Tamaki Māori Village

New Zealand's Most Awarded Cultural Experience!

Experience an evening of ceremonial ritual, powerful cultural performance, storytelling & hangi feasting. An intricately carved gateway leads you to the fringe of a lush 200-year-old native Tawa forest.

You'll be picked up from the YHA Rotorua where the bus journey includes interactive commentary and storytelling en route to the magical village. Upon arrival, warriors emerge from the forest by canoe to perform the powhiri, an ancient ceremony of welcome that allows you and other visitor's safe passage into the village.

As you wander beneath the stunning forest canopy, the village is alive with sights, sounds & activity of days gone by including haka, poi, tattooing, weaving, carving, and arts of warrior training. Watch as the earth is carefully scraped away to reveal baskets of food cooked beneath the ground on hot stones.

Enter the ancestral meeting house and enjoy a powerful cultural performance before dining on the traditional hangi buffet feast followed by a scrumptious dessert buffet, water, coffee, and refreshing kawakawa tea. 

This one-of-a-kind experience finishes with a closing ceremony of speeches and beautiful farewell songs.