Hearing about the wondrous geysers at Te Puia is one thing; to see the towering spurts of steamy water rise from the ground in person is quite another. Our view was up close and personal walking along the boardwalk stretching over the Paurenga stream. We saw the Pohutu, Prince of Wales and Kereru geysers put on their intermittent, natural, water shows which we learned happen around 20 times a day.

Walking over to the marquee, we enjoyed lunch at the picnic area sitting at a table overlooking Pohutu Geyser. Te Puia is a serene and peaceful venue for spending an afternoon or taking the weekend to explore all the area offers, like we did.

An ominous and spectacular natural occurrence, we explored the boiling and bubbling Ngamokaiakoko mud pool and spent part of the day watching Maori craftsman at work on projects at the National School of Carving.

Te Puia is home to several hot springs and silica formations to discover while taking in the native bush of the Rotorua region. We learned about the many native plants and how they’re used for food, medicine and crafts.

The expanse of Te Puia is a wondrous mix of geothermal wonder, Maori culture, and Kiwi bird viewing. We gazed in amazement at the delightful Kiwi birds in their unique, nocturnal enclosure.

A visit to Te Aronui, the rua meeting house at Te Puia, is extra special because it is one of the only traditional meeting houses you can visit in New Zealand. We enjoyed watching Maori cultural performances and learning about their proud history in the region.
The unique and historic architecture at Te Puia tells the story of the Maori people and displays their dedication to their artistic heritage. One of the best examples we saw was the Rotowhio marae structure along with a more contemporary building, the Heketanga-a-Rangi. We walked along the ancient fortified village called Te Puia pa and explored the Pikirangi to view displays of how the culture thrived hundreds of years ago.

The Maori’s ancestors, we learned, migrated here from Polynesia. In their tradition, when guests come to visit, they’re expected to show hospitality and respect. We truly felt like part of the family during our visit.

Te Puia is considered a guardian of the Maori culture for future generations and the care they take to share its history with guests was truly amazing.