Rotorua guided tour with Pōhutu Geyser, Kiwi Centre and haka

Walk a geothermal valley and watch a haka in a carved meeting house

A 2-hour guided tour of Rotorua's geothermal valley visits Pōhutu Geyser, the Kiwi Conservation Centre and the Māori Arts and Crafts Institute, with an English-speaking kaiārahi (guide) sharing Māori traditions and ancestral stories. The experience extends into a cultural performance featuring a pōhiri (traditional welcome), waiata (song), mōteatea (traditional chant), poi and haka, performed in Te Aronui a Rua, a beautifully carved meeting house. Admission is included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Te Rā guided tour and cultural performance

• Attend pōhiri traditional Māori welcome
• Tour geothermal valley and visit Pōhutu Geyser
• Visit Kiwi Conservation Centre
• Explore Māori Arts and Crafts Institute
• Watch waiata song and mōteatea chant
• Experience poi and haka performance

The experience

Rotorua's geothermal valley is the foundation of this tour. Your kaiārahi leads you through the landscape where Pōhutu Geyser erupts, the Kiwi Conservation Centre holds native birds, and the Māori Arts and Crafts Institute shows wood carving, bone and stone carving, and flax weaving in working schools. The guide shares Māori heritage and ancestral stories as you move through each stop, grounding the landscape in the culture that has inhabited it.

The second half moves into Te Aronui a Rua, a meeting house carved with traditional detail. Here the cultural performance unfolds: a pōhiri welcomes you formally, waiata and mōteatea carry the voices and stories of the iwi (people), poi dancers move with precision, and the haka closes the experience with power and presence. This is not a staged show for outsiders. It is a structured sharing of living cultural practice.

The tour runs 2 hours total and suits all fitness levels. Wheelchair access is available throughout. Infants can ride in a pram or stroller, and specialized infant seats are provided. English-speaking guides lead the experience. Public transport options are nearby if you need them.

What’s included

• Admission to the geothermal valley, Pōhutu Geyser, Kiwi Conservation Centre and Māori Arts and Crafts Institute.
• 90-minute guided tour with an English-speaking kaiārahi.
• cultural performance including pōhiri, waiata, mōteatea, poi and haka in Te Aronui a Rua meeting house.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00 and 12:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Child (5 to 15 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupUp to 36

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Te Puia

Is this one for you?Book this if you want geothermal sightseeing and a formal cultural performance together in one visit, rather than exploring them separately.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 15 years); Infant (under 5): free.

What is Pōhutu Geyser and what happens when you visit it?

Pōhutu Geyser is a natural hot spring in Rotorua's geothermal valley that erupts periodically, shooting water and steam into the air. Your guide will explain the geology and cultural significance of the geyser as part of the valley walk.

What will I see at the Māori Arts and Crafts Institute?

The institute has working schools for wood carving, bone and stone carving, and flax weaving, plus the Āhua Gallery. You'll watch artisans at work and learn about traditional Māori crafts and techniques from your guide.

What happens during the haka performance at the end?

The haka is performed in Te Aronui a Rua, a beautifully carved meeting house, after a formal pōhiri welcome, waiata (song) and mōteatea (traditional chant). Poi dancers also perform as part of the cultural sequence.

Is this tour accessible if I use a wheelchair?

Yes, the tour is wheelchair accessible throughout the geothermal valley and the meeting house. Public transportation options are also available nearby if you need them.