Te Puia (Whakarewarewa)
Te Puia
Home to Pōhutu, the largest active geyser in the Southern Hemisphere, which erupts up to 30 meters every hour. The site also has a Māori carving and weaving institute, a kiwi conservation centre, a Māori cultural performance, and a hangi dinner.
Te Puia sits in the Whakarewarewa geothermal valley on the southern edge of Rotorua. The 70-hectare site combines the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute, founded in 1963, with a geothermal landscape.
Key highlights:
Pōhutu, meaning 'big splash' in Māori, is the largest active geyser in the Southern Hemisphere. It erupts one to two times an hour, lasting from a few minutes to 20 minutes, with water columns up to 30 meters high. Beside it is the Prince of Wales Feathers geyser. The viewing platform has geothermally heated stone benches.
More than 500 geothermal features include bubbling mud pools and steam vents.
The Institute of Māori Arts and Crafts lets you watch apprentices carve wood (whakairo) and weave flax (raranga) up close.
The Kiwi Conservation Centre has dimly lit rooms where you can see New Zealand's national bird.
A reconstructed Māori village and a carved meeting house (wharenui).
Cultural performances: The daytime Te Rā tour includes a 45-minute Māori performance with a welcome ceremony (pōwhiri), a war dance (haka), and poi ball dancing. The evening Te Pō experience lasts about 3.5 hours. It includes a performance, a hangi buffet dinner cooked in geothermal steam, and a night-time geyser viewing. It costs about NZ$200–250 and is one of Rotorua's most popular Māori cultural evenings.
Admission for the daytime tour is about NZ$90. Geyser and grounds-only admission is about NZ$60–70.
On the south side of the same valley is the Whakarewarewa Living Village, a Māori community that is still home to residents. It has a separate entrance, and guided tours are led by local villagers.
Getting there: It's a 30-minute walk from the city center, or a five-minute bus or taxi ride. Many hotels offer shuttles.
Note: Geyser eruptions are not scheduled, so plan to wait at least 1.5 hours. Book the evening dinner in advance. During performances, stay seated, and you may take photos but should turn off the flash. The site has a strong smell and damp steam, so bring a jacket.
Opening hours
09:00–17:00 (Te Pō evening experience from 18:00)
Nearby sights
- Whakarewarewa Living Māori Village
- The Redwoods, Whakarewarewa Forest
- Polynesian Spa
- Government Gardens & Rotorua Museum
- Eat Streat
- Kuirau Park
- Ohinemutu & St Faith's Church
- Skyline Rotorua