Whakarewarewa Living Maori Village Guided Tour
Rotorua
4.0(1)
Rotorua
Experience New Zealand’s only living Māori village, where locals live as their ancestors did. See the Pōhutu geyser and more on a guided tour with a Māori descendant.
Tickets for this activity are non-refundable. If you are not satisfied with your experience, please contact us to cancel your booking.
1 reviews
Join a guided tour through Whakarewarewa Geothermal Valley, led by a local descendant of the village’s first guides. As you walk through the village, you’ll see how the Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao people rely on geothermal energy for everyday life. Watch how they cook traditional meals in natural steam vents and soak in hot pools. Your guide will explain how geothermal forces have shaped the land and lifestyle, including the Pōhutu geyser—the largest in the southern hemisphere—that erupts regularly, sending boiling water and steam up to 30 meters into the air.
You’ll visit sacred Māori landmarks, including the village Marae (meeting grounds), where the community still gathers for important events, and burial grounds honoring those lost in World War II. Your guide will offer insights into the village’s unique blend of ancient traditions and modern life, and how the landscape is constantly evolving with new hot pools and steam vents. The experience offers a deeper understanding of how the Māori people have adapted to live in harmony with the land for centuries, right in the heart of an active geothermal zone.