Journey back to a time of proud warriors and ancient traditions with Tamaki Māori Village, the most award-winning cultural attraction in New Zealand.
Interesting Evening
Very enjoyable evening witnessing the Māori performance... the dinner was a sumptuous feast and a gastronomical delight... everyone overeats at this place.
Excellent Cultural Experience
Loved this tour. It was so much fun to be included and take part in the cultural experience, not just watch it. Definitely take the bus trip, it was a great way to start and finish. The meal was hearty and delicious.
Great Fun and Education
Went for the tour and dinner. A wonderful experience to get an understanding of the culture. Each station explained another activity and element of the Māori. Everything was in period and interactive. Even dinner was traditional and cooked as the Māori would have.
A Very Proud Kiwi
We attended the show and hangi...and loved everything about it. My cousins from the UK also thought it was wonderful and very informative with regards to the Māori culture. A great learning experience. We loved the hangi...beautifully cooked. Well worth the money and we would take any overseas visitors to this evening.
Excellent Introduction To Māori Culture
This was an excellent introduction to the culture and traditions of the Māori. Everyone was friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. Food was much better than expected and plentiful. Tutorials and demonstrations were fun and informative. Highly recommend.
Amazing!
We took my cousin from the U.K down to Rotorua and had heard good things from other family that had visited. WOW! Blew us out of the water! I learnt a lot, had a lot of fun and a great feed. Also the bus drive there and back with Davey was HIGHLY entertaining. Would highly recommend in future.
An Amazing Experience
The entire tour is very professionally organised and gives you some insight into Māori culture. From the bus tour (special mention to our driver Davey who kept us fully entertained in the bus and kept us laughing our guts out) to the performance and hangi, everything was just perfect. They involve the audience in their performance which makes it even special. My 3yo had a blast doing the Haka. They are so warm and make you a part of their lives. I will forever remember the words spoken in the farewell where the chief said if someone asks me what is the most important thing in the world... I will answer it is the people, people, people.
An Unbelievable Experience – Awesome
Very interesting, educational and truly amazing experience. The hosts and local people are interesting, informative and very welcome. Such a great night. Loved it.
Immersive and Informative
Really enjoyed this experience! Starts off at the gathering place where background information around the Māori culture is given. Next we are taken to the village by bus, where on arrival, we are met by warriors and their chief doing the welcoming ceremony. Such a great start to an experience as straight away you get immersed into the Māori culture... We were then shown how our evening meal was cooked, which was interesting! The entertainment was incredible!! Traditional and contemporary Māori music, dances and songs were shared. Such an amazing experience which I would definitely recommend to anyone!!!
Past & Present Māori Life Revealed
We visited the village as part of a cruise ship stop. It's about a 30 minute drive from the pier located in the port city of Tauranga. After arriving at the Māori village, we were greeted by a local Māori guide who took us on a cultural journey into the heritage of the Māori and early New Zealand settlers. Well known for their hospitality, the villagers made us feel at home as they graciously showed us around and gave us information about traditional and contemporary Māori life. During the course of our visit, we were able to see craft making and cooking demonstrations as well as hearing traditional storytelling while we enjoyed refreshments.
Great Performance And Lunch
We learned so much about Māori customs and history at Tamaki; the men and women were so authentically dressed and ready to answer questions. Our group had lunch here, which was cooked underground by geothermal power. The meal was excellent, so fresh and flavorful.
A Night Of Fun Learning Experience.
Our family went to see and experience this Māori village. They showed and taught us their arts, music, way of cooking and much more. The show was really good, the singers have powerful voice and made us appreciate the songs even though we can’t understand the lyrics (In Māori language). The food is not bad either. The driver of the bus who picked us up from the hotel is really funny. It was like listening to a stand up comedy show. Worth the time.
Fantastic Night
I was looking forward to this so much on our trip and it did not disappoint! Loved every part from the information at the meeting place, the bus ride there, the welcome and a beautiful feast for dinner! I have to say we had the BEST bus driver there and back.....Dennis the Menace! He provided us with information and so many laughs. I will definitely be back!
