Rotorua hāngī one of the top 10 experiences in the world on TripAdvisor bookings

A hāngī at Rotorua's Tamaki Village was voted a top experience by TripAdvisor's half a billion users. Photo / Supplied, TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor has crunched the numbers to distil millions of bookings around the world and create a list of the very best of travel experiences.

Using their database of bookings and comments the bookings website has created a list of 25 experiences which were favourites with travellers last year.

At number 7 on that list was a hāngī ceremony in Rotorua's Tamaki Māori Village.

According to Trip Advisor the traditional Māori hāngī in Rotorua is up there with breakfast at the Vatican and a bicycle street tour of Berlin.

The event at the Tamaki village was the only New Zealand entry on the list, but it was a clear favourite among visitors.

Lady Saifiti, the marketing manager for Tamaki Māori Village, has been working with TripAdvisor to increase the attraction's profile.

"We're obviously stoked about the result. To be number seven of over 100,000 experiences on the website is amazing," she said.

"We were also particularly pleased to be the only cultural experience to have made the list. And the way they [TripAdvisor] reached that result, it's all come from positive reviews.

"It's great to be able to put Rotorua and New Zealand on the map."

Commenting on the results, TripAdvisor spokesperson James Kay said:
"Travel is all about new experiences and these awards, decided by reviews and ratings from the TripAdvisor community, showcase some of the best things to do around the world for every type of traveller.

"If that's a glow worm cave tour in New Zealand, or exclusive inner circle access at Stonehenge, these awards highlight fantastic ways for travellers to immerse themselves in the local culture whilst also inspiring local residents to experience something new right on their doorstep."

There were a huge range of experiences and budgets catered to on the list.

The Traveller's choice experience included everything from an Italian cooking course in Tuscany for $170, a $55 cycle tour of Berlin and a $120 tour of New York City most iconic sights.

In a separate ranking for New Zealand attractions TripAdvisor included the Waitomo Caves, a tour of Dunedin and a helicopter trip to the Franz Josef Glacier.

A helicopter hike of the Franz Josef Glacier was one of New Zealand's top attractions. Photo/Supplied TripAdvisor

Rotorua which lead the listings in New Zealand has shot to international recognition as a top destination for 2018 when it featured as one of the top destinations for New York Times.

TOP TEN EXPERIENCES IN THE WORLD

1. Cooking Class and Lunch at a Tuscan Farmhouse with Local Market Tour from Florence - Florence

2. Berlin Bike Tour - Berlin

3. New York in One Day Guided Sightseeing Tour - New York

4. Sydney Bridge Climb - Sydney

5. Vatican VIP Experience: Exclusive Breakfast at the Vatican with Early Access to Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel – Rome

6. New Orleans Cooking Class – New Orleans

7. Rotorua Maori Hāngī Dinner and Performance – Rotorua, New Zealand

8. Best of Niagara Falls Tour from Niagara Falls, Ontario - Canada

9. Vancouver to Victoria and Butchart Gardens Tour by Bus -Canada

10. Wild Wicklow Tour including Glendalough from Dublin – Dublin

TOP TEN EXPERIENCES IN NEW ZEALAND

1.Rotorua Maori Hāngī Dinner and Performance – Rotorua, New Zealand

2.Waitomo Caves trip from Auckland – Auckland

3.Queenstown Skyline Gondola – Queenstown

4.Hobbiton Walking Tour – Matamata

5.Milford Sound Day Tour from Queenstown – Queenstown

6.Te Anau Glow Worm Caves – Te Anau

7.Dunedin Shore Excursion – Dunedin

8.Auckland Hop-on Hop-off bus tour – Auckland

9.Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise – Milford Sound

10.Heli-Hike Franz Josef Glacier walk – Fox Glacier