Whakarewarewa Village rondleiding

The tour was great The guide was inspiring and à great actor The explanations were very clear and the corn to eat was extra tasty A must do in rotorua

Daniel the Legend, Corn from Hell’s Cauldron & a Haka That Shook My Soul! If you leave New Zealand without visiting a Māori village, I’m sorry! but your holiday is basically an unfinished Netflix episode. You simply must do it. And THIS village tour? Absolute chef’s kiss. ???? Let’s talk scenery: it’s like stepping into a fantasy movie set, except the dragons are underground, bubbling water instead of breathing fire (although after touching the steam, I’m convinced the earth does have spicy lungs). Our guide? DANIEL THE MAJESTIC. This man isn’t just a tour guide. He’s a part-time historian, full-time comedian, and part-time wizard (he summoned laughter from thin air and made time fly). His stories had us laughing, gasping, and then nodding thoughtfully like wise elders. Honestly, someone give him a Netflix special. Now for the highlight: we were offered steamed corn cooked in a literal boiling geothermal pool. Yes, CORN. Cooked by the EARTH. And let me tell you, it was juicy, steamy, and didn’t taste like it had been flavoured by rotten eggs, which was a lovely surprise because, let’s be honest, sulphur usually smells like someone lost a bet kablooee with a skunk. And THEN came the performances. The haka? Goosebumps. I think my soul briefly left my body to applaud. The songs? Beautiful. The energy? Impeccable. The vibes? Off the geothermal charts. In short: go. Bring a camera. Bring your curiosity. And bring your appetite for culture, laughter, and hot corn. 11/10 – would let Daniel adopt me into his village family any day.

I’m so glad we chose to do the guided tour — it was absolutely worth it. A big thank you to Shane at the booking office, who took the time to explain the difference between joining a tour and just wandering around on our own. Shane, you’re a real gem and a fantastic ambassador for the village. The tour was packed with fascinating insights into the village, Māori culture, and traditional beliefs. It was time very well spent. One highlight was tasting corn cooked right in one of the natural hot pools — delicious! Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable, sharing both the rich history of the village and the dramatic story of the 1886 Mt Tarawera eruption that buried a nearby village about 20 km away. I highly recommend the guided experience — it truly brought the place to life.