Mitai Maori Village Cultural Experience in Rotorua
Recommended by 91% of travelers
Rotorua, New Zealand
+5
- 3 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Get an authentic introduction to Māori culture the way few tourists do, with an evening at the Mitai Māori Village in Rotorua. See men in traditional dress paddle down the river in a waka (canoe) and be captivated by the displays of weaponry. Watch a haka war dance and poi performance, and spot glowworms in their natural habitat. This evening experience includes round-trip hotel transport and a traditional buffet hangi feast, so you don't have to worry about a thing.
- Learn first-hand about New Zealand's indigenous Māori culture
- Enjoy a guided bush walk to learn about native flora and fauna
- Let one easy booking handle a whole host of plans
- Worried about language barriers? No need, there are eight to choose from
What's Included
- 3 hour nightly cultural experience
- Hangi served from a buffet alongside other side dishes and dessert
- Participate in a short guided bush walk to learn of the flora and fauna and see glow worms
- Māori Cultural Performance
- Courtesy transfers from local accommodation providers within Rotorua (limited places)
- Coffee and/or TeaSpring Water / Tea & Coffee
- Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
Meeting and Pickup
You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup
Itinerary
You're transferred from your accommodation in Rotorua after a personalized meet-and-greet and photo op with a Māori woman in traditional attire. Then learn some basic guidelines for entering the Mitai Māori Village, considered a sacred cultural and spiritual space to the Māori people.
In this bush setting of New Zealand's North Island, discover the history of the area once thriving with indigenous villages. You'll observe Māori warriors paddling a waka, or canoe, down the Wai-o-whiro stream, and visit the Fairy Spring for a look at freshwater eels, trout, and glowworms.
The evening's cultural entertainment includes a performance of games, songs, and dances including the haka, or war dance. Learn about Māori customs, including the medicinal uses of native plants.
Savor a selection of succulent dishes during a traditional hangi feast, with foods cooked underground in an earthen oven. Your dinner includes New Zealand meats and poultry along with vegetables and fresh salads. Top off your meal with buffet-style desserts. Drinks are available for purchase from the full bar.
Afterward, you're dropped off at your hotel.
In this bush setting of New Zealand's North Island, discover the history of the area once thriving with indigenous villages. You'll observe Māori warriors paddling a waka, or canoe, down the Wai-o-whiro stream, and visit the Fairy Spring for a look at freshwater eels, trout, and glowworms.
The evening's cultural entertainment includes a performance of games, songs, and dances including the haka, or war dance. Learn about Māori customs, including the medicinal uses of native plants.
Savor a selection of succulent dishes during a traditional hangi feast, with foods cooked underground in an earthen oven. Your dinner includes New Zealand meats and poultry along with vegetables and fresh salads. Top off your meal with buffet-style desserts. Drinks are available for purchase from the full bar.
Afterward, you're dropped off at your hotel.
1
Mitai Maori Village
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Infant seats available
- Most travelers can participate
- Wheelchair accessibility is limited for the 'bush walk' - exit into the forest is via stairs. Viewing of the waka (canoe) is from a platform and you can go a short distance into the forest to view the old pā (village) and see the sacred spring below the forest. Unfortunately, you will not see the glow worms. (Note: there is some uneven surfaces).
- Please note there is a small walk through the forest which has some steps and uneven ground in some areas
- Infant seats are subject to availability
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately - warm comfortable clothing and walking footwear
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 180 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.6
based on 1,404 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
klonsdale76, Aug 2026
This was amazing from start to finish, the entertainment and food, the people were all amazing. A great night
Robyn_L, Aug 2026
A wonderful night full of culture, song, humour and amazing food.
If going in winter rug up. Worth every dollar paid
Daniel_T, Aug 2026
Shuttle service was excellent. Food was delicious. Cultural experience was out of this world! This experience is worth EVERY dollar!
maria_m, Aug 2026
This was absolutely incredible, food was delicious, everyone was so friendly and welcoming. Thank you for welcoming us into your beautiful country Aotearoa.
Elizabeth_C, Jul 2026
Good overview of culture. Plenty of food, was tasty. Activity finished at about 2030 but our taxi was booked for 2115 (as per the staff’s advice at the beginning when we asked) so we were waiting around for a while when everyone (even staff) had left.
Kerrie_E, Jul 2026
We were advised by our friends here in New Zealand that this experience was one not to be missed. From pick up by our friendly Māori bus driver to returning back to our hotel, our experience was truly amazing. The village is beautiful and authentic, and the hangi was especially tasty, you will not leave hungry there is so much delicious food and dessert. The traditional cooking method takes a long time and the results are amazing, I am actually a qualified Chef and have never experienced food cooked this way. Everyone is soo incredibly welcoming in New Zealand and especially at our visit to the village last night. I’m so glad we were able to go.
Tina_G, Jul 2026
Be prepared for some walking. The venue is on a hillside so you have to walk from the parking lot down to the dining venue. Once you get checked in there you can sit down and relax for a little bit. The host will come in and talk with everyone and then he'll take you down to another area for the "show" I tell everyone about all the different dances and and tools and outfits that the performers are wearing. Back up the hill for dinner and then afterwards take you for for more entertainment, watching The warriors arrive in their boat. And then it's on to the glow worms. Which is really just a small area on the hillside but you do get to be close to them.