Such A Great Evening!
We were worried that this evening might be a bit contrived and manufactured but it wasn’t and we had a great insight into the Māori culture. It was very well presented and the way you were moved through each part of the village until you ended up at the buffet worked very well. You were encouraged to ask questions at the relevant points and they were happy to inform you. A very interesting evening and wonderful dancing and presentation of the Haka. Finally our coach driver Mark was hysterical! He was extremely intelligent and had a high command of many languages including Gaelic and Māori!
Amazing Cultural Show!
Kia Ora! We are a family with teenagers and we all loved this experience! We took the shuttle bus there - which is a must as you get allocated to a tribal group which is all part of the show and the bus driver is hilarious. We loved the ceremonies involved, interactions with the guests, the delicious dinner and the haka! We were made to feel part of the culture and came away with a greater appreciation of the Māori culture.
A True Engaging Cultural Experience I Recommend
My family of 12 depended on me, the travel agent to organize quality experiences on our recent trip to New Zealand. My training of the region had me very excited to offer this engaging evening. Picked up from the hotel in a comfortable coach, driver immediately involved us in conversation. It is hard to teach a group of strangers about the history and culture and make it entertaining but they succeeded above my expectations and everyone loved it! Engaging participation made for lasting memories. The dinner was delicious. We appreciated their efforts to ensure special diets were provided for two of our travellers. So easy to recommend!
Great Entertainment
We visited a Tamaki Village for an evening dinner and show. Our five year old rates this as his favourite thing he has done in NZ! Very well organised and highly entertaining.
Culture Experience At Its Best
This tour is great. Right from the very start on the bus you are entertained. Davey our driver was a great laugh. The village tour is great. They get you involved in some parts. After you’ve been around the village you go to have some food. That tasted beautiful.
Brilliant! A Must See Attraction In Rotorua
This was an absolutely fantastic Māori cultural experience. It gave a great insight into the ancient Māori culture. The entertainment in the bus and at the village was great and the food was excellent. You were made to feel part of their tribe. Highly recommend this attraction.
A Great Night Out
We were collected from our campsite and taken to their main base for onward travel to the village. The evening entertainment was excellent as we learned more about the Māori way of life and participated in a few activities. The dinner (hangi) was very tasty and the food so well cooked in this unique way of preparing food. All-in-all a thoroughly good night out including the eventful return in the coach and the roundabout 'adventure'.
Best Cultural Experience Ever
After an impressive welcoming ceremony we toured the village in small groups learning many aspects of their culture participating in some activities ourselves and give the opportunity to ask questions. Next came a show of song, dances and skills performed by the hosts. Lastly we were treated to a buffet feast of traditional foods that had been cooked in a traditional earthen oven. This was a wonderful experience and would highly recommend it to anyone of any age. Definitely one of the highlights to our visit in New Zealand.
WOW, Great Experience
This was exciting. Great presentations, even on the bus going to and back. Lots of visitor participation and a great buffet Dinner. Don't miss this.
Exceptional Evening, Very Memorable
Great experience, not to be missed. Excellent experience of Māori culture. Mix of education, entertainment and above all, we develop a great sense of respect for the culture.
Great Evening.
Great show and excellent food. Second time I was there. Absolutely recommendable. Was picked up at the office downtown and brought out by bus. The driver gave a lot of good info on the trip.
Rotorua Must-do
This was a great experience to learn more about the Maori people. The village was educational yet held the attention of my teenagers. They weapons house was their favorite (not surprisingly) and they were entertained the whole evening... It appeared that the Tamaki Village was family run, and you could feel all the effort they put into making it a great night. A must do in Rotorua.
Great Experience
Pricey but worth it. It was a wonderful experience and I did learn a lot of things about the Māori culture. The attraction is run by Māori people which I think is a great thing. The food was delicious and the night walk a real bonus to finish the experience. The show was stunning and the performers really great. Staff was friendly.
Great Time!
