Explore a thriving center of breathtaking thermal activity and traditional Maori culture during this scenic, full day visit to the historic spa town of Rotorua. Head via Te Puke, the world's largest kiwifruit growing region to the geothermic wonderland of Rotorua. Stop at the Agrodome to watch the country's best-trained champion rams parade on stage, and a sheep-shearing demonstration. The highly trained sheepdogs will finish the show with a display of sheep mustering. Drive past the Rotorua lakefront where you may see a variety of waterfowl as well as several local landmarks before arriving at the Skyline Gondola terminal. Here, you’ll embark one of the aerial gondolas for a breathtaking ride up the side of Mount Ngongotaha, enjoying panoramic vistas of Lake Rotorua, the city and surrounding areas. Arriving at the top of the mountain, the Skyline Restaurant with its unparalleled views is where you’ll be treated to a buffet Visit Te Puia, the home to the internationally renowned spouting Pohutu geyser and boasts silica terraces, pools of boiling mud and dramatic steams vents. Your Maori guide is keen to share the fascinating local lore and legends of this wonderful country. A strong sulfur smell, a product of the intense thermal activity, will fill the air. Remember to bring your cameras on this exciting geothermal experience.

View the reserve's fascinating re-creation of an early Maori village, and also have time to purchase souvenirs in the gift shop, including traditional Maori carvings. At Te Puia's Maori Arts & Crafts Institute, where for the past 45 years visitors have enjoyed this unique journey into the Maori's rich heritage, their mission is all about preserving the ancient skills and rich culture of the Maori. To that end, young people from across New Zealand are selected as apprentices. Here, the students learn skills ranging from carving to weaving, along with creating flax skirts and patterned bodices, and you will see all this at close hand.

OVERVIEW

Take an intimate cultural journey into Maori heritage at a local indigenous village and catch stunning views of the Bay of Plenty from Minden Lookout. From the pier, you’ll travel through modern, booming Tauranga and the Bethlehem suburbs on your way to Ngati Ranginui Marae. Arriving at this Maori village, you’ll be greeted by a gracious indigenous guide and escorted on a fascinating tour of this village well known for its hospitality. The tangata whenua, the local people, will help you feel at home as you explore their working settlement, where the ways of the Maori and early New Zealand settlers remain deeply tied to contemporary life. During your visit, you’ll have an opportunity to view craft-making and cooking underway and to experience the Maoris’ famous oral storytelling. Your hosts will also treat you to a refreshing tea before you depart for the wider world. Arriving up at Minden Lookout, you’ll find the perspective has gotten wide indeed. Expect to see across Tauranga, out into the Bay of Plenty, and, if conditions are favorable, even plumes of wispy smoke and steam rising from volcanic Whakaari, the White Island, offshore to the east.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Travel out into the countryside surrounding Tauranga to visit a local Maori village, known as a marae.
• Be welcomed by an indigenous guide as you begin an intimate tour of the village, meeting its hospitable residents and learning about their lives.
• Witness traditional craft-making and cooking underway, experience Maori’s tradition of storytelling, and share tea with your hosts.
• Driven up to Minden Lookout, be swept away by exceptional views out across the Bay of Plenty – and perhaps out to Whakaari volcano, puffing away some 30 miles offshore.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear casual, weather-appropriate clothing.
• Flat, comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen as needed.

