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 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.
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
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
313 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Great experience
SiewSan H,,Dec 9, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Amazing experience. We were pretty lucky to see 4 geysers erupted. Our guide, Rebecca was knowledgeable with interesting explanations. Truly a wonderful experience.
Interesting
CJ R,,Dec 2, 2025
- Review from Viator
4.00Informative but moved too quickly through the sites. I could have gone through at my own pace for much less money. The highlight of the experience was the gift shop which has thousands of really lovely, locally made, handcrafted artifacts and gifts for a very reasonable price.
Must have
Nitish A,,Nov 28, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00The whole experience was mesmerising. Must to do if you are visiting Rotorua. Gives a great insights .
Not worth it!
Cornelia S,,Nov 17, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
2.00We found the tour to be completely overpriced, there was hardly any background information. We felt very “passed through”. Not justified for the money. Much better is the Wai O Tapu area.
Just wow.
angeladenis2020,,Nov 16, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I absolutely loved this tour. The staff is amazing and the sights will leave you in awe. I am so impressed by NZ’s efforts to bring their native citizens to the forefront and highlight their culture. There is a college located at this park where natives earn scholarships to come learn their ancient ways - weaving, carving, etc. We are able to watch the instructors guiding the students and the results of their efforts. The money you spend at the park goes to these scholarships - 3 years for each student. The expectation is that the student will go back to their communities to teach others. Though the NZ govt doesn’t finance this particular college, they have done so many wonderful things. I love and respect this country more than I can say.
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..
From NZ$100.00
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