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Craft your own colorful fused glass soap dish at Amokura Glass in Rotorua. Perfect for beginners, this three-hour workshop turns sheets of glass into lasting art without traditional glassblowing heat.
Craft your own colorful fused glass soap dish at Amokura Glass in Rotorua. Perfect for beginners, this three-hour workshop turns sheets of glass into lasting art without traditional glassblowing heat.
Book with Amokura Glass
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Amokura Glass · Rotorua, Bay of Plenty
Rotorua’s geothermal energy and vibrant arts scene converge in a unique creative offering at Amokura Glass. Located on Fairy Springs Road in New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty, this studio presents a fresh take on outdoor-adjacent adventure through a hands-on fused glass workshop. Set in a region famed for steaming vents, rhyolite formations, and lush native forests, Amokura Glass adds an urban creative pulse that complements Rotorua’s rugged natural landscape.
The Fused Glass Workshop invites beginners to craft their own colorful soap dish and coaster over an immersive three-hour session. Unlike traditional glassblowing, this experience avoids direct exposure to intense heat, focusing instead on cutting and arranging sheets of translucent and opaque glass that are later kiln-fired to bond into a functional work of art. With class sizes capped at six, every participant receives focused instruction on design principles, pattern-making, and glass handling techniques.
This workshop is ideal for travelers seeking a tactile, artistic complement to Rotorua’s outdoor attractions such as Whakarewarewa Forest trails or the nearby Blue and Green Lakes. It’s also well-suited for families and individuals looking to tap into local craft traditions without prior experience. Protective gear and clear safety practices ensure the creative adventure is safe without compromising inspiration.
Amokura Glass’s presence enriches Rotorua’s reputation as a destination that blends natural wonders with cultural innovation. The soap dish workshop offers an accessible, rewarding hands-on project that lets visitors carry home a bespoke souvenir forged by their own hands. In a region best known for geothermal marvels, this glass fusing experience opens a refreshing window into the art of transformation through heat, color, and form.
easy.
3 hours.
Suitable for most fitness levels; requires basic dexterity to cut and arrange glass pieces
No prior experience is needed. The workshop is designed for beginners to learn glass cutting and arranging.
Participants must be at least 10 years old. Ages 10–15 require adult supervision.
You will not handle hot glass directly. The glass is fired separately in a kiln after the class.
Finished works are available for pickup the next day or can be shipped to you.
Wear close-toed shoes, long pants, and a shirt made of natural fibers like cotton or wool for safety.
Classes are limited to 6 participants to ensure personalized instruction.
Rotorua is a significant cultural center for the Māori people, with geothermal features deeply woven into local traditions.
Amokura Glass prioritizes sustainable practices, minimizing waste and promoting eco-friendly materials in their studio.
Amokura Glass is a Rotorua-based studio in the Bay of Plenty that teaches glass art through hands-on workshops and weekend courses. The studio offers a range of beginner-friendly experiences including fused glass ornament and soap-dish sessions, short blown-glass projects such as a 45-minute pumpkin workshop, a paperweight class with multiple designs and colors, and multi-day weekend introductions and follow-on intensives. Each class emphasizes personalized instruction with limited class sizes so participants receive one-on-one guidance from skilled instructors. Amokura Glass presents both glass fusing—cutting and assembling colored glass sheets and kiln-firing—and hot glassblowing techniques involving gathering, shaping, and coloring molten glass. Visitors can expect safety briefings, step-by-step demonstrations, and hands-on practice that result in finished pieces to take home. The studio is suitable for individuals, couples, small groups, and those seeking a creative addition to Rotorua itineraries. All workshops include materials, tools, and post-process handling such as kiln firing when required. Booking ahead is recommended to secure a spot in popular sessions. Safety equipment is provided on site.
Book with Amokura Glass