Is the visiting Te Puia in Rotorua, New Zealand worth it? Based on my experience at Te Puia, here’s a full review to help you decide.
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Intro
If you’re planning a trip to Rotorua, either as a stop on a day tour from Auckland or part of a longer North Island itinerary, Te Puia is hands down one of the most iconic places you can visit. Te Puia is known for its dramatic geyser, bubbling mud pols, rich Māori culture, and its efforts to protect New Zealand’s national treasure. After visiting myself, here’s a review of what to expect and why Te Puia deserves a spot on your Rotorua itinerary
Recommended Te Puia Tours & Activities
Book unforgettable experiences and check out the below recommended Te Puia tours, activities and attractions:
Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
Te Puia Location
Why Te Puia?
Te Puia is one of Rotorua’s most famous attractions with the Pōhutu Geyser, bubbling mud pools, and unique mineral deposits. Te Puia also has the Māori Cultural Arts & Crafts Institute where you can see New Zealand’s national weaving school and the country’s only Māori carving institute. It’s a beautiful introduction into learning about and seeing both Māori culture as well as geothermal activity.
What You’ll See at Te Puia
Once you’re inside Te Puia, you are grouped with a knowledgeable Māori guide that leads you around the geothermal park and the institute, and shares valuable insight, stories and fun facts.
Geothermal Activity
Pōhutu Geyser
Te Puia is home to the world-famous Pōhutu Geyser, the largest active geyser in the Southern Hemisphere. It erupts every hour and sometimes reaches up to 30 meters up into the sky! You can see the geyser from multiple locations inside Te Puia, so if you miss it erupting while you’re near it, you might still be able to catch it erupt from afar.
Bubbling Mud Pool & Natural Steam Vents
Throughout Te Puia, there’s steaming vents where you’ll see towers of steam and smoke coming out of the ground. There are also bubbling gray mud pools scattered throughout that really makes you wonder just how hot it is beneath the surface. All the geothermal activity also creates mineral deposit buildup, where you’ll get to see unique and otherworldly rock formations that you can only see here.
Meet the Kiwi Bird
One of my favorite parts of Te Puia is the Kiwi Conservation Centre. The Centre promotes Kiwi conservation and educates visitors about extensive conservation efforts being made to increase the Kiwi birds’ numbers in the wild. The Kiwi bird is unfortunately threatened, and since it’s the national bird of New Zealand, a lot of work is put into saving these incredible animals.
At the Kiwi hatchery, you’ll be able to learn about the current residents, and if you’re lucky, actually be able to see them with your own eyes. Kiwi birds are shy and nocturnal so the enclosure’s environment is simulated in a way to mimic nighttime. You might be able to catch them digging, shuffling, and hunting for food… something you definitely won’t be able to see in the wild.
When you go through, it’s almost pitch black where your eyes will need to adjust a bit to see. Just be sure to stay quiet while walking through to not startle them and definitely DO NOT take pictures. The guide will also quietly point out the Kiwi bird if they spot it first.
This was definitely a rare opportunity and one of the best kiwi-viewing experiences.
Māori Cultural Arts & Crafts Institute
Te Puia is home to the New Zealand Māori Arts & Crafts Institute, a school dedicated to preserving traditional Māori carving and weaving. Here, you can see elaborate and intricate wood carvings, and watch master carvers and students work on their own projects, as well as their beautiful finished wood work.
The Institute also has a weaving school, where if you don’t know anything related to weaving, or even what is even possible to weave, then this part of the school will surprise you. There are tons of weaved items, from flying kites to pretty flowers. It’s amazing what can be created through weaving.
Optional Māori Cultural Show & Lunch
For an extra cost, you can add watching the Māori Cultural Show and have lunch. If the tour you’re considering has this add-on, I highly recommend you add it!
The Māori cultural show is so beautiful and gives you a sneak peek into the Māori culture, and how the Māori people would have responded to visitors to their land. The performers wear traditional garb and body/face markings/tattoos, and really transport you into their world. They will sing beautiful traditional songs and dance, and give great context to each of their songs and dances with insights into Māori history, legends, and traditions.
And the best part: you get to see a live haka performed! I have only seen the haka performed through videos so it was thrilling to be able to see it live. It’s a powerful performance and will leave you with chills.
Then after the show, you are brought into a large lunch hall for a buffet-style lunch (Māori hāngī-style). If you’re lucky, you might also be seated by the windows facing the Pōhutu Geyser and see it erupt while you’re eating.
How Much Time Do You Need?
Most people spend 1.5 to 2 hours here. Day tours time things efficiently though where you’ll usually see all the below without feeling rushed:
- ☑️ Kiwi Birds
- ☑️ Mud Pools
- ☑️ Pōhutu Geyser eruption
- ☑️ Māori carving and weaving
- ☑️ Optional cultural performance and lunch
Is It Worth It?
| 👍 Pros | ⚠️ Cons |
|---|---|
| Stunning geothermal features including a massive geyser | The sulfur smell can be strong for some people |
| One of the best Maori cultural experiences in New Zealand | Entry ticket is pricier than other geothermal parks |
| See a real kiwi bird in an ethical conservation setting | Gets busy during peak season |
| Beautiful pathways, viewpoints & easy accessibility | Some parts can be slippery after rain |
| Great for day tours from Auckland or Rotorua itineraries | Cultural show may cost extra depending on ticket type |
Final Words: Absolutely Worth It!
Te Puia is one of the most complete cultural and geothermal experiences in New Zealand. There’s no other place where you can see a huge erupting geyser, a kiwi bird, traditional Māori carvings, and a Māori cultural performance. I hope this review encourages you to add Te Puia to your North Island, Auckland (day trip) or Rotorua Itinerary.
Would you visit Te Puia?
Let me know in the comments below!
(new zealand māori “thank you!”)
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