Booked this rafting adventure last minute and everyone was so nice! Before going on the trip you…read moregear up in your wet suit, life jacket and helmet. They then make sure to go through the basics of rafting and what to do if the raft flips over! It's a short 2 min drive to the rafting start point but once you're in the water it is so much fun! It has been raining pretty hard, but the whole experience was great! There were two shorter waterfalls and of course Tutea falls. It seemed intimidating, but our guide Elvis helped guide us and everything went great! They even got some good pictures of us! We even had the opportunity to get in the water and feel the rapids first hand! Overall great experience, would recommend to anyone looking for a thrill!

Just from the things I've seen on like r, I can't wait to go and try these class V waters!…read morehttps://kaitunacascades.co.nz/

Way back when in 2015 we came to NZ as one of first bucket list trips. This location is must to…read moreappreciate the nature of NZ. One gets a guided tour and see nature coming up out of the ground. Bonus points if you can pronounce the name place. And appreciate the Maori culture and lifestyle.

We went on a day tour to this village from Auckland and the experience was worth the long drive. It…read morewas freezing on the day we went but our village tour guide was still informative and entertaining. We learned a lot about the Maori culture and how some still live day to say in their old school customs. We saw and learned about the geyser and boiling pools used for cooking and bathing. We saw active geysers from a distance. We saw a native performance that was upbeat and cool to see. You were able to take pictures with the performers at the end. There are a few local vendors selling native products. The best part of my experience was the local food that was delicious. We were able to taste the local dish, hangi pe that was very tasty and hearty. Definitely a place to check out!

We got the ticket for the full guided tour, dinner, and the show. It's pricy but we enjoyed it very…read moremuch and it's a unique experience. The tour starts with some quick stops at the traditional way the food is cooked and at a carved canoe to give a glimpse of Māori life. You get to see some kiwi birds, then cruise around the geyser area. Lots of lookouts and viewing sites. You finish the tour in the art center where the intricate carvings and weaving are done. Next is dinner. The buffet has a ton of meat (meat coma) along with vegetables, salads, desserts, etc. so many options. You are given a seating assignment so we conversed with folks from Denver and California. Funny we go all the way to New Zealand and end up hanging with folks from the US. Finally, you end with the show. It is well done. You get a good variety of battle, love, and storytelling songs. It was an educational and enjoyable experience.

Great place to learn about Maori culture. Highlights & Recommendations for Te Puia:…read more1) NZ Maori Arts & Crafts Institute (NZMACI) - A fascinating school that allows Maori adult students to study (tuition free) traditional crafts such as wood, stone, and bone carving and weaving, using tradtional methods. This allows the students to perpetuate Maori culture. Recommendation: NZMACI should offer classes (for a fee) for Pākehā (non-Maori people) who could also learn the techniques, and their fees would also help subsidize the school. The classes could range from the full course for NZ residents, to shorter courses for tourists. 2) Geyser- Spectacular! 3) Cultural Show - Interesting, Informative, Entertaining. Recommendation: Do a full Haka, and outside where everyone can see. Also, give a more full explanation of all the parts. 4) Maori Staff - All of the staff were superb! I was with Kia (sp?) and she very patiently answered all my many questions about the Maori language. Recommendations: I would like to have known a little about each Staff member- origin, tribe, etc. 5) Maori Culture- I cannot imagine a better place to learn about Maori culture! Recommendations: I would like to have known more about Maori tattoos - designs, placement, symbolism, etc. It's such a visible part od Maori culture that it should be featured. If it would be offensive to do so, I would withdraw this comment. Overall, and exceptional visit to a very entertaining place. Nga mihi!

The Redwoods are so beautiful! Seeing the lights at night during our anniversary and our first day…read morein Rotorua was special. It is such a peaceful walk and must-do place. Getting to see the glow worm caves was a bonus! Cobb was hilarious and gave a great tour. 13/04/2026

This is a unique experience and glad we stayed an extra day to experience the Redwood Forest and…read morethe Glow worms.

