Rotorua

Mitai Maori Village Cultural Experience in Rotorua

Badge of ExcellenceRotorua, New Zealand
Mitai Maori Village Experience in Rotorua
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From $79.26

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Up to 24 hours in advance.
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Unique Experiences
  • 3 hours
  • Pickup offered
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

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Overview

Get an authentic introduction to Maori culture with an evening at the Mitai Maori Village of Rotorua. See warriors in traditional dress paddle in an ancient canoe, and be captivated by the displays of weaponry. You'll watch 'haka' and poi dances and view glowworms in their natural habitat. This 3-hour experience includes round-trip hotel transport and a traditional 'hangi' feast with your admission ticket.
  • 3-hour cultural experience at the Mitai Maori Village
  • Hangi dinner buffet and Maori performances
  • Guided bush walk to learn about native flora and fauna
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off in Rotorua

What's Included

  • 3 hour nightly cultural experience
  • Hangi served from a buffet alongside other side dishes and dessert
  • Participate in a short guided bush walk to learn of the flora and fauna and see glow worms
  • Māori Cultural Performance
  • Courtesy transfers from local accommodation providers within Rotorua (limited places)
  • Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)

Meeting And Pickup

You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup

Meeting point

  • 196 Fairy Springs Road
    196 Fairy Springs Road, Fairy Springs, Rotorua 3015, New Zealand

    Carpark available parking for vehicles and motorhomes onsite

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Pickup details

**Complimentary pickup for registered locations only (based on availability) **No transfers held without a location for pickup, once we reach full capacity the transfer option will be closed (we do not hold inventory) **Winter: Pickup between 5.15pm and 5.45pm **Summer: Pickup between 5.45pm to 6.15pm

What To Expect

You're transferred from your accommodation in Rotorua after a personalized meet-and-greet and photo op with a Maori maiden dressed in traditional attire. Then learn some basic guidelines for entering the Mitai Maori Village, considered a sacred cultural and spiritual space to the Maori people. 

In this bush setting of New Zealand's North Island, discover the history of the area once thriving with indigenous villages. You'll observe Maori warriors paddling a waka, or canoe, down the Wai-o-whiro stream, and visit the Fairy Spring for a look at freshwater eels, trout, and glowworms.

The evening's cultural entertainment includes a performance of games, songs, and dances including the haka, or war dance. Learn about Maori customs, including the art of ta moko (tattoo), woodcarving, and medicinal uses of native plants.

Savor a selection of succulent dishes during a traditional hangi feast, with foods cooked underground in an earthen oven. Your dinner includes New Zealand meats and poultry along with vegetables and fresh salads. Top off your meal with buffet-style desserts. Drinks are available for purchase from the full bar.

Afterward, you're dropped off at your hotel.

Mitai Maori Village

1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Wheelchair accessible - if assistance is required, passenger must provide their own care person
  • Stroller accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately - warm comfortable clothing and walking footwear
  • Please note there is a small walk through the forest which has some steps and uneven ground in some areas
  • Near public transportation
  • Infants must sit on laps
  • Infant seats available
  • Most travelers can participate
  • Infant seats are subject to availability
  • ***Bookings could be cancelled due to lack of numbers - we advise customers the date you are booked to visit to allow for any late bookings. Thank you for your understanding!!
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 150 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
  • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
  • This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

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Traveler Tips

Sometimes it seems like a rush, however it's great how they have the venue and respect for the envitenviro

