Whaka Trails and Maori Village Combo Tour
Recommended by 95% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Rotorua, New Zealand
- 1 to 3 hours (approx.)
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Learn more about local Maori culture and the geothermal science of Rotorua on a family-friendly combo tour to the Whaka Living Maori Village and the Pohutu Geyser. Discover how local people have been harnessing the power of the hot springs and mud pools for centuries, and enjoy eating a corn cob cooked in the thermal waters. Take great photos of bubbling mud, spurting geysers, and cultural attractions.
- Includes a guided tour of the village
- Follow geothermal trails around the natural features
- Learn more than you would touring alone
- A good opportunity to meet local Maori people
What's Included
- Combo includes access to Whaka Geothermal Trails & Village Guided Tour
- Coffee and/or Tea
- Lunch
- Bottled water
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 17 Tryon Street, Whakarewarewa, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand
Please come into our admissions building on arrival, this is sign posted outside the building.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Ticket Redemption Point
17 Tryon Street, Whakarewarewa, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand
Itinerary
1
Whakarewarewa - The Living Maori Village
2 hours • Admission Ticket Included
2
Whakarewarewa - The Living Maori Village
1 hour • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Katie_K
Tour was very informative, guide was great and self guided part was good as well as could cover at your own pace.
Reviews
4.7
based on 193 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
June_E, Apr 2026
This was an excellent and informative tour the young lady who took this was incredible
This is a must do trip
Orlando_G, Apr 2026
The most wonderful experience that I have had in a native Maori village. The purchasing of the tickets, the instructions to meet with the tour guide, the logistics the friendliness of every one involved in the event. Excellent and I most definitely will recommend this to my family and friends.
Nicole_B, Feb 2026
This is truly a unique tour and a great way to experience the Maori culture. It is a must do for anyone wanting to understand the origins of the New Zealand people. It is wheelchair accessible and is also easy to get around for anyone with mobility issues. Everyone who works / lives here are very helpful and friendly.
Glenn_K, Feb 2026
We visited a Moati Village. Learned a little bit about their culture. Saw some geizers. and attended a Moati show.
Sue_L, Feb 2026
The guided tour was very interesting, but there were nearly 30 in our group. It made the time seem very rushed, and our guide (who was excellent) had to spend lots of time chivvying people along - so there was little time for questions.
I would suggest a maximum of 15 people to make everyone feel valued.
Katie_K, Feb 2026
Tour was very informative, guide was great and self guided part was good as well as could cover at your own pace.
Cindy_C, Jan 2026
Authentic experience in the living village and the geothermal pools.
Get the walking tour with a guide. So much you learn from listening to their knowledge
LeeMitchell_G, Dec 2025
The Māori Village and Whaka trails were great. We learned about the history and life at the village. Angela our guide was wonderful! The Whaka trails had many thermal springs which was great to see. One of the best trips we did.
vicky_m, Nov 2025
Really interesting relaxed and informative tour and a must do if you are coming to NZ - incredible that these Māori live surrounded by steam vents and bubbling ponds/lakes. Absolutely fascinating! Make sure you do the trail as well! 👍🏻
Lisa_H, Sep 2025
My teen and tween loved the Village tour and the guide's stories. The food tasting was amazing and learning about village life was great. Excellent customer service as well.
elizabeth_B, Aug 2025
The experience was unfortunately disappointing due to the attitude and atmosphere that the guide called DANIEL conveyed from the beginning of the tour and continued to do so throughout the tour. We were a group of 8 British Ladies of mature age. Daniel continued to voice his own opinions and prejudices against the British EMPIRE throughout the tour. He took every step to make a comment about how it wasn’t New Zealand’s wars as we entered the village. He continued his criticisms throughout the tour and by the end of the tour our group felt that World Wars 1 & 2 were caused entirely by us. That the Māori culture and history and language was entirely suppressed by the British. He gave his attention completely to a young boy who was a New Zealand Māori child. He is NOT good guide for a BRITISH group. We felt very offended. He appears to be carrying a BIG chip on his shoulder.
Catherine_C, Apr 2025
Really great tour, great guide and an amazing way to experience living history, contemporary life and the geothermal landscape.
Ivan_G, Apr 2025
A great tour from the local guide who lives in the Maori village and experiences everyday living in the village. From cooking meals over hot steam to washing in the hot outdoor thermal baths, we even got to eat a corn on the cob cooked in one of the hot pools. The tour was brilliant from start to finish and is well worth a visit.
Kay_M, Mar 2025
The guided tour of the village I learnt a lot about Maori culture and tradition and how they share their village life today.
Victoria_N, Feb 2025
Our tour Daniel was great! He engaged well with the crowd and welcomed our questions. I loved sampling the corn cooked in the thermal pool.
Lynn_J, Feb 2025
Very interesting tour. This is a living Maori site, where Maori actually live. It was interesting to learn about their customs - especially the community cooking - and how they live with the geothermal features underneath them.
Shiela, Jan 2025
Our guide Daniel was awesome he gave us a lot of interesting facts . He made the tour enjoyable coz he was funny & accomodating 😊
Gary_Y, Dec 2024
Fantastic tour of the Maori village by one of the inhabitants. Full of knowledge about the village people and the history of the Maori's.
Followed this up by doing the Geothermal trail. Loved it.
Mandana_H, Oct 2024
The tour was well organized, our tour guide was lovely, and the place was just amazing. The lovely guys who cooked corns in boiling water and shared with us were nice and kind 🥰
I could hear Maori singing all the way through the village which made the tour pleasant and memorable.
Ferne_B, Aug 2024
Very educational, not a bit hokey. We learned so much and gained respect for these native people. Smaller group was very nice. This was an easy walking tour.
Gerardine_O, May 2024
Mirama was an amazing tour guide gave us a lot of information about her family heritage and her home.
Arlene_M, May 2024
We had a very interesting tour of Whaka by a local resident. He had many stories to tell us of growing up in Whaka and living in the community still. He was very open to questions. We learned alot about how people live in such a geothermally active area.
We did go on the trail hikes after our tour. A great experience.
Lyn_J, Mar 2024
Our tour leader Waimairia? Was excellent explaining so much about her Māori family and community. Lovely lady and very informative and interesting.
Graham_M, Mar 2024
An excellent experience with very friendly and engaging staff & guides.
A highly recommendable experience.
Ruta_B, Mar 2024
Wonderful to learn about the daily life of a community living in a harsh but beautiful environment. Michael, our guide, explained the way the geothermal energy was used to cook all their food and heat water for bathing. From a viewing platform, you can watch geysers erupting. This is an experience not to be missed.
Marian_C, Feb 2024
We had a great guide, Ben who imparted his knowledge in a relaxed, amusing and efficient way. He gave us great insight into the customs, culture and way of life of his people.
Kimi_T, Feb 2024
Everyone was amazing and kind and for them to share their home and experiences was an experience someone should make sure to be respectful of and experience when taking a trip. 😊
Hennie_C, Feb 2024
Our guide was terrific. Knowledgeable and wittyLearned a lot about the Māori culture. Highly recommended.
GOVINDAN_S, Feb 2024
This was one of the most comprehensive tours that we went which gave an excellent insight of Mouri culture and the geothermal areas are very nice . Would strongly recommend this
George_T, Dec 2023
Great tour & great guide! Loved it. Go do it. You won’t be disappointed. Great way to learn about Māori culture
From $52.31
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Whaka Trails and Maori Village Combo Tour
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