A visit to the Whakarewarewa Living Maori Village Rotorua is a unique experience, combining a glimpse into Māori culture and their history of everyday life in a geothermal area. Boiling mud, simmering pools of teal blue water, coloured lakes and explosive geysers form the landscape in and around the village, where people have been living for hundreds of years.
Living in a geothermal village
For hundreds of years, the Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao people had called the village home and have used the local geothermal activity for cooking, heating and bathing.
As you walk around the village, past the homes of the families who live there, you hear the bubbling of the mud pools and smell the tell-tale sulphur in the air.
The water in the large simmering mineral pool Parekohuru (‘murderous ripples’) is the most beautiful colour!
Nature walks
There are several nature walks you can take around the outskirts of the village where you will see bubbling mud, green lakes, steam vents, hot springs and geysers. The highly scenic walks are not difficult to do and you can take them on at your own leisure.
Māori Cultural performance
There is a small theatre in the village where they put on a cultural performance at least twice a day. It is beautiful to hear the rich harmonies of their singing, and I also loved seeing the Poi dancing.
The haka is likewise a fascinating display which is very popular with visitors. I highly recommend taking in a performance as part of your visit to the village.
Map of the village
Where to find Whakarewarewa Living Maori Village Rotorua
The village is easily round on the outside of the town of Rotorua, at:
17 Tryon Street,
Rotorua, New Zealand
We saw this beautiful coloured water combination near the village car park.
I’m pretty sure this is the longest word I have ever seen on a sign…..
You can find more information and pricing options on their website.
Allow at least 2 -3 hours for a visit to the village for the basic self-guided walking visit.
Where to stay
I stayed at the Sudima Hotel Lake Rotorua, which I can thoroughly recommend to you.
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