"Rotorua - feel the spirit – Manaakitanga" is the catch-cry . . . A deep-rooted Maori cultural tradition, 'Manaakitanga' places a responsibility on us as your hosts to give you the best of ourselves and our history.
You will be collected at the Port of Tauranga by your Indigenous guide to begin this exciting cultural excursion of Tauranga and Rotorua. Your day will start with a customary ‘Karakia – prayer’, before your guide explains the events of the day.
We make our way enroute to Rotorua stopping at a 'Kiwi Fruit Orchard'. Here you will learn of one of New Zealand's major export products the "Kiwi Fruit". Located on a unique pocket of land, you will enjoy a "Cart-Ride" through the lush orchards of this establishment and find out why "Kiwi" is regarded as one of the world's "healthiest" fruits.
Thereafter we journey on, arriving in Rotorua … New Zealand's geothermal wonderland and premier destination. Steeped rich in culture and history, our first stop on arrival in Rotorua will be made at ‘Ohinemutu village’.
This otherwise restricted location has been made accessible for this tour excursion and expert local Maori guides will share their history and stories ‘exclusively’ for you while viewing the beautiful hand-carved ‘meetinghouse – Marae’ and the stained glass window in 'St Faith’s Church'.
Upon leaving Ohinemutu, we drive past the 'Rotorua Lakefront' and 'Government gardens', as your guide shares the significant cultural aspects relating to these parts of the city before stopping for lunch.
We arrive at ‘Whakarewarewa Living Thermal Village’ where local guides navigate you through this wonderland of 'Geo-thermal and Geyser' activity. See the magical "Pohutu" and "Prince of Wales" geysers as they play from their natural origins in this thermal park but more importantly hear the history and stories told by the Maori descendants of how this village has sustained itself through past generations.
This is a living village where geothermal resources are still used for cooking, bathing, washing and processing the flax plant. You will also be entertained in 'song' and 'dance', as your hosts showcase their culture for you in a Maori cultural performance.
We leave Rotorua and making our way back to Tauranga bringing your 'Footprints of Maori Trail - Rotorua' to an end.