Rotorua's Essential 50: Day 15 - Ohinemutu Village

Ohinemutu Village

The sights, the smell, the atmosphere _ there is only one Ohinemutu.

Nestled between Lake Rotorua and the Utuhina Stream, Rotorua's oldest settlement is an essential visitor's destination. Rich in cultural history, it continues to be a centre point for Ngati Whakaue descendants today.

In the early 1870s, Ohinemutu was the main centre for the Rotorua region. Visitors, including royalty, were drawn to the busy settlement's geothermal activity before experiencing the city's geothermal wonders. Many homes still use the same cooking arrangements over the ngawha (boiling water) and many families have thermal bathing sheds.

The village remains an important place for Maori. It is the base for wharenui (meeting houses) Te Roro o Te Rangi, Tunohopu and Tamatekapua.

Tamatekapua meeting house, on Te Papaiouru marae, was named after the captain of the Arawa waka that brought the tribe's ancestors to New Zealand. Like all wharenui in the settlement, it is not open to the public but people can enjoy it from the outside.

Opposite is St Faith's Anglican Church, a century old next year, with Muruika Military Cemetery behind.

Entry to the village is free.

The Rotorua Daily Post Essential 50 lists the city's must-see, do and try activities and experiences, thanks to reader nominations. We'll highlight one daily over summer.