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Te Puia Maori Cultural Tour and Steambox Lunch

9 reviews

Te Puia Maori Cultural Tour and Steambox Lunch

from USD $85.47

Availablity 

“How would you like that cooked?” will never sound the same after lunch in Te Whakarewarewa Geothermal Valley. Enjoy a meal cooked over steam vents, an ancient Maori technique that is still used today. As your lunch is being prepared, enjoy a 2.5-hour guided tour of Te Puia, the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute, to gain insight into the traditional Maori lifestyle. Try your hand at weaving with flax and admire traditional carvings, then adjust your eyes in the Kiwi House to spot the nocturnal birds. End your trip in the geothermal valley to see hot mud pools and geysers over lunch!

BOOK WITH CONFIDENCE: As members of ABTA and ATAS we are 100% financially bonded. You can book your day trip with us in absolute confidence, no matter where in the world you are.

In Brief

Location:

Rotorua, New Zealand

Country:

New Zealand

Duration:

2 hours 30 minutes

Operates:

Daily

A dozen monumental Maori carvings known as the Te Heketanga-a-Rangi (Heavenly Origins) greet you at the entrance to Te Puia,he New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute.

When you arrive, choose the raw ingredients for your lunchbox and set off on your 2.5-hour guided tour of the grounds. While you’re checking out traditional artwork, your lunch is prepared on steam vents using an ancient Maori method. The Maori people have cooked using the naturally occurring steam and hot water within Te Whakarewarewa Geothermal Valley for hundreds of years, and still do today.

Your 2.5-hour guided tour reveals the legends behind the arrival of the Maori in Rotorua, and explores Maori customs and traditions via interactive galleries at the Te Whare Tapere meeting house.

Enjoy visits to the national carving and weaving schools, where these prestigious crafts are taught by masters of the arts. See carving and flax-weaving demonstrations, and stop by the Kiwi House to spot New Zealand's national native bird. The enclosure is specially lit to help you spot this notoriously elusive nocturnal bird.

Your tour also takes you to the bubbling mud pools and steaming hot springs of this amazing geothermal region, where the 100-foot (30-meter) Pohutu Geyser erupts up to 20 times a day.

Stop at the terrace overlooking the Pohutu Geyser to watch your lunch carefully emerge from the Nga Wha steam vent that uses natural geothermal heat to cook your meal.

Relax on the terrace and enjoy your traditionally cooked steambox meal for the ultimate taste of Maori culture!

Inclusions

Professional guide
Steambox lunch
Bottle of water (with lunch)
Flax weaving workshop
Entry/Admission - New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute
Entry/Admission - Te Puia

Exclusions

Food and drinks, unless specified
Gratuities
Hotel pickup and drop-off

Departure Time

11am

Departure Point

Te Puia, Rotorua

Returns To

Returns to original departure point

Additional Information

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Wheelchair accessible
Please wear comfortable clothing and walking shoes

Booking Information

You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.

Cancellation Terms

This trip is fully refundable up to 96 hours prior to the commencement of your trip.

Booking Terms and Conditions

When you book this trip, you need to read and accept the terms and conditions for booking our day trips in excursions.

Scoring an average traveller rating of 4.78 out of 5 based on the last 9 recent reviews

“

This is definitely a tour not to miss. The tour guides are very knowledgeable and welcoming. We enjoyed the novelty of choosing our food to be cooked in the steam box and eating it whilst overlooking the geysers. We learned a lot about the history and traditions of New Zealand.”

Mrs A H • Submitted 08 Jan 2018

“

A definite place to visit when you visit this shows how people have been cooking for thousands of years and can do so in the future”

Dan V • Submitted 08 Oct 2017

“

Actually i don't expect so good! the steam lunch box is highly recommended to try! Taste amazing!”

Ying Z • Submitted 22 Nov 2016

“

A brilliant tour very informative and an interesting and excellent steambox lunch!”

Mrs A H • Submitted 24 Feb 2016

“

Very interesting tour, tasty food. Gift shop also well worth a look. I allowed myself more time at Te Puia to do the hike around the outside and I was glad I had.”

Rachel L • Submitted 11 Nov 2015

“

They dont get much better! We arrived late due to delays in our hire car and the Puia Maori centre couldn't have been more helpful. The centre is amazing with loads to see and do and the guides were delightful. The steam box lunch was 'unusual' but good fun and we were made to feel very special as it was only available to a limited number of guests. One not to be missed!”

Andrew K • Submitted 03 Apr 2015

“

When I went up to the booth at the entrance to Te Puia Maori arts and Crafts Institute, I was thinking that I was going to have to do some explaining... I said, "I have a small group..." and immediately Carla spoke up and said "And I will be showing your around today". And she proceeded to come out introduce heresulf, ask the names of each of the eight of us, and describe the time we would be spending together. She was charming, knowledgeable, proud of her culture, and eager to share it with us. The steambox lunch was excellent...and the hands on lessons, up close look at carving, and her ability to weave in her family history were excellent. We had dubbed ourselves the "Kiwi Wannabes"...and the welcome of Carla to Te Puia is one of the reasons we enjoyed the Kiwi and Maori experience so much. have to say also that we ventured into questions of discrimination, earning a living in New Zealand and more...and carla had the thoughtful and incisive answers we sought. Make this a "must" as you visit Rotorua... Tom R.”

Thomas R • Submitted 10 Mar 2014

“

Interesting”

David B • Submitted 04 Jul 2017