Te Pā Tū Māori Cultural Experience

Oct-Apr

North Island

Te Pā Tū

from

NZ$280

per adult

Book Now

Experiences

History and Māori Culture

Food, Wine & Beer Tours

Family-friendly Tours

Half-Day Tours

North Island

Start: Rotorua

Duration: 3.5 hours

Details

Rotorua’s Award-Winning Māori Cultural Experience

Te Pā Tū has firmly established itself as one of Aotearoa’s standout cultural experiences, proudly taking home both the Tourism Excellence Award (Small – Medium Business) and the Visitor Experience Award at the 2024 New Zealand Tourism Awards.

Nestled in an ancient forest just outside Rotorua, Te Pā Tū offers a 3.5-hour evening experience that shifts with the seasons, following the rhythms of the maramataka—the Māori lunar calendar. Surrounded by majestic tawa trees and the glow of open fires, visitors are immersed in powerful storytelling, song, and kapa haka, all while enjoying seasonal Māori cuisine. Traditional hāngi is beautifully reimagined with contemporary fusion techniques, using the freshest local ingredients. No two evenings are the same, with rituals, performances, and kai reflecting the season’s unique significance. Begin with kai horotai (indigenous canapés) before journeying by torchlight to an enchanting forest setting for a four-course Māori-fusion feast.

Māori warrior performing the wero challenge with a fern during Te Pā Tū pōwhiri

Māori woman performing with poi in the forest during a Te Pā Tū cultural experience

A guest and Māori host sharing a hongi greeting during a Te Pā Tū cultural welcome

Young Māori warrior illuminated by firelight during Te Pā Tū evening ceremony

Māori performers in traditional red costumes presenting kapa haka at Te Pā Tū

Wāhine Māori dressed in traditional clothing during a Te Pā Tū cultural welcome

Group of Māori women in traditional and colonial-era dress performing indoors at Te Pā Tū

Māori man with tā moko (tattoo) and traditional attire holding a taiaha (club) at Te Pā Tū

Visitors and performers gathered around a blazing bonfire under the night sky at Te Pā Tū

Close-up of pikopiko ferns and wild mushrooms used in Māori cuisine at Te Pā Tū

Guests sampling traditional Māori kai served outdoors by a Te Pā Tū host

Contemporary Māori feast with beautifully presented dishes at Te Pā Tū

Traditional Māori vegetables like kūmara and taro served in woven flax basket at Te Pā Tū

Traditional hāngī meal with meat and vegetables served in a woven flax basket at Te Pā Tū

A beautifully set table with an abundant Māori feast at Te Pā Tū

Wild forest ingredients including pikopiko fern and native mushrooms in a pan at Te Pā Tū

Delicately plated kai served in shell dishes with fresh greens during a Te Pā Tū experience

Guests enjoying a candlelit dinner outdoors at Te Pā Tū in Rotorua

Traditional Māori hāngī being lifted from an earth oven at Te Pā Tū

Tū Te Rā – Celebrating Summer’s Abundance (October-April)

Tū Te Rā celebrates the height of summer, a time when light, warmth, and life flourish. In line with the maramataka, this special experience honours the season of harvest and explores ancestral Māori stories of peace and warfare. With longer days and the sun at full strength, Tū Te Rā embraces the energy of summer through captivating cultural performances and a feast inspired by the season’s bounty. More than just a meal, it’s a heartfelt celebration of the land, tradition, and community spirit.

Tū Te Ihi – A Matariki Winter Celebration (May to September)

From May to September, Te Pā Tū honours Tū Te Ihi, a special celebration of Matariki—the Māori New Year. As the Matariki star cluster rises in the winter sky, this event stirs passion, reflection, and renewal. It’s a time to honour the legacy of those who came before, and to look forward with hope and intention. Tū Te Ihi captures this spirit through stirring performances and heartfelt storytelling, alongside a seasonal feast inspired by the energy of winter and the promise of new beginnings.

What’s Included:

3.5 hours of immersive entertainment, storytelling, and kai hākari (feasting)
Forest canapés on arrival
Complimentary chef’s choice aperitif
Four-course Māori-fusion dinner
Return transport from central Rotorua

Need to Know:

Te Pā Tū is a cashless venue, accepting all major debit and credit cards for bar purchases. The experience is family-friendly and fully accessible for wheelchairs and buggies.

DIETARY REQUESTS must be notified at least 24 hours before

We offer special dietary options. However, due to the nature of our Māori kai and summer menu, we may not be able to accommodate all dietary needs. While we can accommodate gluten-free requirements, please note that we are not a coeliac-approved kitchen. We can cater to vegetarian requests but are unable to accommodate vegan or strict vegetarian requirements; as well as some nut allergies, but not severe where it is life threatening as cross contamination occurs.

AGE INFORMATION

Adult: 16 years +
Children: 5-15 years
Infant: 4 years & under

CANCELLATION & REFUND

On the Day of Booking: No refund.
One Day (24 hours) Before Booking: 50% refund if cancelled by 12:00 pm.**
Two Days (48 hours) Before Booking: 100% refund if cancelled by 12:00 pm.**

**Refunds exclude credit card and booking fees, which are non-refundable.

Note: *Please see more information on refunds and cancellations in Go New Zealand's terms and conditions.*