Whakarewarewa, The Living Māori Village

It’s not easy for Pākehā (non-indigenous people of New Zealand) or international visitors to experience authentic Māori way of life. It’s such a colourful, rich culture and totally worth experiencing, even if you have to pay for it.

For over 200 years the Tuhourangi/Ngati Wahiao tribe have opened up their marae and backyard in Rotorua, showing visitors their village and geothermal treasures. Their descendants were the first guides of the famous Pink and White Terraces before the 1886 eruption of Mount Tarawera covered them forever.

At Whakarewarewa (The Living Māori Village) you can sleep in a marae overnight. You’ll be in full immersion with this shared sleeping experience (shared room, not beds!).

Then there’s the Kapa Haka performance that will leave the hairs on your back on end and your heart fully pounding. Nothing beats seeing this. The jury’s out on how tasty a hangi is but the watching of the making of the hangi is an experience too. The food is cooked, traditionally, in the bubbling geothermal waters and steam under the ground and produces a flavour that is simple, smoky and like nothing you’ve tasted before.