Te Pa Tu - The Gathering Place

This experience was great! The village was beautiful in the dusk with soft rain and log fires burning outside little huts where we were taught some traditional Maori activities from this tribe. The whole thing was run by members of an extended family who were both funny and charming. The musical performances were of a very high standard and the feast was absolutely delicious ( and I am very particular about my food! ) - , excellent canapes,mussels, whitebait fritters, warm rolls with truffle butter, confi duck with watercress and orange salad, hanging cooked lamb, wagyu short rib, root veg. 3 little desserts each. Definitely the best food I've had in 5 weeks in N Z. Fun bus ride each way. Yes, it's touristy but they are open about this, wanting to share their culture with us and they created a very warm, welcoming and informative experience.

I have had the absolute joy of experiencing Te Pā Tū twice. The first time, I thought it to be so good, that I planned my family vacation around coming back, so that they too, could bare witness to Te Pā Tū's incredible performances, games and kai (food). The passion of the staff and artists is infectious and I found myself grinning ear to ear both times. Te Pā Tū feels like a big family that welcome you with open arms. I very much enjoyed participating in traditional Māori games and it was wonderful to see everyone get involved. Big Baz, you are a talented musician, people should pay just to simply hear you sing. Tiaana, as always, thank you for being a wonderful host. I count down the days until I am back on the doorsteps of Te Pā Tū. Kia ora!

An awesome combination of dinner and a cultural show. When you enter the property you are welcomed by a traditional Māori Haka and then shown how their people lived in ancient times. You are then treated to an amazing four-course dinner. The staff and performers are extremely friendly, courteous and love to show you the ancient traditions of their people.

Maybe because iit was raining something in the tour was cut short. More like going to a broadway production. Enjoyable but not the cultural exposure our guide had suggested. After seeing natural geysers in Iceland this looked like a baking soda school project. Very crowded and unorganized. Definitely not a spiritual experience. Reading your reply surprises me that you are not concerned that it was not a cultural experience for me or most in our group. We had one on one experiences that were inspiring. Yours was more entertainment. Which would be fine if we had not been mislead by our guide that it would give us more of the cultural experience we had already. Again. It appears our tour was shortened because of rain. Giving it the benefit of the doubt that there is usually more content. Luckily I didn't have any expectations for the advertised geyser. Thanks for your clarification. Our tour was the one location including the cermony and thermal. Out of respect I did not photograph the ceremony.

This was one of my favorite New Zealand activities and an absolute must on the North Island. The cultural experience as a whole was enlightening, beautiful, and fun, and the hāngī was delicious. One of my favorite parts was the haka, which was just so moving and exciting; it felt like the whole room sat in awe. Everyone involved has my utmost respect for what they do and the culture they preserve. I am very thankful to have been a part of this incredible experience! What to expect: - A bus ride from the pick-up location in downtown Rotorua to the village - A traditional welcome - A rotation of 3-4 cultural activities that come with a small food item or drink (my favorite was the ginger tea with the stick balancing game) - A show featuring singing as well as the haka - The hāngī with much delicious food (my favorites were the short rib and pavlova dessert) and an incredible performance at the end that brought all cultures together (I still feel moved when I think about this) - A bus ride back to the pick-up location in downtown Rotorua Note: Please be respectful of all cultural activities and traditions.

This experience was absolutely amazing and we can highly recommend it! From start to finish, everything was perfectly organized, creating an authentic atmosphere without any sense of mass tourism. The knowledge sharing was interactive and engaging, making it a truly enriching experience. The dinner was simply outstanding! So much delicious, high-quality food, prepared with care and tradition. A huge thank you for sharing your culture with us – it was truly a memorable evening!

A superb way to fill an evening; very well organized start to finish. So enjoyed learning about the culture in the forest. Lovely food. Clearly a lot of talent in this group, terrific singers although I know now how the female haka could intimidate folks!

We had the privilege of celebrating our 23rd anniversary at Te Pā Tū, and it was one of the most memorable experiences of our lives. The hospitality was extraordinary — we were welcomed like family, treated to incredible kai (food), and even serenaded with a beautiful song to mark our special day. Te Pā Tū is so much more than dinner; it’s an authentic celebration of Māori culture and spirit. We are deeply thankful to everyone who made the night so meaningful. Absolutely recommend this to anyone visiting Rotorua!