Te Pā Tū

Discover the traditional Māori way of life during a cultural experience in Rotorua. Enjoy an evening of performances, dance, and a 4-course meal based on seasonal cuisine that is served under an al fresco (outdoor area). Indulge in Māori songs and traditions aligned to and changing with the Maramataka (Māori lunar calendar). Watch a cultural performance and learn local indigenous customs. Be immersed in towering Tawa trees, blazing bonfires, and a forest-formed amphitheater. Start your dinner off with forest canapes that culminate in a lavish 3-course fusion feast designed by award-winning Māori chefs, and prepared in-house. Enjoy your meal outside or take in views from the indoor area (weather dependent).

Join a private day trip from Auckland to the most award-winning cultural attraction in New Zealand. Experience an evening of ceremonial rituals, powerful cultural performance, storytelling, and hangi feasting. Immerse yourself in the traditional Māori way of life during this interactive and entertaining evening experience with a sumptuous dinner. Travel to Rotorua in a private luxury vehicle with a professional driver guide who is passionate about geothermal wonders and Māori culture. Step inside the village and be transported into another world. Experience an evening of ceremonial rituals, powerful cultural performance, storytelling, and hangi feasting. As you travel deep into the heart of an ancient tawa forest, your guide will explain the protocol for entering a Māori village as manuhiri (visitors). From the moment you are picked up by your warm and humorous hosts, your evening experience promises to be entertaining. Upon arrival, warriors emerge from the forest by canoe to perform the powhiri, an ancient ceremony of welcome that allows visitors’ safe passage into the village nestled within a native Tawa Forest. After a fearsome challenge by a group of warriors and the exchange of a peace offering, you will be warmly greeted and brought onto the marae (meeting house area). Immerse yourself in the traditional Māori way of life. Witness the earth being scraped away from the hangi pit by your Māori chef to reveal baskets laden with a sumptuous, mouth-watering feast, which has been cooked beneath the ground on hot stones. Enter the ancestral meeting house, sit back and relax, as the family entertain you. Enjoy a powerful display of cultural performance of song and dance, including the spine-tingling haka finale. Join on a celebration to feast on Māori songs, traditions, and divine seasonal cuisines within the forest village, towering Tawa trees, blazing bonfires, and forest-formed amphitheatre. Feasting begins with forest canapes and culminates in a lavish 4-course Māori-fusion feast. Hāngi is just one of the stars in the seasonal menus designed by award-winning Māori chefs and served to table. When darkness descends and dinner concludes, wander by lantern light for dessert and a nightcap in a secret forest alcove. Share stories some ours but especially yours inspired by a magical firelight, before returning to Auckland under a blanket of stars.