OMG! We stopped her after seeing the "photo interest" road sign while driving from Taupo to…read moreWaitomo. It was a spur of the moment decision. What a spectacular spot! I'm not sure I've ever been somewhere this unique. We ended up walking quite a ways on the Te Waihou Walkway along the beautiful Blue Spring. It was otherworldly in how crystal clear the waters were. Underwater vegetation was plentiful and swaying with the current. This is absolutely worth your stop. The hike is longer than you think it is, but completely worth it. We also encountered lots of interesting birds. This is easily one of the most naturally beautiful places I've ever been on Earth -- solely rivaled perhaps in my travels only by some alpine springs I've hiked along in Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks in the USA. I have never seen water this clear and underwater colors this vibrant from the surface.

This place was beautiful! I ran across it while researching places to go in New Zealand. By the…read moretime we got here, I forgot what this place was. We decided to spend 30 minutes here. As it turns out, this was not enough time. This is worth spending at least an hour here if not more. It will take you 10 minutes to walk from the parking lot to the main viewpoint. As you walk down the path, you'll catch glimpses of a stream. But this is no ordinary stream - it has crystal clear water and beautiful plants growing in the stream. The blue of the water combined with the green of the plants create a beautiful combination that looks like something out of a Monet painting. From the main viewing stand, if you look across the stream, there's a nook, and the water there is a beautiful azure color, darker than the rest of the water. Beyond the viewing stand, the path continues, but this is as far as we got. I think the trail goes another 4-5 kilometers. If you are in the area, definitely check this out. It's a great detour when driving between Rotorua and the Waitomo Glow Worm Caves, or to Hobbiton. Just plan to spend more time here than we did.

If you visit Rotorua and want a sense of history, scenic venues and a bit of fun this is your tour…read more They provide lots of safety tips and lessons along with a good sense of fun. Book on line then meet at Urbano's restaurant to begin the tour. They provide a quick lesson on how to use the Segway then you are off and rolling. We went for 2.5 hours all over the inner city of Rotorua. Learned quite a bit about the culture here and current political life. This is a very interesting city with it's native legends and geothermal sites. Highly recommend

This is said to be the deepest natural spring on the north island. The spring flows from a deep…read morerocky hole at the head of the river which flows out into lake Rotorua. The spring is about 1km easy flat walk down a track from the carpark through a grove of redwoods and following the stream. The water is cold and refreshing (bring a bottle and fill it from the source!). This is a department of conservation parkland area so no there are no costs. There are signs around the site describing the history of the area and facts about the spring. Swimming is not permitted here, but you can swim where the stream enters Lake Rotorua - the water is pretty cold though! Well worth a look if you are passing by, and only a short drive out of town (15-20min) if you aren't passing by.

This is a beautiful place and a lovely walk. Take care if it is windy as the redwood trees are very…read moreimpressive but also drop dead branches occasionally. The two springs here are fascinating in different ways - I could have spent ages just watching the water rising out of the earth, and the dancing sands made me smile a lot. The views across Lake Rotorua on the other side of the road are good too. Definitely worth a visit in my opinion and I will be going back again when I am next in NZ.

OMFG THIS PLACE IS HEAVEN. Seriously I think it's my new happy place. I am a big fan of the…read moreoutdoors, nature, and especially waterfalls, so finding this place was a dream come true. I came here with my partner on a road trip from Auckland, and we spent wayyy longer here than we imagined we would. We climbed rocks and swam in the cold water and took loads of photos (this place is seriously 'gram worthy) and stretched out on the boulders like a couple of lizards. My fingers and forearms were actually sore later from all of the climbing I did. I don't think this place would be ideal for anyone who is handicapped, as you do have to walk over rocks to get anywhere. Though if you do want to check it out, you could just look from the bridge. McLaren Falls Park is one of the most magical places I've been in New Zealand, I would highly HIGHLY recommend coming here - even if you have to go out of your way, it's that worth it. Make sure you go to the actual park (a lot of people seem to just stop by the bridge, where a couple of the falls are) and do the hike to the real waterfall - that's where the really big one is!