The road ahead unfolds in a broad panorama of Lake Taupo, the largest (and perhaps bluest) of its kind in the country – it feeds thundering Huka Falls, which you’ll hear well before you see. It’s a landscape almost as otherworldly as Rotorua, where mud pops and jettisons from bubbling geysers, and steam rushes skywards from cracks in the Earth. This afternoon, explore Te Puia's geothermal valley, and learn about Maori history and culture. Visit a traditional Pounamu workshop for a fascinating insight the art of jade carving, where you will witness skilled artisans at work, and learn about the cultural significance of pounamu (New Zealand greenstone) in Maori tradition. Later, you are welcomed to Te Puia with a cultural performance in a finely carved meeting house, Te Aronui a Rua. Continue to the Pohutu Geyser, where, armed with a hot chocolate you'll view one of New Zealand's geothermal wonderlands, and end your evening with a dinner of hangi inspired cuisine.