Rotorua Maori Hangi Dinner and Performance

Rotorua, New Zealand

Complete your adventure through Rotorua with a traditional Maori "hangi" feast. You'll travel by coach to Tamaki Maori Village where your local guide will escort you on a cultural journey to the "marae" (Maori village), the life force of New Zealand's indigenous people. Take the opportunity to engage in an evening of local customs including a traditional Maori dinner feast.

Your journey through time unfolds when your coach travels to a pre-European village set deep within the forest, 15 minutes from Rotorua. Let this 3.5-hour tour and your imagination take over as your guide instructs you on the protocol for visiting the marae. A chief is selected, a song is learnt and the eerie cry of the welcome is heard before you enter the world of the proud warriors of the ancient Maori.

You will experience the powhiri (welcome ceremony) before you enter the village, with crackling open fires in front of traditional whare (houses). You'll hear traditional Maori instruments and watch the daily activities of days gone by. In the wharenui (meeting house), a Rangiatea culture group offers a powerful display of haka song and dance. Then, as new friendships are forged, dine on a traditional hangi feast, where the food is cooked slowly beneath the ground in earth ovens.

This is an amazing re-enactment based on actual events from history, with real characters, traditional arts and crafts, powerful song and dance while enjoying an authentic Hangi feas

USD $80.12

Review by: Linda V	March 2012
Good food, overall entertainment and insight into Maori culture.

Review by: Janet A W	February 2012
Absolutely fabulous trip, not to be missed. Excellent food, concert and even a very entertaining coach trip (thanks to Gnuta).....brilliant

Review by: Xandra	January 2012
Definitely a great introduction to the beautiful Maori culture. A MUST.

Review by: Frances M	December 2011
An excellent trip -enjoyed every minute of it. The coach driver was brilliant - she encouraged everyone to join in right from the outset. the Maori village, feast and show were outstanding. _br/_ I would highly recommend this trip - a not to be missed occasion.

Review by: Herbert J H	December 2011
Amazing show! Really money's worth..

Review by: Laura G	November 2011
Absolutely fantastic! A definite must do when in the area. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming - an amazing evening.

Review by: Carole M	November 2011
fantastic night. great hospitality, bus drivers were fantastic.

Review by: David L	September 2011
We all got picked up from our accomodation by a bus, (which was great) but the lady driver commentated all of the way to an from with one hand holding a microphone and one hand on the steering wheel! (a coach full of people) Surely they can afford a strap on microphone!! But everthing was fantastic!!

Review by: S J O	May 2011
The bus trip was a hoot - both ways. The performance was interactive, educational and highly entertaining. And the food was plentiful and delicious. Thoroughly recommended!!

Review by: Joseph C	March 2011
Tour guide was very good. I expected that there would be a drink with our meal. Had a good night

Review by: IAIN B	March 2011
Could not have been better

Review by: Marianne K	March 2011
Superb Experience!_br/_ It is highly entertaining and instructive! everyone is so warm and welcoming! Felt very privileged to learn more about this wonderful nation.

Review by: Rakesh A	February 2011
Fantastic experience. Our driver was highly entertaining, the mock village was surreal, and the food was ample. The Maori culture is really brought alive, and you feel very much like you're in Polynesia. Would recommend this to anyone!

Review by: Julie E W	February 2011
A magical evening - entertaining and educational. Food superb.

Review by: Helen D	February 2011
Another amazing trip. Very informative, performance excellent. The tour guide, Gnutta, was so good, very funny and had everyone laughing and completely at ease. Highly recommended.

Review by: MICHAEL H	January 2011
Don't miss this! A truly interesting, well managed and entertaining evening that brings you close to the Maori culture. A highlight of our holiday

Review by: John M	January 2011
Excellent and it was wonderful to share the culture and the history. Lovely food and fabulous company. Highlight of our trip. Thank you

Review by: Alison A	January 2011
The evening was fun and informative but over all too quickly. I would have liked more time at the start of the village to learn more about Maori culture. The dinner was tasty and there was enough of it. I enjoyed meeting people from other countries. Very worthwhile - thank you._br/_ Regards - Alison

Review by: James L	January 2011
Must do when u visit NZ

Review by: Jason G	January 2011
This is a must do when visting Rotorua!

Review by: Wendy T	December 2010
Thank you for a great evening. Our bus driver was great and his impressions were fantastic he should be on stage. The concert and hangi was very enjoyable far more than I expected having been to concerts many years ago in NZ. Will tell others visiting NZ to attend. The pick up and return to accommodation made it so much easier and the atmosphere in the bus on the way set the evening up so every one enjoyed the experience. Thank you so much and keep up the great work. Happy New Year. Wendy and Chief Gersh!

Review by: Oana T	December 2010
Fantastic experience! It was a great insight into the Maori culture. Our bus tour pick-up guide 'tata' was great and really added to the experience. Highly recommend this experience to other tourists!

Review by: Penelope S	November 2010
A great night out! The singing and dancing was enchanting, although the Hangi Dinner was slightly rushed. However, it tasted great.

Review by: Andrew S	November 2010
Couldnt recommend this tour enough! Very friendly crew from the hosts to the bus drivers. Everybody is there to make sure you feel welcome. Very well organised and the food was excellent and everybody ate more than enough. Would definitely take this tour again.

Review by: Kenneth H	November 2010
The evening was excellent. A great learning experience with entertainment as well. The whole bus had a entertaining evening.

Review by: Janice K	October 2010
A very professional and well-run cultural show. The dinner was delightful and the entertainment great. Could not recommend it higghly enough - a true piece of Maori culture.

