Wander the streets of this living village, where the local T奴hourangi/Ng膩ti W膩hiao people have resided for centuries, with its homes, stores, cafes and lookouts over the P艒hutu geyser in neighbouring Te Puia. Villagers lead the tours (departing hourly from 9am to 4pm) and tell stories of their way of life amid the steamy bubbling pools, silica terraces and geysers.
Admission also includes a half-hour cultural performance (daily at 11.15am and 2pm, with an additional show at 12.30pm from November to April) and self-guided walks out as far as Lake Kanapanapa/Green Lake (a 40- to 50-minute loop). The village shops sell authentic arts and crafts, and you can learn more about M膩ori traditions such as flax weaving, carving and t膩 moko (tattooing). Nearby you can eat tasty, buttery sweetcorn ($2) pulled straight out of the hot mineral pool 鈥 the only genuine geothermal 丑腻苍驳颈 meal in town.
