Te Puia: Te Rā Guided Experience
Overview
Available languages
1 hour 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
Experience a day filled with excitement, culture, and connection as you explore Te Whakarewarewa Geothermal Valley. Encounter our national treasure, the kiwi, and immerse yourself in Māori culture.
Discover awe-inspiring geysers, bubbling mud, and lush native bush during our guided Te Rā experience. Get up close to Pōhutu Geyser, the largest active geyser in the Southern Hemisphere.
Visit the kiwi in a specially designed nocturnal enclosure at the Kiwi Conservation Centre, dedicated to preserving this iconic bird.
Dive deeper into Māori heritage at the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute, where students hone traditional skills in weaving, wood, stone and bone carving. Our wānanga (school) serves as a beacon for indigenous culture.
Our knowledgeable kaiārahi (guides) will share their Māori traditions and heritage with you, passing down ancestral stories and insights along the way.
Te Rā guided experience has a duration of 90 minutes.
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Specialized infant seats are available
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Explore a Marae and Māori village
Highest Geyser and most active Geothermal Valley in the Southern Hemisphere
Professional guide
Explore our Kiwi Conservation Centre
Wood, Bone & Greenstone carving, flax weaving schools.
Food and drinks
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Gratuities
What To Expect
Te Puia
Te Puia is situated in the geothermal valley of Te Whakarewarewa, Rotorua and is a powerful reminder of the earth’s natural force. With remarkable geothermal features including the famous Pōhutu Geyser and rich layers of Māori culture, from the land itself to the artworks, the people, stories, traditions and architecture. There are nature trails teeming with native bird life and you will even find the New Zealand icon, the Kiwi bird on site. The knowledge and passion of our guides is often what makes the Te Puia visitor experience so special. Passing on the knowledge and wisdom handed down from their ancestors carries a special pride. It opens visitors’ eyes to the interconnectedness of life in the Māori world, and touches hearts across cultures.
Options
Te Rā Guided Tour
Guided Tour : Guided Tours are available on the hour from 9am, to 4pm. Please specify the timeslot when booking. Check in 15 min prior.
Reviews
307 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Fantastic place to visit
Karen S,
Nov 3, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Rebecca was our amazing guide. She made us fall in love with Te Piua. We walked around the school , the kiwi sanctuary And of course the gysers. We already booked the evening cultural show and dinner so we are def coming back
You really should go here.
Jill D,
Oct 20, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was wonderful. Probably the best thing we have done. They have a kiwi propagation. And we could see the bird. We got to see 2 of them. They are really cute. Also we saw a geyser and I had never seen one before. The h hi hides we very good an knowledgeable. The artist school was also nice. The weaving and fiber arts were my favorite.
A great cultural experience!
megandG8052IA,
Oct 18, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00We really enjoyed this experience, especially the tour of the weaving, wood, stone and bone carving school. Our tour guides were very knowledgeable and funny. Our only negative was that our group was too big for the kiwi enclosure. We were the last in and didn't really get time to see them because the rest of the group ahead of us took too long to move through. We did have to opportunity to go back through once our tour was complete though.
An amazing way to learn about the Māori and experience the Pohutu geyser!
YYC JustinC,
Oct 16, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My family experienced Te Puia as part of a Rotorua detour experience with Cheeky Kiwi tours. The 90 minute tour was excellent, hosted by a young Maori woman who let us through the Cultural Institute to demonstrate how Maori culture is being preserved, and passed down to future generations of iwi across New Zealand. The geothermal experience and up close encounter with the Pohutu geyser was amazing! The highlight of the experience was seeing the kiwi birds in their incredibly well designed enclosures and learning about the conservation efforts in place to preserve these amazing birds. I would highly recommend this experience for anyone visiting the Rotorua area.
Outstanding!
Kyeburn,
Oct 7, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Wow what an amazing tour!! We went on the 9am very wet tour.. what made our day was the morning prays that the company do before they start their day. We were so lucky to be in the art room while they sang. They even did a Haka at then end.. just amazing. Our wonderful guide even joined in up the top with her singing.. we are from NZ and I was blown away what our young people can learn and achieved here.. what a wonderful facility in Rotorua. Definitely will be back when it’s sunny to have a better look around. Keep up your amazing work..
A good tour if you want to see the geysers
macmill,
Oct 6, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00An interesting and unrushed tour that was informative as well as giving us plenty of time to see the geysers and natural hot springs as well as the kiwis
Interesting
ge0teach84,
Oct 1, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00Interesting to walk around the trails to see the geysers. Also to hear about the culture of the people. Then to see the school where the Maori people learn how to do woodcarving, weaving and stone carving.
Guide versus Guided Tour
PetaRichelle E,
Oct 1, 2025
- Review from Viator
3.00I choose this experience as it was guided and my only opportunity to learn about Maori culture. Overall, I found the information 'light on' and could of done the same with a map. I did the 3pm session.
The geysers and hot mud...
Lesley W,
Sep 19, 2025
- Review from Viator
3.00The geysers and hot mud pools are the main event but the tour guide left us to wander in this area on our own. The focus of the guided tour is on the educational work being done. (Which is great to see). I would still recommend this tour, but think the guided visit could be improved. It was also great to see the Kiwi enclosure.
Māori Cultural Evening
matthew s,
Sep 14, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Excellent evening and great value for money. We learnt so much about the Māori people and culture. Patrick the tour guide was super informative and added to the experience, answering so many questions. Our package included the tour of the geysers, the kiwi enclosure, a tour of the crafts centre, a buffet dinner and then finished off with a Māori cultural performance. Could not recommend highly enough!
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