Review by: Usha M	October 2010
Well worth the money, a great experience. The vegetarian option was decent.

Review by: John V	August 2010
If you want to do anything then this must be one of them

Review by: Margaret V, Australia	July 2010
the show and dinner was wonderful had a great time the bus driver who collected us from our accomodation and drove us to and from the show was a wonderful assett to The Tamaki Tours Group

Review by: Anonymous, United States of America	June 2010
very authentic, the forest was awesome, the food was actually pretty good!

Review by: Anonymous, United Kingdom	May 2010
I thought the ending ceremony was going to be better than it was but it was still a great night, highly recommended! Our bus driver was brilliant, the best and most fun I've ever come across, he made a great night even better. The hangi feast was really nice too! A great night.

Review by: Jon M, Canada	April 2010
This was a great opportunity to experience the Maori culture, and the food was great too.

Review by: Nanette O, Ireland	April 2010
We were a bit apprehensive about this, thinking it might be too touristy, but were delighted by the humour, dignity and professionalism of the participants as well as the delicious food - I refuse to confess how many helpings of pavlova I ate.

Review by: Anonymous, Australia	April 2010
Sorry cannot rate as I did not go

Review by: Anonymous, United States of America	April 2010
Very informative, well run and the meal was great!

Review by: NANETTE O	April 2010
We were a bit apprehensive about this, thinking it might be too touristy, but were delighted by the humour, dignity and professionalism of the participants as well as the delicious food - I refuse to confess how many helpings of pavlova I ate.

Review by: Rossa R	April 2010
Unique cultural experience. The evening started off when we were picked up from our hotel by Aruha our jolly driver who taught us some Maori words, chose our chief & made us sing along during the bus ride. On arrival at Tamaki village, we watched a welcoming ceremony & then got an opportunity to chat to the Maori abt various aspects of their culture this part should be longer as we felt very rushed. Thereafter watched a Maori cultural performance I wished they'd explained more abt each piece first & then feasted on a hangi prepared dinner. Again more opportunity should be given to explain how the Hangi works.

Review by: Jonathan M	April 2010
This was a great opportunity to experience the Maori culture, and the food was great too.

Review by: Ian F, Australia	March 2010
This is one of the best trips I have ever done in Rotorua. I've done a hangi and concert in Rotorua before, about 20 years ago (back when hangi and concerts used to be staged in hotel conference rooms), and this was a million times better. The setting in the bush was fantastic, especially with the light of the setting sun through the trees. The concert was great, and the food from the hangi was fantastic, really good, typical hangi food. Remember to save some room for the steam pudding after dinner, there is nothing like steam pudding cooked in a hangi! I can thoroughly recommend this trip.

Review by: Anonymous, United States of America	March 2010
The show was entertaining and the food was very good. Was told this particular excursion was much better than the dinner and performance that's given in certain hotels.

Review by: Sharon F, Australia	March 2010
This was an a fantastic experience, learning Maori culture. We were made to feel really welcome & the whole experience was great. The food was very yummy as well.

Review by: Kim F, Belgium	March 2010
Excellent evening. Only criticism is that we did not have enough time to go around and see all the different skills before going for the meal.

Review by: SHARON F	March 2010
This was an a fantastic experience, learning Maori culture. We were made to feel really welcome & the whole experience was great. The food was very yummy as well.

Review by: Trevor F	March 2010
Excellent evening. Only criticism is that we did not have enough time to go around and see all the different skills before going for the meal.

Review by: Big Dog	March 2010
This is one of the best trips I have ever done in Rotorua. I've done a hangi and concert in Rotorua before, about 20 years ago (back when hangi and concerts used to be staged in hotel conference rooms), and this was a million times better. The setting in the bush was fantastic, especially with the light of the setting sun through the trees. The concert was great, and the food from the hangi was fantastic, really good, typical hangi food. Remember to save some room for the steam pudding after dinner, there is nothing like steam pudding cooked in a hangi! I can thoroughly recommend this trip.

Review by: Carmen M, Australia	January 2010
It was extremely enjoyable and very informative, especially for the young children to learn the culture of the Maori, and the bus driver was entertaining and amusing. She made our journey most enjoyable. Recommend it highly.

Review by: Anonymous	January 2010
The start was a little strange, you get picked up by the bus and get taken to a building which essentially is for those people who haven’t yet paid to pay and give everyone an instruction sheet on Maori customs. However the experience once you are there is fantastic. Expect a lot of people, but its great. You get to watch a traditional Maori chief greeting, view a Maori village and then a performance of lots of song and dance. The hangi meal is served in a big banquet hall on tables of about 10. The food was exceptional and you have the opportunity afterwards to view how a hangi meal is prepared. Take the time to chat to the staff after dinner to get the most out of the experience. We learned a lot about the culture and is well worth doing.

Review by: Deborah P	January 2010
A thoroughly enjoyable evening from the bus ride there and back, the driver was an absolute hoot!, To the traditional Maori welcome and challenge, glimpse of pre-European Maori village life, delicious Hangi, "market" option and post-dinner sing-a-long! If you are looking to experience a Hangi while in Rotorua then I would recommend the one offered by Tamaki Moari Village.

Review by: Leah T, Australia	December 2009
The Rotorua Maori Hangi was brilliant! Everything from the very enthusiastic bus driver right through to the delicious dinner! Would highly recommend to all!

Review by: Michele W, Australia	November 2009
This was a fantastic night. It started with a great bus driver called Darren who got us all in the mood for a fantastic night. The Maori greeting was excellent, the village was fun and interactive and the food was excellent. This was worth every cent!