Haere Mai, Welcome In your own time, explore our unique nature walks, our colourful steaming lakes and thermal pools. WALKING TRACKS A TE ROTO A TAMAHEKE (LAKE OF TAMAHEKE) Explore our nature walks and view some of the unique flora and fauna of Whakarewarewa. This lake is named after Tamaheke, who was a chief living in this area many years Nowhere else in the world can you see several types of Manuka and Kanuka (tea tree), ago. The lake has a number of hot springs that heat it above boiling point. Pohutukawa (NZ Christmas tree) and many different types of fern and edible plants growing in such a harsh environment. B ROTO KANAPANAPA (LAKE KANAPANAPA) These walks only require a low level of fitness. Green Lake Infused with a mixture of geothermal minerals, this lake is green in colour and Mud Pools (Roto Kanapanapa) has a warm temperature. This pool was formally used by the Tohunga (Priest) in a ceremonial process to cleanse our deceased before burial. Kanapanapa Track (40 - 50 mins) B Tamaheke Track (10 - 15 mins) C HILL TOP LOOKOUT POINTS Walking Track (10 mins) Enjoy the view of Rotorua city, including Mokoia Island and Whakarewarewa Werenga Track Village. From this vantage point you can see two hill-top Pa (fortified villages) Tuturu Track (5 mins) of the Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao people. Black Lake Mud Pools (Roto Opouri) Hot Lakes C Miri Pōhutu Prince of Geyser Wales Pikopikowhiti No access Geyser Cemetery Lookout Kereru Geyser Lookout Walking Track Walking Track 25 26 Performance Pōhutu Geyser Lookout Venue 22 23 Catholic Church 24 Walking Track 15 21 Pōhutu Geyser Lookout 20 14 13 12 17 8 Hinganoa Drive Wāhiao Meeting 11 House 16 7 10 Tukiterangi Street 6 Village Bathing Area W āhiao Street 9 5 Te Roto A Tamaheke Walking Track 4 A 3 Huarere Street 1 2 Tour Lookout Starts Here 19 Mud Pools Admissions Anglican building S Church 18 Car Park Tryon Street W Geyser Café E ROTORUA NEW ZEALAND N 1. TE WHAKAREWAREWATANGAOTEOPETAUĀAWĀHIAO 10. OIL BATHS / TOP BATHS 19. TE WERENGA / TO SUSPEND Public Toilets Craft & Souvenir Shops 2. MEMORIAL ARCHWAY 11. WAIPURU / IMMERSE 20. TE MATAPUNA O PAPATUANUKU / EARTH SCIENCE FACILITY / GNS 3. BRIDGE & PENNY DIVERS 12. PUREREHUA / BUTTERFLY 21. TE KOHANGA REO / LANGUAGE NEST Rest Areas Civil Defence Assembly Area 4. TE PUARENGA STREAM (FLOATING BLOSSOM) 13. GEYSER LOOKOUT / VIEWING PLATFORM 1 22. CULTURAL PERFORMANCE AREA 5. WHAREPUNI / SLEEPING HOUSE 14. KOROTIOTIO / GRUMPY MAN 23. CATHOLIC CHURCH Hangi Meals / Cafe No Wheelchair access beyond this point 6. RAHUI / RESERVE 15. TUHOROMATAKAKA 24. MAGGIE PAPAKURA / GUIDE RANGI MEMORIAL 7. STEAM BOX HANGI / COOKING FROM THE EARTH 16. WHAKA CAFÉ 25. URUPA / CEMETERY First Aid Lookout / Viewing point 8. PAREKOHURU / MURDEROUS RIPPLES 17. WHARE TIPUNA / ANCESTRAL MEETING HOUSE 26. GEYSER TERRACE LOOKOUT / VIEWING PLATFORM 2 9. MAARA KAI / VEGETABLE GARDEN 18. TE ARAWA ANGLICAN CHURCH See over for more information on each item of interest 1. TE WHAKAREWAREWATANGAOTEOPETAUĀAWĀHIAO 10. OIL BATHS / TOP BATHS 19. TE WERENGA / TO SUSPEND The full name of our village translates to ‘The Uprising of the These are the village communal baths where residents bathe. This is the largest and most spectacular mud pool in our For Your Safety War Parties of Wāhiao’. Three centuries earlier a Warrior Chief The name comes from the oily texture and the mineral village. The mud is renowned for healing arthritis, lumbago, Here at Whakarewarewa the wellbeing and named Wahiao gathered an army to avenge the killing of his deposits within the water. Its healing properties were used to rheumatism and it is also said to give your skin a younger father and the people adopted the full name for the village. treat ailments such as arthritis, lumbago and rheumatism. safety of everybody is our first priority. Here appearance. The temperature of the mud is between 80-90 The name of our village was shortened to Whakarewarewa, are a few things you need to know when degrees Celsius and has the consistency like quick sand. or simply Whaka (pronounced ‘Wok-a). 