Reviews

4.5
642 reviews
Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
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Reviews by Viator travelers.
Showing 1-10 of 642 reviews
Wonderfully educational, tasty experience for the whole family
Tory_M, Sep 2023
Great experience! Lots of entertaining education on a range of aspects of the Maouri culture from family and social structure to tattoos to weapons. The food was both plentiful and delicious. I ate more than I have eaten in years just because it was sooo good!
Excellent Maori Experience.
MARIA_T, Sep 2023
Well worth the experience. Informative, fun, we were all well fed. Great for all the family. Thank you Mitai.
A must do in Rotorua
Sally_F, Sep 2023
A great way to learn about the Māori history and culture. Well presented and respectful. This exceeded our expectations and we recommend all visitors to Rotorua to attend the experience.
Fun, educational cultural...
Leslie_H, Sep 2023
Fun, educational cultural experience. Enjoyed our time at the village. Learned a great deal from the presentation.
Great tour
Carol_K, Sep 2023
We had a great time at this village. Food was wonderful. Entertainment phenomenal. The culture was well presented. I would highly recommend this tour.
Witnessing Te Arawa...
wilson_P, Sep 2023
Witnessing Te Arawa rarangatahi presenting our beautiful Maori culture to the world at the highest level was humbling and I was truly blesses to have an amazing experience. . Proud to be Maori. Mauriora.
The entire experience was...
Joseph_W, Sep 2023
The entire experience was grand! They're obviously putting on a show, but it still has cultural significance to the Maori people involved, and you can tell. They are rightly proud of their culture, and want to share it with you! And the food was delicious too!
Awsome experience
Cameron_G, Sep 2023
Was good learning about the culture and the food was delicious would recommend this to family and friends
Fantastic!
Ken_H, Sep 2023
Great information and entertainment and delicious meal - terrific experience! Exceeded my expectations and would definitely recommend this to visitors.
Must see
Pauline_B, Sep 2023
Very pleasant and beautiful presentations of their culture. The presentations were very well preformed and cultural dress was beautiful I totally enjoyed everything.
Fantastic Mitai Maori Villlage
Julie_P, Sep 2023
Learning about the spiritual, purposeful lives of the Maori people was very special to us. The examples of their historical rituals and male/female roles is important to preserve. The meal was wonderful. Thank you for the glow worm experience, your kindness and great evening.
Response from Host, Sep 2023
Kia ora We appreciate you taking the time to share about your visit with us, we are glad you had a great evening and we hope to see you again in the future. Nga mini (with thanks) Te Whanau Mitai Maori Village
Just excellent
Monivann_U, Aug 2023
Excellent experience, the traditional dance and ceremony were very beautiful, the buffet was delicious and we even saw some glow worms. i had hesitated a lot between mitai and tepatu and finally have not regretted at all my choice
Response from Host, Aug 2023
Kia ora, thank you for kind words - we appreciate you choosing to visit us here at Mitai. Our family at Te Pa Tu are also unique in the experience they deliver as well, so no doubt you would have enjoyed a visit there if you chose that option. We wish you well in your journey's and hope to see you in the future. Nga mihi (with thanks) Te Whanau Mitai Maori Village
Culture understanding wrapped in food and fun with new friends
Dennis_S, Aug 2023
Learning about the culture in story telling, song and dance was incredible. The meal was terrific and the sharing the company of others around the table was fun.
Response from Host, Aug 2023
Kia ora Dennis, we appreciate your review and sharing your experience with us to others. The "company of others around the table" is a given at Maori gatherings, at times long rows of tables so everyone can connect, catch up and meet new people. We wish you well. Te Whanau Mitai Maori Village
Well worth it! Highlight of my trip
Priya_P, Aug 2023
The best experience of NZ so far! They picked me up from my hostel and sat me on a table with other young solo travellers which was great to meet people. The speaker was really knowledgable and just a really cool guy, the performances were really good and everyone performing had a great energy and were really talented. The canoe along the river was the best bit! In the dark with the fire it looked AMAZING and afterwards we had a little explore of the glow worms around the area. There is also plenty of yummy food! I was hesitant at first because of the weather but actually I think the darkness made the experience so much cooler and they have heaters.
Response from Host, Aug 2023
Kia ora Priya We are glad to hear your experience with us was one of your best so far here in Aotearoa, NZ. Thank you for providing an overview of the experience, even during the winter period the cold does not hinder our team to share our culture to visitors. We appreciate you coming along - wishing you well. Te Whanau Mitai Maori Village
Amazing experience
Daniel_F, Aug 2023
The show was fantastic, could really feel how much the Maori culture mean to their people young and old.
Response from Host, Aug 2023
Kia ora Daniel Thank you for stopping by and leaving a review, we appreciate your feedback. We respect and love our culture as Maori from the young to the old, it is part of our identity. Noho ora mai (all the best) Te Whanau Mitai Maori Village
Worth it
Val_P, Aug 2023
From the ride to the village to the very last tour. Loved every minute of our experience. Jason did an awesome job at hosting the night and Ra was an amazing driver who gave us a brief tour guide from our accommodation to the village. Loved the performances and the fact that they had opened up their ceremony acknowledging the people of Maui made me appreciate the Maori culture even more. Food was amazing and wished I had more space in my tummy for seconds. Overall experience was well worth it.
Response from Host, Aug 2023
Kia ora Val Thank you for your feedback and comments, we appreciate you acknowledging our staff from the driver to your host and your experience overall. Hope your enjoy the rest of 2023. Te Whanau Mitai Maori Village
Amazing night
Mark_L, Aug 2023
This was an amazing night out. Great for learning about the culture, great food and also got to see glow worms.
Response from Host, Aug 2023
Kia ora It is great to hear you had an amazing night out with us here at Mitai - we are also glad you found your visit educational. Wising you well Te Whanau Mitai Maori Village
Unforgettable night
Rebeca_P, Aug 2023
The whole night was wonderful. Everything was nicely prepared and the whole team was very thoughtful when putting it all together! Food and presentations were incredible. Highly recommended.
Response from Host, Aug 2023
Kia ora Thank you for leaving us a review, we are glad to hear you had a wonderful night with us and also acknowledging our team. We appreciate your recommendation. Nga mihi (with thanks) Te Whanau Mitai Maori Village
Compelling!
Meghan_R, Aug 2023
We valued the q and a session and loved the performances! Great cultural experience. Food was great and very generous portions. The people were welcoming and gracious hosts.
Response from Host, Aug 2023
Kia ora We are appreciative of your review and thank you for acknowledging our people. We are glad you valued our Q&A session and love our cultural performance. We wish you well for the rest of the year and hope one day we will see you again. Nga mihi (with thanks) Te Whanau Mitai Maori Village
Beautiful experience
Vanessa_L, Aug 2023
Learning about the Maori culture and history of the people and the land was very special. Learning about their people helped me gain a better understanding and appreciation for the land and the importance of preserving one’s land and culture.
Response from Host, Aug 2023
Kia ora Thank you for your review. I am glad to hear that you found the experience of learning about our culture special and enlightening. Its wonderful that it helped you develop a deeper understanding and appreciation for the connection we have between our land, culture and our people. We wish you well Te Whanau Mitai Maori Village
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