Top Rotorua Arts & Design

Experience the best of Rotorua’s geothermal wonders and Māori culture with a Te Puia Day Pass. Explore the world-famous Te Whakarewarewa Geothermal Valley, home to steaming vents, bubbling mud pools, and the spectacular Pōhutu Geyser, the largest active geyser in the Southern Hemisphere. Walk scenic pathways through this unique geothermal landscape while learning about its natural history and cultural significance. Enjoy access to the Kiwi Conservation Centre, where you can observe New Zealand’s iconic kiwi bird in a specially designed nocturnal environment. Visit the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute to see traditional carving and weaving skills being preserved by talented artisans. Continue to the Āhua Gallery and Rotowhio Pā to gain deeper insight into Māori heritage, art, and community life. This self-guided experience offers an unforgettable combination of nature, culture, and conservation in one of New Zealand’s most celebrated attractions.

Art, craft, and culture-loving travelers will enjoy this guided tour of a New Zealand jade (pounamu) carving studio. Learn about the cultural significance of jade to the local Maori people, and about traditional and contemporary designs. Get the chance to meet jewelry artists and to see them at work. Choose a piece of jade to string and keep as a memento.