OVERVIEW

Become immersed in the culture of the Ngati Makino while visiting this Maori tribe’s fortified settlement, known as a pā. As the tribal members show you around their seaside village, you will walk along the defensive ramparts and see how traditional life is embraced. An eel-fishing demonstration will deepen your understanding of the lifestyle as will watching your lunch being prepared to steam-cook in a hangi, a traditional earthen pit oven. The ingredients are typically wrapped in flax leaves and placed on hot coals in the bottom of the hangi and left to cook for several hours. Oral storytelling plays a prominent role in Maori life because the Maori didn’t have a written language until the first Europeans arrived. As you will discover, storytelling is more than narration; it’s an emotionally moving performance that involves dancing, singing, chanting and praying. As a gesture of kinship, you can help plant a native manuka tree on the tribal grounds.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Gain an understanding of traditional Māori life in a tribal village.
• Watch demonstrations of eel fishing and cooking.
• Enjoy lunch cooked in a hāngī earthen pit oven.
• Listen to Māori storytellers recount ancient legends.
• Help plant a tree to commemorate the experience.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Zip around a geothermally heated lake in a jetboat and get an even closer look at the power and heat below the earth’s surface at Hell’s Gate. The collapse of a volcanic magma chamber thousands of years ago created a caldera that became Lake Rotorua once it filled with water. As you cruise along the shoreline, you will notice clouds of steam, sulfur in the air and an unusual greenish-blue tint to the water. They are all the result of the geothermal activity that continues today beneath the surface. The entire surrounding region sits within the Pacific Ring of Fire, one of the world’s most active geothermal fields. That volcanic activity is even more apparent at Hell’s Gate. While walking through this reserve, you will see billowing steam, bubbling pools of warm mud and even a hot waterfall. Hell’s Gate is also a spa of sorts, as its nutrient-rich mud baths have natural healing powers.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Explore an exceptionally active geothermal area within the Pacific Ring of Fire.
• See clouds of geothermal steam rising from Lake Rotorua as you race across it on a jetboat.
• Walk through a hellish landscape of hissing steam vents and bubbling mud bathes at Hell’s Gate.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Kayak across serene Lake Rotoiti, a sheltered waterway with abundant wildlife and natural geothermal pools along its scenic shoreline. After a briefing on how to get the most out of the adventure, you will ease into a double kayak and paddle off. Lake Rotoiti is wonderfully picturesque, in part because a lowland forest borders much of it. Pohutukawa, known as the Christmas tree for its crimson flowers and greens, also grows there. You can expect to spot wildlife along the way, especially water birds such as black swans. Once you reach the mineral-rich Manupirua hot pools, you will have the opportunity to soak in the soothing waters. The springs are of varying temperatures, so you can surely find one to your liking. You will also paddle through a cave softly illuminated by glow worms. It is quite the natural phenomenon.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Kayak along the shores of Lake Rotoiti, a natural paradise with plenty of wildlife.
• Relax your muscles by soaking in the mineral-rich hot pools along the lake’s coast.
• Paddle through a cave illuminated only by glow worms.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear a swimsuit under your clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Discover the wonderful world of truffles and enjoy a tasting at a farm that harvests these highly prized fungi. After a panoramic drive through Tauranga, you will head into the country to a truffière or truffle grove. In hopes of growing truffles, the owners planted hundreds of oaks and hazelnuts and inoculated them with the spores of Perigord truffles, as these trees often develop a symbiotic relationship with truffles. As you will discover, their experiment was a success. You will watch the farm dogs sniff out the truffles, which must be carefully extracted from the soil to prevent damage. It is a methodical process that reflects the value of truffles. You will also be treated to a sampling of truffle-infused products such as cheeses, honey and ice cream, all thoughtfully paired with beer or wine. Afterwards, you will drive along the coast in the shadow of the dormant volcano Mount Maunganui.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Tour a truffle farm and learn how the owners encouraged truffles to grow there.
• Watch trained truffle dogs sniff out the truffles that grow beneath the oaks and hazelnuts.
• Sample a selection of truffle-infused delicacies paired with local wine or beer.
• Behold Mount Maunganui, a dormant volcano that is sacred among the Maori.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Admire the gorgeous panoramas while riding up Mount Ngongotaha in a window-walled gondola and delve into the world of sheep and sheepdogs at the Agrodome. You will get a good look at the area’s natural beauty on the way to Rotorua, as you will pass orchards of kiwifruit and Lake Rotorua. Still, the ultimate view of the sprawling city and shimmering lake will be from the Skyline gondola as you ascend the mountain. The higher you go, the more spectacular the vistas. Upon reaching the summit, you will dine at a restaurant that offers yet another perspective of the beautiful scenery below. Your attention will turn to sheep at the Agrodome, a real working farm. The show includes prize rams parading across the stage, sheep being sheared at jaw-dropping speeds and farm dogs using their prodigious skills to herd sheep – and even ducks for good measure.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Ride an enclosed, window-walled gondola up to the summit of Mount Ngongotaha.
• Enjoy a literal bird’s-eye view of the city of Rotorua, its namesake lake and mountains beyond.
• Gain an understanding of rural life at the Agrodome, a large working farm.
• Watch a sheep-shearing demonstration and highly intelligent farm dogs herding sheep.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Travelling across the volcanically formed Kaimai Mountains will bring you to Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, New Zealand’s largest mainland sanctuary, an oasis for indigenous flora and fauna. One of the world’s longest pest-free fences surrounds the ancient forest that blankets the mountain to keep out invasive species. As you wander along the forest trails, the naturalist guide will point out indigenous species that may include endangered birds, tuatara reptiles and giant wetas, a type of massive insect whose name means “god of ugly things” in the Maori language. You may also climb a tower to observe animals living in the tree canopy.After working up an appetite, sit down and share a locally sourced, hearty country style lunch.Days start early, and the work continues pretty much nonstop for a dairy farmer. Get an insider’s look at a real working dairy farm, learn about sustainable farming practices and discover firsthand how traditional farming practices have been enhanced by modern technology.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Visit the working dairy farm for a glimpse into rural life while integrating modern technology.
• Enjoy a hearty farm-to-table lunch.
• Walk through an ancient forest that a protective pest-free fence surrounds.
• Observe indigenous species of flora and fauna that thrive in the sanctuary forest.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Settle in for a half-day orientation tour that visits key Tauranga sights. Driving into town from across Tauranga Harbor, you’ll survey this the fast-growing city on in the Bay of Plenty. Abundant in natural attractions and supporting a high quality of life, Tauranga was founded by a group of 19th-century missionaries who left a behind a legacy of well-planned parks and gardens. Your first stop is the Tauranga Historic Village, a charming collection of historical buildings that showcase the region's rich heritage. Stroll through the village, engage with local artisans, and gain insight into the area's vibrant history and artistic culture.Next, enjoy a scenic drive through central Tauranga and into the lush countryside, where nearly all of New Zealand's kiwifruit is cultivated. Pass through Te Puke, proudly known as the Kiwifruit Capital of the World, and marvel at the sprawling orchards. Your guide will share fascinating details about the unique conditions that make this area perfect for growing kiwifruit.The tour continues to the Paengaroa Community Hall, where you'll enjoy a delightful morning tea featuring fresh fruit, juices, and a tasting of kiwifruit liqueur. Browse a selection of kiwifruit-inspired gifts and souvenirs to take home a piece of your experience. Conclude your tour with a scenic return drive to the ship, enriched by the history, culture, and natural beauty of Tauranga.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy a drive around Tauranga, whose natural attributes have made it one of New Zealand’s fastest-growing cities.
• Discover the regions heritage and culture, and meet local artisans at Tauranga Historic Village.
• Learn about the thriving kiwifruit industry, how they are grown and sample some of the ways they can be enjoyed.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Flat, comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen as needed.

