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Craft your own vibrant glass pumpkin in just 45 minutes with Amokura Glass in Rotorua. This one-on-one workshop blends artisan skill and geothermal energy for a unique creative adventure.
Craft your own vibrant glass pumpkin in just 45 minutes with Amokura Glass in Rotorua. This one-on-one workshop blends artisan skill and geothermal energy for a unique creative adventure.
Book with Amokura Glass
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Amokura Glass · Rotorua, Bay of Plenty
Set against the geothermal wonders of Rotorua in New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty, Amokura Glass offers a distinctly hands-on adventure that blends fiery creativity with skilled craftsmanship. The Pumpkin Workshop invites participants aged 14 and up to step into a compact hot-glass studio where molten glass transforms beneath the guidance of an expert instructor.
In just 45 minutes, you’re introduced to the tools and techniques that have shaped glass artistry for centuries, then invited to choose your own vibrant colors—from traditional orange and green to striking reds, purples, and blues. Here, the glowing molten glass becomes more than molten silica; it turns into a radiant glass pumpkin with detailed ridges and a whimsical curly stem. Each pumpkin captures light uniquely, creating a piece that brightens any space with its fiery hues.
This intimate experience runs one-on-one, ensuring personalized attention and a direct connection with the craft. After sculpting, your pumpkin cools safely over 16 hours before collection or shipping, meaning your masterpiece is ready the next day, letting you savor the memory beyond the studio walls.
Rotorua itself is a natural playground of bubbling mud pools, steaming vents, and rare native flora, making Amokura Glass a creative complement to your outdoor pursuits here. It’s a place where heat shapes both earth and art, offering a rare indoor adventure perfectly suited to this geothermal hotspot. Whether you’re a traveler seeking a tactile souvenir or a local looking for a unique craft, the Pumpkin Workshop at Amokura Glass is an unforgettable way to engage with Rotorua’s fiery spirit.
Perfectly combining artistry, heat, and culture, this workshop captures a creative spark in one of New Zealand’s most geologically intriguing locations.
easy.
45 minutes.
No special fitness required; must be able to stand and move safely in the studio.
No prior experience is necessary; the instructor guides you every step of the way.
Each session lasts approximately 45 minutes.
Yes, you can select from a wide range of colors to create your unique piece.
Participants must be at least 14 years old for safety reasons.
Wear close-toed shoes, long pants, and a shirt made of natural fibers like cotton or wool.
Glass pumpkins require 16 hours to cool and are available for collection the next day or can be shipped to you.
Rotorua holds deep cultural significance for the Māori people, featuring geothermal activity sacred to indigenous traditions.
Amokura Glass emphasizes sustainability by minimizing waste and safely recycling glass materials during the workshop.
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