Luckme was da bomb. Po koko hua!, lol, just kidding. My wife and I instantly connected with her! Felt like we have known her our whole lives. Our sistren!
We had a wonderful experience. William was personable and engaging, answering all of our questions and sharing so much of his culture and life with us. We loved how personalized the experience was. We shared the SUV with just one other couple. This is not an experience to miss!
Minor information on Maori culture sitting with further 2 couples + guide in a medium sized car. 2 of 3 hours spent with driving round Lake Rotorua without any possibility to escape from german and dutch nursery rhyme singing guide. Expectations for such guided tour were definitely not met. Time and money spent were not worth that „experience“.
An exceptional cultural tour that surpassed our expectations in every way. Ranui Tamati-Parata, daughter to serving village elder, her mother, and past village Chief, her father, is articulate and a great story teller. Ranui is also an attorney and educated us on some of the legal challenges that the Maori face in maintaining and reclaiming their land. The family traces their Maori lineage back 17 generations of Maori natives and are devoted stewards of their land. Accompanied by her son, who gives award winning Maori dance shows in Roturua, they made a perfect duo. We saw the fabled blue and green lakes, pink white terraces from a distance, and their Village gathering center, which displayed beautiful artistic carvings. The tour concluded with a panoramic view of the land, rivers and bays atop their working farm, where Ranui and her son graciously served us hot tea from their modern, well appointed welcome cabana.
If you want a truly authentic experience, this is it. "Harry" shared his culture, his land, his history and more! An amazing time with a caring, funny, passionate guide. An experience we will not soon forget.