Rotorua Māori Geothermal Village Tour & Photoshoot w/ Hāngi Lunch

Kia Ora - Welcome to Mount Maunganui, New Zealand. Drive through Mount Maunganui, passing the iconic Mauao, before stopping for approximately five minutes to take photos of this spectacular landmark, coastline and harbour. We will then continue towards Rotorua, where your journey to visit our historic and traditional Geothermal Māori Villages begin. The Tauranga Harbour is the ancestral home of many local iwi and hapū, including Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui and Ngāti Pūkenga. Tauranga Moana holds deep cultural, historical and spiritual significance for its people, with generations connected to its waters, coastline and surrounding whenua. As Te Arawa tour operators from Rotorua, we respectfully acknowledge and thank the mana whenua of Tauranga Moana for welcoming our guests, and allowing us to begin our journey from their harbour and whenua to Rotorua.

Travel through the heart of New Zealand’s kiwifruit country as we make our way from Tauranga towards Rotorua. Drive through the lush orchards surrounding Te Puke, known as the Kiwifruit Capital of New Zealand, where rows of vines stretch across the fertile Bay of Plenty landscape. Your guide will share insights into the region’s kiwifruit industry, the growers who work the land, and how this internationally recognised fruit has become an important part of the local economy. We’ll make a short 5-minute photo stop at the Seeka Ltd head office on Young Road, Te Puke, where you can capture a fun photo beside the giant kiwifruit sculpture. It’s a great opportunity to take a memorable photo and experience a small piece of the region’s famous kiwifruit story before continuing our journey towards Rotorua and your next cultural experience.

Discover the rich Māori history of Ngāpuna, a unique Rotorua community known for its natural springs. Learn how the area became an important home for local Māori communities, including Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Hurungaterangi, Tūhourangi and Ngāti Hinemihi. Hear the story of the devastating 1886 Tarawera eruption and how survivors rebuilt their lives and communities in Rotorua. Your visit will include a stop at one of Ngāpuna's two marae - Hurunga o Te Rangi Marae or Hinemihi Marae, depending on local arrangements and availability. Your local Māori guide will share stories of the people, whenua, whakapapa and traditions that continue to shape Ngāpuna today. This is an opportunity to experience Rotorua beyond the usual tourist attractions and gain a deeper understanding of living Māori culture and community.

Whakarewarewa – The Living Māori Village Enter Whakarewarewa – The Living Māori Village, where Māori culture and Rotorua’s geothermal landscape come together. We’ll take you directly to our Waiariki Tours office, located inside the village, where you’ll help prepare your traditional geothermal Hāngi lunch. Once prepared, the food is placed into a traditional geothermal steam box to cook using the natural geothermal heat and steam. While lunch cooks, enjoy morning tea featuring the first of several tastes of local cuisine throughout your day. You’ll then join a village guide for an informative walk through Whakarewarewa, learning about the village, our people, traditions, geothermal environment and history. Your visit continues with a Māori cultural concert, showcasing traditional waiata, poi, haka and other performances. After the concert, you will have the choice of two different 60 minute attractions to enjoy before returning to our Waiariki Tours office for lunch.

Dress in traditional Maori Kakahu (clothing) and wonder through exclusive parts of our village to capture high-resolution images to keep as memory of your time with us. Groups, couples and individuals are welcome.

After your experience at Pakete Whero Photography and/or Te Puia, return to our Waiariki Tours office to enjoy the geothermal lunch you helped prepare earlier. We’ll lift your food from the steam box while you sit back and enjoy delicious starters. Our team will then plate and serve your freshly cooked mains, followed by dessert and refreshments. This is also a relaxed opportunity to chat with our team, ask questions and learn more about Māori culture, Rotorua and the local community while enjoying your meal. After lunch, take some time to browse Waiariki Jade, our gift store, with exclusive tour-only discounts. Discover a range of Māori art, authentic pounamu (greenstone), carvings, Manuka honey, Rotorua mud skincare products and classic New Zealand souvenirs. It’s the perfect opportunity to find a meaningful keepsake of your Rotorua experience before continuing your journey.

Rotorua Town & Lakefront – From the City to Ōhinemutu Take a scenic drive through Rotorua, a city renowned for its geothermal activity, Māori heritage and beautiful lakes. As we travel through the town, your guide will share stories about Rotorua’s development, its people and the important role the area has played in New Zealand’s tourism and Māori history. We’ll make a 5-minute photo stop at the Rotorua Lakefront, where you can enjoy views across Lake Rotorua towards Mokoia Island and the surrounding landscape. Your guide will introduce you to the significance of the lake and its deep connections to the Te Arawa people, whose ancestors have lived in the Rotorua region for generations. From the lakefront, we’ll take a short walk towards Ōhinemutu, the historic heart of Rotorua and an important Te Arawa Māori settlement. Here, geothermal activity, history, whakapapa and living Māori culture come together, providing a fascinating introduction to the stories and people of Rotorua.

Ōhinemutu, Te Papaiouru Marae & Tama-te-Kapua Step into the heart of Te Arawa history and living Māori culture at Ōhinemutu, one of Rotorua’s most significant Māori communities. Located beside Lake Rotorua, Ōhinemutu has been home to Te Arawa people for generations and remains a living community today. Our guided walk takes you to Te Papaiouru Marae, an important gathering place for Ngāti Whakaue. Learn about the marae, its people and the traditions that continue to connect generations. You’ll also discover the story of Tama-te-Kapua, the renowned ancestor and captain of the Arawa waka, whose name is deeply connected to the identity and whakapapa of Te Arawa. Hear how the arrival of the Arawa waka and the journeys of its ancestors helped shape the history of the Rotorua region.

As we travel through Rotorua, we’ll pass through Tarewa Village on Tarewa Road, a historic Māori settlement connected to Ngāti Kea Ngāti Tuara. This is the fourth historic Māori village featured along our journey, offering another insight into the rich whakapapa and living communities that make Rotorua unique. Your guide will share the history of Ngāti Kea Ngāti Tuara, their ancestral connections to the Rotorua region, and the importance of the whenua surrounding Tarewa. Learn about the people who have lived here through generations, their relationships with neighbouring iwi and hapū, and how whakapapa continues to connect whānau to their ancestral lands. This is the last stop in Rotorua. Our journey back to Tauranga will take around 60 minutes.

Tauranga City – Explore the CBD Conclude your journey with a visit to Tauranga City, the vibrant heart of Tauranga Moana. Before returning to your cruise ship, we’ll stop in the Tauranga CBD for 30 minutes, giving you time to explore at your own pace. Explore the city centre, browse local shops, pick up a coffee or enjoy some last-minute New Zealand souvenirs. After your free time, we’ll rejoin the vehicle and make the short journey back to the Tauranga Cruise Ship Terminal, completing your Rotorua experience. As Te Arawa tour operators from Rotorua, we once again acknowledge and thank the iwi and hapū of Tauranga Moana for allowing us to bring our guests through their ancestral lands and return them safely to the harbour. We also wish to thank you our wonderful guests for choosing us to spend time with on your journey. We hope that you have enjoyed your time and will take home memories cherished forever. Haere me te kete o te wānanga - Go with the basket of knowledge