Mitai Maori Village Cultural Experience in Rotorua
Description
Enter the world of Mitai Māori Village and embrace our history and culture. Watch our stories unfold through the dynamic scenes of our warriors paddling down Wai-o-Whiro stream, the melodious sounds of our instruments and entertainment from our performers including the haka. Satisfy your hunger with the traditional Māori Hangi and concluding your evening with a walk through our forest to see the ancient, fortified village learning the old ways of living and survival of our people and discover the natural resource Te Puna a Tuhoe, freshwater spring. The evening is not over until you glimpse the glow worms light up the banks of forest as the veil of darkness sets in. Nau mai, haere mai, whakatau mai – come and experience our world…
Tour Options
Itinerary
Enter the world of Mitai, and learn about the history of this area which was once flourished in villages. See our fierce warriors in traditional dress paddle an ancient warrior canoe (waka) down the Wai-o-whiro stream.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Wheelchair accessibility is limited for the 'bush walk' - exit into the forest is via stairs. Viewing of the waka (canoe) is from a platform and you can go a short distance into the forest to view the old pā (village) and see the sacred spring below the forest. Unfortunately, you will not see the glow worms. (Note: there is some uneven surfaces).
- Please note there is a small walk through the forest which has some steps and uneven ground in some areas
- Infant seats are subject to availability
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately - warm comfortable clothing and walking footwear
Reviews(1,388)
love the way the Māori culture is presented - presented at river and also on stage. very interesting and the Hangi buffet is great - food is delicious and many types to choose, ranging from meat to salad to bread to desserts!
Wasn't sure which cultural event to choose, very pleased we choose Mitai Maori Village, it was an absolutely fantastic experience. The food was over the top amazing, you can feel the passion they have for their culture and welcome you to be a part of that. Highly recommend this for anyone looking for a Maori experience, it's not commercialized as many are.
We had a great time learning about the local culture and experiencing the local tribal food. It was a great way to kick off our trip!
Insightful cultural experience, great food, wonderful staff, lively performances, enchanting environment.
I have been there several times. I have enjoyed it every time.
Awesome this is the best tour I’ve ever had you can see the matai tribe along with there weapons, dances and song and the chief is funny and nice not only that but you can eat at a restaurant after. Everything is amazing not to mention it also comes with dessert
We really enjoyed our dinner and learning about Māori culture. The performance was incredible and we loved dinner and dessert! Walking around the bush was also really neat even with the dark and rain; really added to the ambience. The performers were very talented and engaging, and our host taught us much about the people and history.
We did the evening package and had the best time as a family. Firstly our guide was wonderful, humorous, knowledgeable and a genuine pleasure to listen to. The first walk to see the war canoe was great - really stirring and fantastic to watch. Next was the show which was brilliant!! I’ve only ever seen the haka on tv or social media so getting to see it in real life was a very moving experience and absolutely amazing. Even though we were hungry and ready for our hangi feast - we really didnt want the show to end! They were all so talented and it was all so great to see and hear. But next was the FEAST and that’s the right word because there was so much food with so many delicious options! The meat and potatoes we’d seen cooking in the hangi earlier and that just fell off the bone and melted in your mouth yum! And there was so many other dishes to accompany these such as creamy coconut spinach, beef casserole, pumpkin, all kinds of salads, breads and rice. Honestly we are big eaters and we were stuffed! The desserts were delicious too including hot steamed sponge pudding, hokey pokey ice cream, pavlova, chocolate cake and fruit salad. Exceptional. After was the Q and A and our guide spoke so passionately about the Maori culture, history, challenges and future. It was so informative and interesting. After this we had a walk into the forest to see the glow worms which was fascinating as we’d never them before! All in all, we had an awesome night and an experience we shall never forget. Our 8 year old daughter had the best time and I would highly recommend this experience to other families. ☺️
This is a wonderful show with great food. Normally I think of these kind of trips with suspicion having been to a terrible one in Cyprus, but this was entirely different and you really do get a feeling of inclusion and an understanding of the culture and peoples. The food was fantastic too and a lot of it. I thought the performances were really good too and I take my hat off to all concerned.
Our visit to Mitai Maori Village was absolutely excellent and one of the highlights of our trip to Rotorua. The experience was both entertaining and educational, and we learned so much about Māori culture and traditions. The performances and cultural show were incredible, and you could really feel the passion and pride throughout the entire experience. The buffet dinner was also excellent with plenty of delicious options to enjoy. They also have a wonderful gift shop with great souvenirs to help remember the experience. Highly recommend this for anyone visiting Rotorua and wanting an authentic and memorable cultural experience! -Chef Roy