11. WAIPURU / IMMERSE visiting our village: • Please watch children at all times. This pool was once used as the village copper to sterilise linen 20. TE MATĀPUNA O PAPATUANUKU / EARTH SCIENCE 2. MEMORIAL ARCHWAY and babies’ nappies before washing. It was only used for this Holding the hands of young children is FACILITY / GNS This memorial archway was erected after World War II in purpose. encouraged. commemoration of our fallen soldiers and tribal members who This facility offers you a source of knowledge relating to the • Please keep to all marked paths/tracks. served in the two World Wars. The inscriptions in the front of 12. PUREREHUA / BUTTERFLY many features of our geothermal environment and landscape, Due to geothermal activity, DO NOT archway Te Hokowhitu a Tu, acknowledges Tu (Tumatauenga), These pools are often referred to as the local weather such as from Māori legends about how our people came to wander of the paths/tracks. the guardian of War. Each year on the 25th April, the ANZAC forecaster. They are affected by the change in the weather be living on top of the geothermal. Also learn about evolving • Observe all warnings and signage (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) dawn parade is (atmospheric pressure). When the water level drops - we earth sciences. held to commemorate our fallen war heroes. know that the weather is going to change! • As this is a living village, be careful of moving vehicles 21. TE KŌHANGA REO/ LANGUAGE NEST 3. BRIDGE & PENNY DIVERS 13. GEYSER LOOKOUT / VIEWING PLATFORM 1 More safety information can be found on the The Māori language was introduced into the educational Our first bridge was erected in 1885. Prior to the building of From this platform you can see three of New Zealand’s most sign post near our Memorial Archway. curriculum in 1982 after a movement by the Māori people to the bridge the only way the visitors could enter our village was active geysers. Pōhutu is to the left, Prince of Wales ‘Feathers’ to be carried across the river by the men, often in return for to the right and Kereru to the far right. Ultimately, Mother the Government to retain our language. The Māori language a penny. For generations, local village children have jumped Nature determines when the geysers will erupt, however, only is spoken at Kōhanga Reo throughout New Zealand, Guided Tours: from the bridge for pennies (now gold coins) tossed into the on average they erupt at least once every hour. Pohutu including in the village pre-school which was established for Hourly from 9.00am to 4.00pm river by visitors crossing the bridge earning them the nickname (meaning Big Splash) is the most famous and largest of all local children. The children speak Māori commencing from (Excluding concert times) “Penny Divers”. This tradition proudly continues today. NZ’s geysers and varies in height from 10 to 40 meters. Prince the time they can talk, up to the age of 5 when they move on of Wales ‘Feathers’ is also known as Te Tohu (The Indicator) to Primary School. Map reference: 1 4. TE PUARENGA STREAM (FLOATING BLOSSOM) and is the most active of the three geysers. Kereru (meaning The floating blossoms refers to the yellow sulphur deposits Wood Pigeon), on the other hand, erupts randomly. 22. CULTURAL PERFORMANCE AREA that float and swirl as the deposits come down the stream. 14. KOROTIOTIO / GRUMPY OLD MAN Be entertained by our local performing group Te Pakira, and Concert / Cultural Performances: 5. WHAREPUNI / SLEEPING HOUSE This is the most volatile spring gushing super-heated water to enjoy both traditional and modern Māori song and dance. Daily 11.15am & 2.00pm Traditionally natural materials, kaponga (Tree fern), were the surface. This is the only pool in the village, and Rotorua, We have two 30 minute shows daily 11.15am and 2.00pm, Summer time - Additional concert 12.30pm with a third concert at 12.30pm in Summer. The concert utilised to build wharepuni/homes. The first occupants of where you can see water exploding out from the ground. In Map reference: 22 Whakarewarewa built directly on top of the geothermal area former days this pool was the main outlet for the oil baths and includes the ferocious Haka (war dance), Waiata a Ringa to take advantage and availability of the heat and warmth. has a consistent temperature of 104+ degrees Celsius, but (action songs), long and short stick games, Poi dancing and can reach 120 degrees Celsius. audience participation. 6. RAHUI / RESERVE Day-Time Hangi Meals: 15. TUHOROMATAKAKA This area is the locality of many hot springs. The residents of 23. CATHOLIC CHURCH Served between 12.00pm - 2.00pm the village and families of Tūhourangi, Ngāti Wāhiao utilise This house is named after our ancestor Tuhoromatakaka and This was built in 1905. Many family members of the village are the resources for daily cooking and bathing. was built by master carver Tene Waitere for Maggie Papakura, Map reference: 16 one of our famous guides (Guides Profile No3). Catholic and so are buried in the tombs around the Catholic 7. STEAM BOX HANGI / COOKING FROM THE EARTH Church. The first inhabitants of the village discovered that, by 16. WHAKA CAFÉ harnessing the heat from the ground, food could be cooked. A ‘NZ Must Do’ is experience our unique geothermal hangi 24. MAGGIE PAPAKURA / GUIDE RANGI MEMORIAL This has always been the traditional way of cooking within meal and our world-famous hangi pies. Our food is cooked in In the early part of last century Maggie Papakura was one the village.