
|
Business Times |
Admissions open daily 8.30 am to 3.30 pm. The village is open 7 days a week from 8.30 am to 4 pm, with the last ticket sales for Guided Village Tours at 3 pm and Self-Guided Geothermal Trails at 3.15 pm. First Village Tour departs at 9 am, last at 3 pm. Last Geothermal Trails entry is 3.15 pm. Closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. |
|
|
Promo Code Save 10% |
Use discount code RANKERS with Whakarewarewa The Living Maori Village and save 10%. |
|
|
Directions To Coordinates |
||
|
Coordinates |
||
|
Websites |
|
Geothermal
Cultural Experiences
Google Maps
Reviews
-
-
Too expensive.
Rudy Witt -
Beautiful area.
Sluijs -
Getting very commercial and expensive.
Anne Courtenay -
The living thermal village.
UlaR -
Nice park.
Mark Leeuwenburgh
-
We loved the guided tour, in which our guide took us through the village in a very engaging and educational way.
We learned a lot and enjoyed stepping into this Māori village
-
The tour was really good although it has gone up in price and the price hasn't been changed online yet.
We had a very knowledgeable guide and the thermal activity was very interesting and quiet active... The food in the cafe was appalling and we couldn't drink the coffees we got there... The food in the old cafe that used to be there in the village was so much better than the new cafe they have now, so it was very disappointing but the tour and experience was worth the money we paid.
-
Loved the local history, tour and performances!
They show you their cultural ways of living.
-
A great place with all funds going straight to the community.
Tour guides are very friendly and informative, living in the community themselves. The food is average but it is all about the experience rather than the meal quality. The trail around the area is nice and short, but was a little difficult to navigate due to no signage, however if you utilise the map you get an indication of what you are looking at. Cultural performers were very entertaining!
-
-
Tons of water in the hot pools and in clouds overhead.
But lovely Maori guide, astonishing place, Hangi was simple and tasty! It would be better if we had explanations in french on paper.
-
-
-
-
We saw an impressive landscape and enjoyed a nice day in this village with very friendly people.
-
-
The tour with the local guide was interesting.
And it was nice to see how they live in the village. The Poi for me was a must see.
-
-
-
Not really my thing even if interesting, but the show had such amazing singers so we went twice.
Totally worth it.
-
We loved the guided tour, in which our guide took us through the village in a very engaging and educational way.
We learned a lot and enjoyed stepping into this Māori village
-
The tour was really good although it has gone up in price and the price hasn't been changed online yet.
We had a very knowledgeable guide and the thermal activity was very interesting and quiet active... The food in the cafe was appalling and we couldn't drink the coffees we got there... The food in the old cafe that used to be there in the village was so much better than the new cafe they have now, so it was very disappointing but the tour and experience was worth the money we paid.
-
Loved the local history, tour and performances!
They show you their cultural ways of living.
-
A great place with all funds going straight to the community.
Tour guides are very friendly and informative, living in the community themselves. The food is average but it is all about the experience rather than the meal quality. The trail around the area is nice and short, but was a little difficult to navigate due to no signage, however if you utilise the map you get an indication of what you are looking at. Cultural performers were very entertaining!
-
Tons of water in the hot pools and in clouds overhead.
But lovely Maori guide, astonishing place, Hangi was simple and tasty! It would be better if we had explanations in french on paper.
-
-
-
-
-
-
The tour with the local guide was interesting.
And it was nice to see how they live in the village. The Poi for me was a must see.
-
We saw an impressive landscape and enjoyed a nice day in this village with very friendly people.
-
-
Despite the rainy weather, we had a great day among the geothermal wonders of this area and in the village.
Great guide who told us all about Maori culture and geothermal events.
-
Fascinating place to visit.
You learn a lot about Maori culture and geology from your guide and then you can wander round the village by yourself after the one hour tour.
-
This Maori Village was nice because of it was the real home of the Maori people and our tour guide lived there.
Steaming hot ponds were very interesting.
-
The guide was really interesting and the guide who we could call Chief was very funny and he knew what he was doing.
Great insight of how Maori people were living and also a great show.
-
Not really my thing even if interesting, but the show had such amazing singers so we went twice.
Totally worth it.
-
-
Although the cheapest 'touristic' site at $35 you get an insight into the living village.
How they make use of the multiple hot springs. Includes music, singing, and guided tours.