• Whakarewarewa - The Living Maori Village - Welcome to a day filled with cultural exploration and geothermal wonders…

Whakarewarewa is the ancestral home of the Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao people, who have been sharing their distinctive lifestyle with global visitors for over two centuries.

Discover an authentic living Māori village where residents utilize natural geothermal resources for cooking, bathing, and heating their homes, just as they have for generations.

Witness the geothermal marvels of Whakarewarewa Geothermal Valley, including the renowned Pōhutu geyser, boiling mud pools, steam vents, and bubbling pools.

Explore historical landmarks and buildings, such as an active Marae, the WWII Memorial Archway, historic churches, and sacred burial grounds. Whakarewarewa offers a quintessential New Zealand Living Maori Village experience.

On the return journey to your ship, relax and cherish the memories created while exploring “our backyard.”

• Government Gardens - These beautiful and expansive gardens are located near the heart of Rotorua. The Government Gardens feature a bowling club, petanque, croquet, and a golf course.

Within the gardens, you’ll find various points of interest, including the 1927 Arawa Soldiers Memorial, several geothermal features, and the Kwaqiulth Totem Pole. The meticulously maintained gardens are a short walk from Lake Rotorua, the town center, and the Sulphur Bay wildlife refuge.

The land holds legendary and historical significance for the local Maori people, with several important battles having occurred there. The original Maori owners gifted the 50 acres of land in the late nineteenth century for ‘the benefit of the people of the world.’

The Government Gardens also house the Rotorua Museum, Polynesian Spa, and the Blue Baths. The restored Blue Baths offer a chance to enjoy a warm dip and relax in an architecturally stunning building.

• Sulphur Point - Situated at the southern end of Lake Rotorua, Sulphur Bay exemplifies Rotorua’s renowned geothermal environment.

The ever-changing landscape around the bay offers everything visitors to Rotorua could desire. Silica flats, rocky terraces, and sulphur ledges accompany active boiling mud pools and steam vents. Even the water is fascinating, with its milky color resulting from suspended sulphur particles.

The bay’s proximity to feeding grounds and the warmth from geothermal activity attract numerous native birds. Birdwatching enthusiasts can spot around 60 different species here, including the banded dotterel, the scaup, and three types of gulls in this protected wildlife reserve.

• Redwoods, Whakarewarewa Forest - Known locally as ‘The Redwoods,’ the 55,000ha Whakarewarewa Forest is a haven for mountain bikers, walkers, hikers, and horse riders, set amidst magnificent stands of towering Californian Redwoods, lush native forest, and exotic trees.

The Redwood Memorial Grove, planted in 1901, is dedicated to the memory of the New Zealand Forest Service men who died in the two World Wars. These iconic trees, reaching approximately 67 meters (219 feet) tall, offer incredible photo opportunities. This easy short walk also features a boardwalk over an old thermal pond, home to unique aquatic plant life.

• Bottled water
• Snacks
• Guide

• Lunch

• Comfortable footwear is recommended

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.