About Te Puia
Te Puia is Rotorua's flagship geothermal and Maori arts attraction, home to the famous Pohutu Geyser — the largest active geyser in the Southern Hemisphere, erupting up to 30 metres high multiple times daily. Set within the Te Whakarewarewa Geothermal Valley, the 60-hectare site combines world-class geothermal features with the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute (NZMACI), a nationally significant training school for traditional carving and weaving.
Day and evening experiences include guided walks past bubbling mud pools, silica terraces, and active geysers; cultural performances with haka and poi in a purpose-built meeting house; live carving and weaving demonstrations at NZMACI; a kiwi conservation nocturnal house; and dining options ranging from casual to the premium Te Po evening feast. Packages cater to all budgets — from basic geothermal walks to full-day cultural immersion experiences with lunch and multiple performances.
Te Puia is distinguished by its scale and significance — it is the custodian of both a world-class geothermal reserve and New Zealand's primary institution for preserving traditional Maori arts. The combination of natural spectacle (Pohutu erupting against a backdrop of steam and sulphur) with living artistic traditions makes it unlike any other attraction in the country. It is the single most-visited paid attraction in Rotorua.
