The Manukura Experience

Orakei Korako means 'place of adorning' – this is the ūkaipō (birthplace) and principal papa kāinga (home) of our people, Ngāti Tahu-Ngāti Whaoa. For generations, a fortified pā towered on the bank above the river, and people lived on the riverbanks amidst the geysers and hot pools.

Orakei Korako is home to the more active geysers than any other geothermal area in Aotearoa. If the timing is right, you may also see some of the tallest geysers in the country erupt from the air.

Learn about how the massive force of the awa is harnessed to create not just unforgettable experiences, but electricity too. Aratiatia refers first to the spectacular rapids and, later, the hydroelectric dam. When the dam is opened, 80,000 litres of white water per second roar out into the river. The dam was built in 1960, and the colossal size of the structure shows just how strong these waters are.

Ngā Awa Pūrua translates as 'the place where the river divides and breaks into rapids'. These world-famous rapids are the largest commercially jet-boated rapids in Aotearoa.