Te Puia, Rotorua

4 more images

No podían faltarnos los helechos
Nos sorprendió que nos dijeron que utilizaban los troncos de los helechos para hacer vallas
The ferns couln´t miss
We were surprised when they told us that they used the fern logs to make the fences

1 more image

Los maoríes nos introducen en su cultura con cantos y actuaciones. Nos reunimos alrededor de la entrada principal de la Marae (Lugar sagrado que se utilizaba con fines religiosos y sociales) y vimos tradicionales karanga (bienvenida) que marcaba el inicio de los 45 minutos de canto y danza que hicieron dentro de la casa de reunión. Aquí, rodeados por las hermosas tallas de madera de sus antepasados, los visitantes se quedaron encantados con las armonías exuberantes, el seductor baile poi , la haka feroz, (reto de guerra) y el complejo Tititorea ( juegos de palos)

The Maori introduce us in their culture singing and acting . We gathered around the main entrance of the Marae ( Sacred place used for religious and social events ) and we saw traditional karanga (welcome) that marks the start of 45 minutes of song and dance inside the meeting house. Here, surrounded by the beautiful wooden carvings of their ancestors, visitors we were delighted with lush harmonies, the seductive poi dance, the ferocious haka, (war challenge) and the complex tititorea (stick games)

1 more image

Podemos ver las clases de tallado de madera en las que hacen figuras con formas humanas y otras figuras que usan en sus construcciones y también de los diferentes tipos de tejidos y como los hacían
Existe una tienda en la que venden esculturas y tejidos

We can see the wood carving classes , how they made human figures and other figures used in their buildings and also of the different weaving types and how they weaved
There is a store that sells sculptures and textiles

2 more images

En una zona geotermal han hecho un parque en el que aparte del paseo entre las fumarolas , geysers , cráteres ... tienen un centro cultural Maorí en el que hay edificios tradicionales tallados de madera , hacen espectáculos folkloicos , enseñan artesanías y las venden.
No podían faltar los helechos y los kiwis

n a geothermal area they have made a park where besides the walk between the fumaroles, geysers, craters ... it has a Maori cultural center where there are traditional wooden constructions , they do folk performances , teach and sell crafts.
They could not miss the ferns and the kiwis cr

6 more images

Te Puia is one of the most popular geothermal parks in central NZ north island.
Rotorua is sourrounded by different parks like Te Puia, which makes it hard to decide which one to choose!
After a stop at the tourist board and hundreds of leaflets, we chose Te Puia to be sure to see geysers and kiwis (the park i also includes a kiwi house) and I must admit that we were satisfied with our choice.
Te Puia is very close to Rotorua city centre (the steam coming from geysers is visible from everywhere) and offers a comfortable car parking.
The entrance costs 40NZ$ and you can also buy tickets from the tourist board to save 5NZ$ and avoid queues (that we actually did not find). The ticket includes a guided tour of the park. Guides are Maori and provided us with interesting information on the Maori culture and knowledge of their land. The park is actually the "backyard" of a Maori village and they know it cm by cm. Beside the geysers (the guide will take you there a few minutes before they activate) and kiwis, the park offers some mud pools, boiling streams and little lakes, craters, Maori cultural performances and the recostruction of an original Maori village.
It is possible to stroll around the park without guide, the entrance ticket comes with a park map.

Whakarewarewa (Whaka) reportedly has the 'Biggest Geyser in the World' today called 'Pohutu' which plays at a certain time during the day up to a height of 100 Ft. There are boiling mud pools, hot water pools & steaming vents.

At 1215 each day there is a Maori cultural performance at the Rotowhio Marae. The show begins with a semi-traditional powhiri, a formal greeting onto a marae. This is a memorable experience because of the haunting karanga that are called out and the warrior's challenge to a tourist who volunteers to be the leader of the manuhiri (visitors). The show then moves into the meeting house (wharenui).

Whakarewarewa is an historic thermal reserve and cultural centre in Rotorua. Since the local council introduced legislation to limit the draw on the thermal field by homeowners, the Pohutu Geyser seems to have returned to its glory days, reaching up to 30 metres in the air (100 feet). It is an amazing sight to see the hot steam and water jet out of the ground. There is an extensive path system through the valley. Winter is the best time to see the boiling mud. The local Te Arawa people pride themselves on the Maori cultural centre here and you can learn about carving and weaving. The village at the lower end (city end) of the valley now has a separate entrance fee and there is no entry into the thermal attractions from that end. To enter the thermal park you must enter at the Maori Institute gate, just north of the State Highway 5 junction to the south of the city. Entrance is steep now at $NZ19.95 per adult!