Rotorua to Taupō: Māori Culture, Geothermal Wonders & Huka Falls
- eatcleanhealthandd
- 21 hours ago
- 8 min read
Updated: 1 hour ago
Our final morning in Rotorua had arrived, and after another chilly night, there was still plenty more adventure to squeeze in before we headed south towards Taupō.
We had another full itinerary planned — and I think by this point the boys had realised that when I say
“we’ve got a few things planned today”, it generally means we’re going to be out all day!
It had been our final night at Tasman Holiday Parks - Rotorua, and before checking out, there was one thing that absolutely had to happen…
One final dip in those hot pools.
It was another stunning, bright winter’s morning. The sky was blue, the sun was shining, but there was still that unmistakable New Zealand winter chill in the air.
So, naturally, I wasn't going to leave Rotorua without making the most of the geothermal warmth one last time.
Then it was time to pack up and head off for our next full day of adventures.
Whakarewarewa Māori Living Village
First stop was somewhere I had never actually made it to on previous visits to Rotorua.
Whakarewarewa Māori Living Village.
My mum had visited when she came to New Zealand, and having heard about it, I thought it would be such a brilliant experience for the boys.
I wanted this trip to be about more than just ticking off tourist attractions. I wanted them to experience places, cultures and landscapes that they would hopefully remember long after we were back home.
And Whakarewarewa definitely delivered.
A huge thank you to Renee, who was fantastic and helped organise everything for us.
We had booked onto the guided village tour first, followed by the self-guided walk through the geothermal grounds, before finishing with the cultural performance.
It was a full programme, but it worked brilliantly.
A village shaped by geothermal activity
Our guided tour was with Angela, and with only eight people in our group, it was the perfect size.
Small enough to ask questions, listen properly and really engage with what we were seeing.
The sun was shining, although it was still pretty chilly, and as we walked, the information and questions just flowed.
What fascinated me most was seeing how this isn't simply a geothermal attraction.
This is a living village, where people have lived alongside this constantly changing geothermal environment for generations.
The landscape isn't static, it bubbles, steams, shifts and changes.
Hot patches can appear, disappear and move, meaning the people living here have had to continually adapt to the environment around them.
It was fascinating seeing the way of life historically and understanding how that has evolved into modern-day life, while still being so intrinsically connected to the geothermal activity beneath their feet and still has families living within the village.
And the boys were completely fascinated.
At one point we stopped beside one of the boiling pools and were treated to some cooked sweetcorn, which was very welcome on a chilly winter morning!
There was something quite surreal about standing beside a boiling geothermal pool eating corn that had effectively been cooked by the earth beneath us.
New Zealand really does have a way of making ordinary things rather extraordinary.
And Angela was brilliant.
She was so open, knowledgeable and informative, but without making it feel like we were being given a history lesson.
She answered the boys' questions, encouraged them to look around and really helped bring the village and its story to life.
It definitely made the experience for us.
Geothermal ground that never stops changing
We had already seen the geyser from the lookout, so after our guided tour it was time to explore more of the thermal grounds ourselves before the cultural performance.
We wandered along the paths, taking in the bubbling mud pools, steam rising from the ground and the unmistakable smell of geothermal Rotorua.
The thing that really struck me was just how much movement there was.
You could see that this wasn't simply a landscape that had been shaped thousands of years ago and then stayed the same.
It is continually evolving.
I was reminded of a time when Craig and I had been camping at a local site.
The pitch we'd been allocated was right next to a newly appeared hot patch, and this wasn't just a little puddle of warm water.
It had appeared where another camping pitch had previously been!
Not exactly the kind of neighbour you want when you're trying to enjoy your morning coffee.
Although, thinking about it, it probably would have kept our feet warm!
Pie, coffee and chocolate fish
Before our performance, we popped into the cafe in the actual village .
The boys, unsurprisingly, immediately spotted the pies.
A hot pie on a cold winter's day has become something of a New Zealand tradition for them now.
I went for coffee, naturally, and added a Chocolate Fish because, well… when in New Zealand!
There are worse ways to fuel yourself for the next adventure.
Māori culture – an experience that gets under your skin
Then it was time for the cultural performance.
Typically, Albs took us straight to the front row.
I'm not generally a fan of sitting right at the front, I'd much rather quietly observe from somewhere in the middle, but on this occasion I indulged him.
The room soon filled up and then the performance began.
I've seen Māori performances and the haka several times before, but there is something about watching it live that never fails to get under your skin.
The music.
The rhythm.
The voices.
The movement.
The expressions.
The sheer intensity.
It is powerful.
And, if I'm completely honest, it can feel slightly intimidating too, yet amazingly fascinating.
I could see Archie experiencing that first-hand.
He's a teenager who wasn't quite sure where to look as the music, masculine movements, sounds and expressions filled the room.
It caught him completely off guard!
But that was part of what made it such a brilliant experience.
It wasn't something he could simply scroll past or watch for thirty seconds before moving onto something else.
He had to sit there and experience it.
And I hope that, as both boys get older, they'll appreciate even more what they were able to experience during this trip.
