Not to miss

Tamaki Maori Village

Come here for an excellent Twilight Cultural Tour to a marae (meeting house) and Maori village complex. It provides transport and on the way explains the traditional protocol involved in visiting a marae. A 'chief' is chosen from the group to represent the visitors. A concert is followed by a hangi meal, cooked on hot rocks under the earth.

Rotorua Museum of Art & History

This impressive museum, better known as the Bath House, is in a grand Tudor-style edifice in the Government Gardens. Originally an elegant spa retreat (it opened in 1908), displays in the former shower rooms give a fascinating insight into some of the eccentric therapies once practised here, including 'electric baths' and the Bergonie Chair.

The museum has an interesting exhibition of the taonga (treasures) of the local Arawa people, including elaborate woodcarvings and jade. Other exhibitions relate the stories of the WWII 28 Maori Battalion, with a 25-minute film, and the disastrous 1886 Mt Tarawera eruption. The survivors' stories have been preserved, as has the strange tale of the ominous, ghostly war canoe that appeared before a boatload of astonished tourists hours before the eruption. A gripping 20-minute film on the history of Rotorua, including the eruption (accompanied by shuddering seats), plays continuously in a small theatre. Other galleries host temporary exhibitions and there is also a pleasant cafe.

Te Whakarewarewa

This is Rotorua's largest and best-known thermal reserve, and a major Maori cultural area. It's pronounced 'fa-ka-re-wa-re-wa' - most simply call it 'Whaka'. Its most spectacular geyser is Pohutu (Big Splash or Explosion), an active geyser that erupts between 10 and 20 times a day. Pohutu spurts hot water about 20-30m into the air.

The average eruption lasts about five to 10 minutes, though the longest is reputed to have lasted for 15 hours - a world record. You get a warning because the Prince of Wales' Feathers geyser always starts off shortly before Pohutu. The institute also has working craftspeople, an art gallery, a replica Maori village, kiwi house and access to the thermal area.