Whakarewarewa - The Living Maori Village

"This is a great place if you want to experience an authentic Maori village where the residents have preserved their ancestral way of life and continue to use these geothermal wonders for cooking, bathing, and heating their homes. The village is located on a geothermal plateau and if you walk all through the village to the end, you can even observe geysers from there. On your walk you will pass bubbling mud pools, steam vents and also see historical buildings like an active marae which is a communal meeting place. I'm usually not much into the touristy places but this one was well worth a visit and very interesting, also because there were barely people visiting. You can go on a self-guided walk or book a guided tour and watch a cultural performance. Tickets can be booked online or at the local office."

"You'll learn a little bit about Māori culture & history, and enjoy an extensive walk through bubbling, steaming lands."