At the Mitai Maori Village we got to experience a natural bush setting, and see warriors in traditional dress paddle an ancient warrior canoe (waka) down the Wai-o-whiro stream. We also saw glow worms in their natural habitat.
The Maori Village is a 15 minutes drive from Rotorua. It was about a 4 hour tour and dinner. We saw a performance from the warriors of the ancient Maori and experience the powhiri (welcome ceremony). They did a powerful display of haka song and dance before we dine on a traditional hangi feast, where the food was cooked slowly beneath the ground in earth ovens. It was a very interesting and enjoyable experience.