Another absolutely incredible performance, and another memory added to the collection.
One last look around Rotorua
Afterwards, we headed into the gift shop and then the main café at the entrance.
I was in need of another cuppa, and when I spotted their tea selection, I decided it definitely needed some tasting and testing.
By this stage, the boys were ready for more adventure.
So, rather than simply heading south to Taupō, we made a quick stop at the Government Gardens and Sulphur Point.
It's another easy, free addition to a Rotorua itinerary and gives you the opportunity to wander around the lakeside while spotting yet more evidence of the geothermal activity that makes this area so unique.
And the best bit?
It's free.
Which, when you're travelling as a family, is always worth celebrating!
Into the Redwoods
I had promised Albs one more stop before leaving Rotorua, the Redwoods Forest.
Again, there are plenty of paid experiences available here, including the famous treetop walks and other activities.
But you don't have to spend money to enjoy the forest.
There are walking trails where you can simply head off amongst the enormous redwoods, breathe in the fresh air and enjoy being surrounded by trees.
And after several days of geothermal activity, it was lovely to have a change of scenery.
We wandered, explored and soaked up the woodland atmosphere.
By now, though, the clock was ticking.
We still had another very important stop to make.
Huka Falls – nature's power on full volume
We were heading towards Taupō, but I couldn't resist stopping at Huka Falls.
I'd seen the falls before.
I've even been on the jet boats here several times.
But seeing something yourself and watching your children experience it for the first time are two very different things.
And I wanted the boys to see it.
Huka Falls is another brilliant free addition to a New Zealand itinerary.
There's free parking, it's easy to access and you don't have to walk far at all to get an impressive view.
Although, if you want to explore further, there are longer walks around the area too.
But the thing that gets you first isn't actually the view.
It's the sound.
You hear the falls before you properly see them.
The roar of the water.
Then you reach the viewpoint and suddenly see the sheer volume and power of the Waikato River being forced through the narrow gorge.
It's spectacular.
The boys were genuinely impressed.
They stood watching the water rushing through, taking in the sheer force of it.
And once again, it was one of those moments where I was reminded how lucky we were to be able to show them these places.
Also…
There is a coffee wagon in the car park.
And it does a mean long black.
So obviously that was another essential part of the experience!
Taupō bound
Waterfall fix complete, we finally headed into Taupō to find our accommodation for the next couple of nights.
This one had been a very last-minute booking.
I'd been sitting with my morning coffee earlier that day, browsing Expedia, and somehow I'd ended up booking the Grandeur Thermal Spa Resort.
Sometimes the best travel decisions are the ones made with a coffee in hand!
Tucked away down Spa Road, our Superior Chalet was certainly unique.
The resort had loads of potential and was laid out in an interesting way.
Our chalet had a stream running directly in front of the decking, and there was a family of ducks that seemed to regularly visit.
The kitchen and bathroom had obviously had some updating, and there was also a covered annex off the downstairs main bedroom with a spa bath.
And yes…
We made full use of it.
Myself and the boys definitely appreciated that warm soak after another chilly day exploring. It was particularly welcome once the sun disappeared and the temperature dropped again in the evening.
Fish and chips for dinner
I'd promised the boys fish and chips that evening.
The chalet had a microwave, kettle and kitchenette, but no stove or oven, so our cooking options were fairly limited.
And to be honest, after a full day of exploring, fish and chips sounded pretty perfect anyway.
We headed to the local takeaway and ordered hoki and gurnard with chips, plus fishcakes for Archie.
And one of the biggest advantages?
It was gluten free.
Which meant I could actually have fish and chips too!
Something that isn't always as straightforward when you're travelling.
And then came the real bargain…
The whole lot cost the equivalent of less than £10.
For a family meal.
In the UK, you'd be doing well to get change out of £30 for something similar these days.
It was another reminder of just how much further some things can go when travelling in New Zealand, particularly if you're prepared to self-cater and keep an eye on where you're spending your money.
Another quiet evening
By the time we were settled back at the chalet, there wasn't much energy left for anything other than dinner, showers and YouTube.
The boys settled into another couple of episodes of UnTide and Lateral Line — for anyone who doesn't know them, both are sailing and fishing channels.
And yes, Albs was soon sparko on the sofa.
Which meant another carry to bed was required.
Archie, meanwhile, was very pleased with the fact that he had his own room upstairs on the mezzanine floor.
Teenager heaven.
And so another day came to an end.
From Māori culture and geothermal living, to bubbling mud, redwoods, one of New Zealand's most powerful waterfalls and a very welcome spa bath, we'd packed a lot into one day.
And that is probably my favourite thing about travelling around New Zealand.
You don't necessarily need huge budgets or elaborate attractions to have an incredible day.
Sometimes it's a geothermal village.
Sometimes it's a walk through the forest.
Sometimes it's standing beside a waterfall listening to the roar of the water.
Sometimes it's a $10 fish and chip dinner and a hot bath at the end of it all.
It's the combination of the experiences, and the memories you make together, that make the adventure.
And tomorrow, there was more Taupō to discover…
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