Experience the majestic beauty of New Zealand's diverse landscapes on a 21-day adventure. Take part in unique local activities along the way and end your journey in the city of Christchurch. Day 1: Welcome to Auckland- Arrival at Hostel Welcome evening - Meet your Small Group Tour driver guide and fellow travelers Day 2: Auckland to Coromandel •Explore the stunning Cathedral Cove •Relax at Hot Water Beach by digging your own spa pool Day 3: Coromandel to Waitomo •Hike through the Karangahake Gorge •Admire the magical glowworm caves in Waitomo Day 4: Waitomo to Rotorua •Explore the lush Ruakuri Reserve •Spend the night in a Māori village, where you'll learn about local history and culture •Visit Hobbiton (extra) •Discover the town and lake in Rotorua Day 5: Rotorua Free Day •Immerse yourself in the history and culture at Te Pā Tū Māori Village Day 6: Rotorua to Taupo •Walk the scenic Huka Falls walkway •Soak under a waterfall or in the naturally heated rock pools at Spa Park Day 7: Taupo Free day •Today is at your leisure; feel free to explore; you can book one of the many optional activities online via the Trip Planner. Day 8: Taupo to River Valley •Walk the trail to Taranaki Falls •Spend the day at River Valley Lodge, nestled along the Rangitikei River •Taste an organic roast dinner Day 9: River Valley to Wellington •Take in the vibrant city vibes of Wellington, New Zealand's capital Day 10: Wellington Free Day •Today is yours to do as you wish! Day 11: Wellington to Kaikoura •Board a spacious ferry for a ride across the Cook Strait •Sip on some local wine in the Marlborough region •Visit the impressive Kaikoura seal colony Day 12: Kaikoura to Christchurch •Hike the Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway •Admire incredible panoramic views of Kaikoura •Discover hidden gems of Christchurch on a city-street art trail Day 13: Christchurch to Lake Tekapo •Marvel at the stars in the Dark Sky Project •Visit the Church of the Good Shepherd Day 14: Lake Tekapo to Mount Cook •Spend the day inside the Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park •Walk through the Hooker Valley track to Hooker Lake Day 15: Lake Tekapo to Queenstown •Feast on a buffet dinner with panoramic views of Queenstown at the Skyline Stratosphere Restaurant Day 16: Queenstown free day •Have the whole day to yourself and explore the wonders of Queenstown Day 17: Queenstown to Milford Sound •2 hour Milford Sound boat cruise Day 18: Queenstown to Lake Hawea via Wanaka •Take in views over Lake Wānaka from Roys Peak (weather dependent) •Visit the famous Wanaka tree Day 19: Lake Hawea to Franz Josef •Discover the Thunder Creek falls in Mt Aspiring National Park •Admire the famous mirror views of Aoraki/Mount Cook from Lake Matheson Day 20: Franz Josef •Design and carve your own Greenstone jewelry in a West Coast workshop •Take on a glacier walk Day 21: Franz Josef to Christchurch •Explore a variety of trails across Arthur's Pass •Walk the Castle Hill track •Stop at the Devils Punchbowl waterfalls

Embark on a luxury small group tour from Auckland to explore the enchanting Wai-O-Tapu, a geothermal wonderland filled with bubbling hot springs, vibrant pools, and steaming geysers. This surreal landscape sets the stage for an extraordinary day, followed by an evening immersed in Māori culture at Te Pa Tu. Savor a traditional dinner feast and experience powerful Māori cultural performances that bring New Zealand’s heritage to life. Discover the magic of nature and culture in one unforgettable adventure. Set off on a small group tour from Auckland, traveling through the picturesque landscapes of the Waikato region en route to Rotorua's renowned geothermal wonderland, where vibrant Māori culture flourishes. Along the journey, take in stunning scenery, capture unforgettable photos, admire majestic mountains, and spot charming farm animals along the way. Our first destination is Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland, one of New Zealand’s most colorful and diverse geothermal areas. Thousands of years in the making, this stunning landscape is nestled within a natural bush setting through which self-guided walks take between 45 and 90 minutes. A walk through this surreal, lunar-like environment provides the chance to witness some of the volcanic wonders and a wide range of amazing photo opportunities at unique features including the world-famous Champagne Pool, naturally colored hot and cold springs, devil’s bath, bubbling mud, steaming ground, expansive vistas, huge volcanic craters, and sinter terrace formations. Step into Te Pā Tū Village and be transported to a world rich in Māori tradition and culture. Begin your evening with a warm welcome from spirited hosts as you journey into an ancient tawa forest, where warriors emerge to perform the powhiri, an ancient ceremony of safe passage. Experience the heart of Māori life as you explore the village, witness the earth being lifted from a hangi pit to reveal a feast prepared on hot stones, and enter the ancestral meeting house for mesmerizing song, dance, and the spine-tingling haka. Amid towering trees and blazing bonfires, celebrate Māori heritage with a four-course Māori-fusion feast crafted by award-winning chefs. As night falls, enjoy dessert and a nightcap by lantern light in a secluded forest alcove before returning to Auckland under the stars.