OVERVIEW

Enjoy an immersive excursion into the historic spa region of Rotorua, where breathtaking geothermal activity and traditional Maori culture are among the chief draws. From the Tauranga pier, a scenic 90-minute spin inland past sprawling kiwifruit orchards leads to internationally renowned Te Puia and the Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve. Foremost among the sights you’ll encounter as you explore on foot here is Pohutu Geyser, a showy display of nature’s raw force as it erupts with steam and superheated water, sometimes as high as 100 feet. You’ll also see pools of boiling mud, silica terraces and hissing fissures – and visit Te Puia’s Arts & Crafts Institute where young Maori apprentices are taught the ancient art of carving and weaving by masters of these crafts. Entering the sacred marae, you’ll be presented with a Maori performance including the famous “haka” war dance, before making your way into the Wharekai dining hall for a hangi-inspired lunch, cooked in the traditional Maori method using hot rocks in an earthen oven. During your time at Te Puia, be sure to keep an eye out for the native kiwi bird. Handsome, furry and flightless, it’s been New Zealand’s national symbol since the First World War.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Travel across the NZ countryside by coach to visit a natural and cultural icon just outside Rotorua.
• Explore a steaming world of geothermal wonders at Te Puia, home to the famous Pohutu Geyser and more bubbling mud pools and hissing vents than you can count.
• See the traditional skills of the Maori culture being handed down from masters to their young apprentices at Te Puia’s Maori Arts & Crafts Institute.
• Enter the sacred marae for an exciting performance by Maori dancers, then relax over a savory lunch cooked in “hangi” earth oven style.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear lightweight, comfortable clothing.
• Flat, closed-toe walking shoes are recommended.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen as needed.