Tong_R, Jun 2026
love the way the Māori culture is presented - presented at river and also on stage. very interesting and the Hangi buffet is great - food is delicious and many types to choose, ranging from meat to salad to bread to desserts!
Rebecca_S, Jun 2026
We had a great time learning about the local culture and experiencing the local tribal food. It was a great way to kick off our trip!
Albhe_J, Jun 2026
Insightful cultural experience, great food, wonderful staff, lively performances, enchanting environment.
Hannah_L, Jun 2026
We really enjoyed our dinner and learning about Māori culture. The performance was incredible and we loved dinner and dessert! Walking around the bush was also really neat even with the dark and rain; really added to the ambience. The performers were very talented and engaging, and our host taught us much about the people and history.
Rolando_Q, May 2026
Our visit to Mitai Maori Village was absolutely excellent and one of the highlights of our trip to Rotorua. The experience was both entertaining and educational, and we learned so much about Māori culture and traditions.
The performances and cultural show were incredible, and you could really feel the passion and pride throughout the entire experience. The buffet dinner was also excellent with plenty of delicious options to enjoy.
They also have a wonderful gift shop with great souvenirs to help remember the experience. Highly recommend this for anyone visiting Rotorua and wanting an authentic and memorable cultural experience!
-Chef Roy
Sharon_F, May 2026
What a show . Food was amazing. Staff was amazing. Learnt so much about something I knew nothing about.
Definitely would recommend .
Beautiful gardens and easy for people to get about.
Melissa_Z, May 2026
Very inviting, educational and inspiring. Great host, great food and the ‘show’ was amazing! My 2yr old grandson loved it too.
Stephen_M, May 2026
Dress warm, great night good food and cultural experience.
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madison_f, May 2026
Amazing food and great way to experience and learn about the Māori people and their traditions. It was a great way to also meet other travelers at our table!
REINA_S, May 2026
I had booked a transfer service, but I was left behind. The hotel staff believed them when they said my name wasn't on the reservation. Of course, I booked the tour and my friend booked the hotel. It's ridiculous to believe what the hotel staff said. This tour is conducted jointly regardless of which tour company you book with, so I recommend booking with a different tour company. There's no difference in price.
送迎を予約していたが置いていかれた。ホテルスタッフが私の予約の名前がないとの言葉を信じて置いていった。私がツアーを予約して、友達がホテルを予約していたの当然だ。ホテルスタッフの言葉を信じるのはおかしい。このツアー内容はどこのツアー会社で予約しても合同でやるため、他のツアー会社での予約をお勧めする。価格の差もない。
Craig_P, May 2026
An evening learning more historical and cultural significance of the Māori people. Sharing plentiful and beautiful food
Robert_K, May 2026
Dinner and food provided was excellent, cultural show was good however tour of village felt very rushed with no real explanations provided re: what we were being ushered through.
Zach_D, Apr 2026
Didnt bother to collect us from the hotel. They told us to be in the lobby at a certain time, we were early and then they didnt collect us. When we complained we didnt get a refund either.
Naila_H, Apr 2026
Overall it was ok but it didn’t make sense to me why there was no lights in the village at all at night and we both couldn't see anything at all. For glow worms keeping dark is ok but other then that even there was no light to walk and my wife was about to hit her head with a tree because she could barely walk with her mobile light. Food was good and enough. I think day time is better than night as you can see everything. Talk was more than the actual show or performances. Haka was great though
Andrew_M, Mar 2026
Might not be as glitzy as some fancy Hawaiian luaus, but this family run experience is still well worth it. Good story telling, good food, energetic show, plus you get to see some glow worms too.
Barbara_V, Mar 2026
We enjoyed a lovely evening learning about the Maori Culture. The ‘Host’ who described many traditions and such was very friendly and shared lots of history, traditions and stories of his people. The dinner was plentiful and delicious. We very much enjoyed the cultural dances, like the Haka as well. Walking to see the glowworms once it turned dark was the only difficult part, as the path is a bit uneven & not well lit. Overall a very nice evening and we can recommend.
Carolyn_P, Mar 2026
What a fun evening! The knowledge and closeness we got to feel of the Māori people was so beautiful! It was fun sitting at a table with strangers and leaving as friends! The food was our absolute favorite of our entire stay on the north island! Highly recommend!
Bill_S, Mar 2026
Both the performance & dining were exceptional! A family operation providing useful insights to Maori culture & history.
Brenda_C, Mar 2026
A good introduction to Māori culture. Nice buffet style dinner. At times, the performers were difficult to hear. An audio system would be beneficial.
Paul_C, Mar 2026
Lovely evening learning about the Maori culture. A very colourful show with dinner. Three hours was a little too long.
Katharine_M, Mar 2026
Great experience giving an insight into the culture, food, traditions of the Maori people.
Highly recommended.
Scott_M, Mar 2026
Just do it. You will not be disappointed. The greatest part of our journey. The show was brilliant, the food from the hungi unbelievable.
James_S, Mar 2026
It was very entertaining and educational. Lots of fun for all ages. The food was great and the walk along the brook was cool.
From $101.98
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Mitai Maori Village Cultural Experience in Rotorua
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