Just five minutes from central Rotorua, Te Puia is an iconic destination for those wishing to immerse themselves in Maori culture and tradition and witness first-hand the power and spectacle of the geothermal forces that New Zealand is built on. Visit the NZ Maori Arts and Crafts Institute which acts as a guardian (kaitiaki) of the traditional Maori skills of carving and weaving for future generations, where at the artisan schools apprentices are trained by the masters. Next, venture into a landscape unlike any other with a guided tour of the bubbling mudpools and active geysers of the Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley. See the world-famous Pohutu geyser unleash vapour jets up to 30 metres high. Learn about how New Zealand’s national icon, the Kiwi - a nocturnal flightless endangered bird - is protected & wander through its native habitat of lush native bush, gaining an understanding of how native plants are used for food, medicine & handicrafts.