Published on Feb, 2025
We had the most amazing and interesting time visiting Whakarewarewa. We saw the cultural performance by the incredible villagers and had a guided tour by one of them afterwards. The culture and history of this place is incredibly deep and fascinating and the people there are so keen to show us their way of life. They have such a deep connection to the natural world and an amazing sense of family and community, from sharing their naturally geothermal kitchens with each other and bathing in the clear waters of the hot water springs. They even made food for us to eat from the thermal kitchens themselves! There are volcanic Geysers that can be seen from the village too and they were all shooting high up into the sky, very much a sight to behold. The performance itself is great being interactive, I even got to go up in stage myself and participate in the traditional welcome to the village. They sang us songs and performed a Haka for us. The magic in these performances can only truly be felt by being there. A must do visit for anyone who wants to learn more about the Māori culture and about how their way of life has been shaped by the natural world. Thank you for sharing your village with us!