We went with a tour and loved every minute of it. We were met with a welcoming group and it was quite exciting. The place was magical and the Māori actors were excellent. We also learned quite a bit about the Māori. Fun Hangi dinner too.
Tamaki Māori Village And Hangi
The whole thing from start to end beginning from the bus ride out to village was was good fun. We had a super entertaining bus driver. Participation in the activities is required to get the most fun out of it. The Hangi BB buffet dinner was super delicious - especially loved the lamb.
Fantastic Night
Great experience. The feast was delicious, the performances were fantastic, the staff were enthusiastic as well as informative and the grounds were very cool. Everyone went out of there way to make it a great night for us and the whole thing seemed very authentic. I would definitely recommend!
Fantastic Opportunity To Learn About The Māori Culture
We arrived at the village by bus. The driver taught us several Māori words and told us what to expect upon arrival. A male member of our bus was selected as our chief and we stayed with our chief throughout our adventure. We were taught about many aspects of the Māori culture and were then served a wonderful meal that was cooked underground. We enjoyed a musical show after eating. It was a beautiful experience! Most of the experience was outside so a warm jacket was needed.
Best Cultural Experience Ever
#1. Nothing compares to this place. The authenticity, pride, fun, education, participation, and immersion is unbeatable. From the excellent bus driver, to all at the center- the pride in keeping alive their tribal traditions is amazing. It is worth every cent and the time is so well spent. The meal was also fantastic and I feel I’m a better person because of the experience I enjoyed. Thank you.
You Can’t Visit New Zealand Without This Experience
We were looking for a non-exploitive, educational cultural experience to learn more about Māori culture, and we got so much more than expected. From the moment we got on the bus, the experience was immersive and educational in a way that didn't involve your guide just talking at you. The performances were incredible, and the food was great. Most importantly, we left feeling better educated about the place we were visiting. Your trip to NZ is simply not complete without this.
A Must-Do In New Zealand!
I loved every part of the experience! The tour started by a drive to the Māori village where our bus driver (a funny lady who loves to sing) kept us entertained. We chose our Chief and learnt about what was expecting us at our arrival to the village. After the welcoming ceremony, we got to visit the Village, learned more about different aspects of Māori culture such as haka, History, tattoos, games, food...After a closing show with haka, singing and dancing, we enjoyed a buffet of meat, fish, vegetables... the food was very good (especially the lamb and the vegetables) and the tour ended with all bus drivers and guides singing. I truly recommend this tour to everyone as it was one of the best experience I had in New-Zealand and if I come back I'll definitely do it again!
Wonderful Cultural Experience
Very last minute decision to go to the Māori Village in Rotorua, but I am so glad I did it! Such a wonderful exploration of the Māori culture with individuals and staff that were extremely invested and passionate about the Māori culture. Even the bus ride over from the city center was a lot of fun (JR is the best!). Really wonderful experience that I would absolutely recommend!
Wonderful Evening
This was really fun- we got to do a brief haka and play some Māori games at five different stops for ten-minute presentations before getting a nice show. What impressed me most was that the food was actually pretty good. I expected the presentations to be good, but the food was a bonus. All-in-all, this was a really good experience- I thoroughly recommend it.
A Fabulous Way To Introduce New Zealand Māori Culture To Overseas Visitors
We visited here with friends from overseas. It was a wonderful encounter with Māori Culture, a lovely snippet to expose our guests to the amazing, generous and warm hospitality of our Māori people.
A Must Visit To Experience The Culture Of Māori
Visited the Tamaki Māori village. Should say it was an amazing experience. It was good to learn and see that how till date they have preserved their rich heritage and culture. They have their own shuttle who can pick you up from your hotel and to the village and drop back as well. The entry to the village itself is something to watch and one should be mindful of respecting their customs. Very detailed information is provided once inside the village on how the people in the past would live and how some even till date even practice it. They serve you the traditional hangi meal towards the end. Overall a must visit to this place and would highly recommend it.
Interesting And Thought Provoking Evening
We were 2 families with teens, a total of eight people, going with fairly low expectations, and came out truly amazed. Everyone participating really had their heart into it, very genuine and very heartwarming experience. Highly recommended.
