Top Things to do in Rotorua District
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What to do and see in Rotorua District, North Island: The Best Historic Sites
Discover the best top things to do in Rotorua District, New Zealand including Tamaki Maori Village, Whakarewarewa - The Living Maori Village, Ohinemutu, Te Puia, Government Gardens, Buried Village of Te Wairoa.
Restaurants in Rotorua District
1. Tamaki Maori Village
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5,404 reviews
Tamaki Māori Village – Evening Cultural Experience. New Zealand’s Most Awarded Cultural Experience! Experience an evening of ceremonial ritual, powerful cultural performance, storytelling & hangi feasting. Share in the Powhiri, our ancient ceremony of welcome before entering our pre-European Māori Village nestled within a native Tawa Forest. The village comes alive with sights, sounds & activity of days gone by including haka, poi, tattooing, weaving, carving and arts of warrior training. You will have the opportunity to participate in these activities. Witness the earth being scraped away from the hāngi pit to reveal baskets of food cooked beneath the ground on hot stones. Enter the ancestral meeting house and enjoy a powerful cultural performance before dining the traditional hāngi buffet feast!
Reviewed By rhigr - London, United Kingdom
From the minute Hone picked me up it was phenomenal, the whole drive there our guide, Liam, was warm and funnny as well as informative, and the experience of walking around and learning about Maori culture was unforgettable! I’m also a veggie and was amply provided for - would highly recommend, well worth a visit
2. Whakarewarewa - The Living Maori Village
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,669 reviews
With natural geothermal heat radiating from the ground, Whakarewarewa Living Māori Village is a unique cultural experience, set in a fascinating geothermal landscape, offering an authentic peek into Māori village life. Hourly guided tours give visitors a chance to learn how the geothermal resources are used in daily life, twice-daily cultural performances are filled with fun interactivity, and a network of nature trails traverse geothermal lakes, bubbling mud and explosive geysers. This will be a memorable experience for all ages. Open 8.30am – 5.00pm daily.
Reviewed By linfarrington24 - Launceston, Australia
Loved seeing how Maori people have lived and evolved over hundreds of years. Wonderful to be welcomed and encouraged to share their pride in their cultural heritage. We started with a tour by a young guide who had a uniquely modern perspective on her heritage, we followed that with the cultural show which brought us to tears in the beauty of the love songs and the passion of the cultural expressions. Finally we shared a traditionally prepared meal, which we thought we would 'experience' rather than enjoy. How wrong we were! It all goes to show how much we have to learn from our indigenous brothers and sisters!
3. Ohinemutu
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 203 reviews
Reviewed By klvmar
Ohinemutu is the site of a Maori village on the shores of Lake Rotorua. Two beautiful structures at this location face each other, the Tamatekapua meeting house and St. Faith's Anglican Church. Both buildings are predominantly white with red trim, and both are embellished with impressive Maori carvings.
4. Te Puia
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5,628 reviews
Te Puia spans 70 hectares within the historic Te Whakarewarewa Valley, on the edge of town. We are home to the world famous Pohutu geyser, to mud pools, hot springs, to silica formations to the Kiwi bird and the national schools of wood carving, weaving, stone and bone carving. We have shared these treasures with manuhiri (visitors) for 170 years and proudly continue that legacy today.
Reviewed By ruki-de - Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom
Enjoyed the combo with the guided tour of the craft school, Pohutu geyser, general entertainment, Maori show, the multi-course dinner and hot chocolate back at the geyser after dark. Included pick-up from and return to accommodation.
5. Government Gardens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,176 reviews
Reviewed By GaryandLesleyTravel - Auckland Central, New Zealand
These lovely grounds can easily be over looked but set sometime aside to enjoy the beautiful park setting and follow the path around the lakefront towards Sulpher Bay to experience the geothermal goings on and the mass of bird life. Inside the park don’t miss the Rachel Spring - hot water pool - by the historical blue baths.
6. Buried Village of Te Wairoa
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 1,060 reviews
Experience New Zealand's most visited archaeological site where stories of the 1886 Mt Tarawera Eruption come to life! Violent and unexpected, the volcanic eruption was one of New Zealand's greatest natural disasters, burying the peaceful village of Te Wairoa, and ending more than 150 lives. Today at the Buried Village encounter the world class Museum of Te Wairoa, explore the Archaeological Site which once housed the people of Te Wairoa, experience the unique insights of stories from our tour guides, and take the Waterfall Trail which showcases the stunning Wairere Falls.
Reviewed By WoodgateFamily - Brisbane, Australia
We found this a very interesting spot to visit. The staff were lovely and we finished off with a very nice morning tea in the cafe. On paying we got the audio guide (swaping our car keys) and a map. We had our own earphones to use as the sound without earphones is quite low. Although there are information boards on the walk, don't pass on the audio guide - it elevates the walk from good to excellent. The museum at the start was very interesting and quite sad as well - documents lots of personal experiences of those that died during the eruption. Leaving the museum you are actually walking through what was once Te Wairoa Village, with quite a number of buildings partially excavated. We also did the walk to Wairere Falls which are quite pretty and you get lovely views of the Waitoharuru Valley.
