THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
Step into the heat of the hot shop in Rotorua and craft your own glass tumbler in this unique 45-minute workshop from Amokura Glass. Learn the art of glass-blowing hands-on and take home a vibrant, functional souvenir.
Step into the heat of the hot shop in Rotorua and craft your own glass tumbler in this unique 45-minute workshop from Amokura Glass. Learn the art of glass-blowing hands-on and take home a vibrant, functional souvenir.
Book with Amokura Glass
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Amokura Glass · Rotorua, Bay of Plenty
Rotorua, located in New Zealand’s geothermal heartland on the North Island’s Bay of Plenty, is famed for its bubbling mud pools and vibrant Māori culture—but it also offers a rare hands-on art adventure through Amokura Glass’s Tumbler Workshop. Set in a world-class hot glass studio, this 45-minute session puts you directly in the role of a glass artist, guiding you to blow and shape molten glass into your own functional tumbler.
Amokura Glass stands out in Rotorua’s outdoor recreation scene by bridging traditional craft techniques with immersive, tactile experience. With twelve vivid color options and three distinct styles, you don’t just watch glassmaking—you actively mold a piece of everyday art. This is more than a workshop; it's a focused, one-on-one session with skilled glass artists who walk you through the hot shop’s tools, the science behind glass-blowing, and the delicate process of shaping the sidewalls and opening the mouth of the tumbler.
The studio experience is a unique complement to Rotorua’s natural attractions, offering an indoor adventure into fire and artistry amid a region renowned for its volcanic landscape, silica terraces, and lush native forest. The hot glass process requires precise timing and care—your tumbler spends 16 hours cooling before it’s ready to take home or be shipped.
Participants must be 14 or older and prepared with proper attire like close-toed shoes and natural fiber clothing, aligning safety with creativity. This workshop is ideal for visitors who want something tangible from their New Zealand trip beyond the usual hiking or geothermal sightseeing. Amokura Glass’s workshop distills heat, skill, and color into a masterpiece you’ll actually use—making it a standout and memorable experience in Rotorua’s adventure offerings.
easy.
45 minutes.
Participants should be able to stand and move independently for short periods.
Participants must be at least 14 years old to join the workshop.
The workshop runs about 45 minutes, including instruction and hands-on glass-blowing.
No, glass must cool safely for 16 hours. You can collect it the next day or have it posted.
Close-toed shoes, long pants, and a shirt made of natural fibers like cotton, wool, or linen.
No prior experience is needed; instructors guide you step-by-step through the process.
Yes, you can select from twelve colors and three styles for your tumbler.
Rotorua is a center for Māori culture and history and was established as a tourist destination in the late 19th century around its hot springs.
Amokura Glass emphasizes sustainable practices by careful use of energy and minimizing waste in their hot shop operations.
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