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Buried Village of Te Wairoa
Badge of ExcellenceRotorua, New Zealand
- 45 minutes to 2 hours
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Overview
Visit the Buried Village of Te Wairoa — New Zealand's most visited archaeological site. See historical exhibits on the 1886 Mt Tarawera eruption at the Museum of Te Wairoa, then discover the fate of the Pink and White Terraces on a walk along the Waterfall Trail. Your entrance ticket includes a guided tour that explains geothermal features and shares insight about how Maoris and early settlers lived in the village before it was devastated.
- Admission to the Buried Village of Te Wairoa
- Learn about the Mt Tarawera eruption at the museum
- Walk on the Waterfall Trail to Wairere Falls
- Take a guided tour of the archaeological site
What's Included
- GST (Goods and Services Tax)
- Food and drinks
- Souvenir photos (available to purchase)
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 1180 Tarawera Road, Lake Tarawera, Rotorua 3076, New Zealand
Start time
Opening hours
- 10/1/2022 - 3/31/2024
Wednesday - Sunday : 10:00 AM - 04:00 PM
- 4/1/2024 - 3/31/2025
Wednesday - Sunday : 10:00 AM - 04:00 PM
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.What To Expect
Located just a 15-minute drive from Rotorua, the Buried Village of Te Wairoa features an interactive museum, scenic walking trails and a look at the devastating effects of one of New Zealand’s greatest natural disasters: the Mt Tarawera volcanic eruption of 1886, which wiped out a natural landmark known as the Pink and White Terraces.
Expect to spend at least 1.5 hours for the entire experience, including audio guides, living history tours and talks by costumed guides scheduled throughout the day. Gain firsthand insight into the chaos of the night that Mt Tarawera erupted and destroyed Te Wairoa, a village of Maoris and missionaries that remained uncovered until 130 years later. Children can search for clues using a special guide map of the excavated sites.
On the Waterfall Trail, learn about the geothermal features of the landscape, including Lake Tarawera, and stand in the spray of Wairere Falls as it plunges 98 feet (30 meters) to the valley below.
You’ll find a range of goods at the gift shop and scones with tea or coffee at Vi's Teahouse.
Expect to spend at least 1.5 hours for the entire experience, including audio guides, living history tours and talks by costumed guides scheduled throughout the day. Gain firsthand insight into the chaos of the night that Mt Tarawera erupted and destroyed Te Wairoa, a village of Maoris and missionaries that remained uncovered until 130 years later. Children can search for clues using a special guide map of the excavated sites.
On the Waterfall Trail, learn about the geothermal features of the landscape, including Lake Tarawera, and stand in the spray of Wairere Falls as it plunges 98 feet (30 meters) to the valley below.
You’ll find a range of goods at the gift shop and scones with tea or coffee at Vi's Teahouse.
Buried Village of Te Wairoa
2 hours • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Hat, sunscreen, umbrella or raincoat are recommended
- Self-guided tour
- You can arrive at any time throughout the day, and stay for as long you'd like
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
Traveler Photos
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Reviews
4.5
83 reviews
Ella_S, Feb 2024
Absolutely incredible experience so informative and very moving learning about all the people that lived and worked here.
Thank you to the fabulous staff who were so helpful, definitely glad we listened to the advice about doing the extra part of the walk. The waterfall is amazing and well worth the steep steps!!
Kylie_N, Jan 2024
Definitely well worth visiting! Very moving part of history & the waterfalls at the end of the historic trail are amazing!
Rebecca_B, Jan 2024
Hubby and I enjoyed this history, the kids loved the treasure hunt and we went down the waterfall path wich was beautiful
Ross_H, Jan 2024
Drove down to the Lake for lunch, great views on the wayback.
Learnt a lot about the local history of this area and the story of the eruption was interesting.
Paula_S, Nov 2023
Met school children that were wonderful. Front desk lady explained the village perfectly. Grounds were amazing.
Kylie_G, Jun 2023
Learning the history of the buried village and of some of the people who lived there. The walk to the waterfall was beautiful.
KimFat_K, Jan 2023
This is my second time visit the site with my wife and 10 other friends, I can fill and see non of them [FRIENDS] are connected to this history, without tour guide just like flower without perfume.
Nicola_N, Jun 2022
Enjoyable time with the family, great way for the children to find out part of NZ history, by looking for the clues throughout the trail.
Fabienne_L, Jan 2023
Beaucoup d émotion lors de la lecture du passage devant les maisons.
lorsqu’on voit les photos du village détruit et avec la boue, et maintenant après 137 ans, la nature est magnifique.
From $16.19
up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Buried Village of Te Wairoa
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