Highlight of my time in New Zealand
Wow. Amazing. I have absolutely nothing bad to say about this place. I truly enjoyed every moment spent. For the price, you get so much entertainment, culture and food. With lots of hands on demonstrations and activities, a traditional welcoming ceremony, amazing food and guides, I honestly want to do this again every night. I felt so welcome and enjoyed every second.
Amazing evening
From start to finish we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Every single person that works at the Tamaki Maori Village was amazing. The performances and the whole venue were brilliant. The food was also great.
Great cultural experience
Great experience, extremely friendly and very open staff, and a phenomenally funny bus driver made this a great experience all around. 10/10 would recommend, learned a lot of interesting information to share.
Amazing Experience
Definitely recommend this tour. The whole experience was brilliant . Right from start to finish the team was fantastic. The food was lovely and tasty. The bus driver Denise was hilarious and kept the whole group entertained
This will be a Highlight of your trip!
What a wonderful way to learn about Maori culture in New Zealand! The Tamaki Maori Village was great in every way - engaging, beautiful, the staff were friendly/funny/knowledgeable. I strongly recommend stopping here!! Great for the whole family!
Great entertainment, insightful and an awesome experience
The evening was thoroughly brilliant. It was educational, fun and a good laugh. From Dennis (THE MENACE) bus (canoe) driver all the way through to the final performance, this was a great night. We had a 19-month-old with us, and she enjoyed it also
The Best!
This is SO worth it! The warmth and welcome, the cultural experience, the fun and the getting to know "your tribe" makes this a really exceptional experience. If you have the chance - GO!
Amazing
Oh god! What an experience! Once you arrive they divide you in tribes. You get to receive full explanation of Maori culture, the. They take you to see their dance show and at last you have a wonderful dinner.
A Very Enjoyable Learning Experience and Great Dinner
An excellent experience that is informative, enjoyable and a must do. The presentations, the singing and dancing and the dinner and even the bus trip (due to the driver) made it an enjoyable and happy occasion while growing our appreciation of the Maori culture .
Must Do Experience
The performances and learning of the culture was something I will not forget and the food was so lovely. I also loved the tea they were serving too. A must do if you are wanting to learn about the Maori culture.
Amazing Cultural Experience
We’ve had a great evening with Tamaki Maori Village and enjoyed the show and experience a lot. So much dance, music and interesting stories and backgrounds of Maori culture. Don’t miss it when traveling to Rotorua.
A Great Cultural Experience
This was really good from start to finish - we were guided through the whole cultural experience by a very talented and knowledgeable group of Maori. The Hangi feast was really good, the food was perfectly cooked with plenty of choice. A must-see experience!!
Best experience we have ever done
Absolutely loved everything about this experience... It is one we will go out of our way to do again if we visit NZ in the future. I still wear the fishhook necklace from the gift shop everyday as a reminder.
Fun for all
We went with a group of ten people for a cultural experience and dinner. Excellent hospitality from wonderful people. We were collected by bus from our hotel, welcomed into the sacred village, learned about the village life, were entertained by the concert party, and fed an excellent traditional hangi feast.
Daytime Experience
We were a family of 3 and had the best few hours for a long while. Our 5 year old granddaughter was totally entertained and my son and I learned a lot. The guys were friendly, warm and went out of their way to make our day memorable. The food was delicious. I would highly recommend this experience.
Great show
Enjoyed the show the educational displays and the food well worth it very helpful staff and very entertaining
A Unique Visit with Friends
"We took the Twilight Experience, wondering what to expect because it was new. Our group ranged from babies to older adults - was it suitable for all of us? From the pickup at our motel to our return everyone had a wonderful time, far exceeding all expectations.Because of how this smaller scale operation was run we felt like we'd been transported to another realm to join this 'other culture' family. Our evening was one of song, dance, games, making and eating food, and talking, with a family who are passionate about their history and culture.All of our group had a ball and without exception would love to go again."
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