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Rotorua & Taupo Explore New Zealand, Australia & Fiji!
New Zealand's most visited archaeological site where stories of the 1886 Mount Tarawera Eruption come to life!
New Zealand's most visited archaeological site where stories of the 1886 Mount Tarawera Eruption come to life!
Highlights
- Visit the award-winning Museum of Te Wairoa exhibition
- Explore the archaeological sites which reveal the devastation of the eruption
- Gain unique insights with guided storytelling or by using our electronic tour app
- Children can partake in Smithy's Treasure Hunt with clues around the excavated sites
- Take a stroll along the waterfall trail to Te Wairoa Falls
The violent volcanic eruption of Mt Tarawera erupted in 1886 which engulfed the village of Te Wairoa in rocks, ash and mud. 150 lives were lost and the eighth wonder of the world; The Pink and White Terraces vanished.
Step back in time and learn the history of Te Wairoa village!
Museum of Te Wairoa - Displayed are a large array of objects over 90 years old excavated from the ruins of the eruption and exhibits of the early settlers.
Archaeological Site - Explore the devastation of the eruption as you walk through the excavated sites which once housed the people of Te Wairoa.
Waterfall Trail - View the magnificent Te Wairoa stream and Wairere Falls. Catch a glimpse of the trout in the stream making their way through the crystal clear waters and feel the spray from the stunning waterfall as it plunges 30 metres over the Waitoharuru cliffs.
Smith & Co Cafe + Gift Store - Established in 1931, Smith & Co Cafe and Gift Store provide famous Devonshire Tea and Scones, excellent coffee, delicious home baking and check out the great range of eco-friendly giftware and NZ books.
Children - The kids will love digging in the discovery room and exploring the Buried Village with Smithy our archaeologist, and playing on the playground at the end!
Fri 22 May
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- Adult$25.00
- Teen$10.00
- Adult$25.00
- Teen$10.00
- Adult$25.00
- Teen$10.00
- Adult$25.00
- Teen$10.00
- Adult$25.00
- Teen$10.00
- Adult$25.00
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- Adult$25.00
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- Adult$25.00
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- Adult$25.00
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- Adult$12.50
- Teen$10.00
- Adult$12.50
- Teen$10.00
- Adult$12.50 Less than 6 at this price!
- Teen$10.00
- Adult$12.50
- Teen$10.00
- Adult$12.50
- Teen$10.00
- Adult$12.50
- Teen$10.00
- Adult$12.50
- Teen$10.00
- Adult$12.50
- Teen$10.00
- Adult$12.50
- Teen$10.00
- Adult$12.50
- Teen$10.00
- Adult$17.50
- Teen$10.00
- Adult$17.50
- Teen$10.00
- Adult$17.50
- Teen$10.00
- Adult$17.50
- Teen$10.00
- Adult$17.50
- Teen$10.00
- Adult$17.50
- Teen$10.00
- Adult$17.50
- Teen$10.00
- Adult$17.50
- Teen$10.00
- Adult$17.50
- Teen$10.00
- Adult$17.50
- Teen$10.00
Authenticated Reviews & PhotosAll of our reviews are from people who have booked and paid for this activity thru Bookme
Gut aufgearbeitet, aber nicht wirklich begraben
Axel Conrad Schlegel from
Germany
Gut aufgearbeitet, aber nicht wirklich begraben
Axel Conrad Schlegel from
Germany
Gut aufgearbeitet, aber nicht wirklich begraben
Axel Conrad Schlegel from
Germany
AWESOME
Karen Watson from
NZ
Hidden gem
gailc6 from
Canada
Surprisingly good!
Joy Chong from
NZ
Surprisingly good!
Joy Chong from
NZ
A moving experience
Jocelyn Wilson from
NZ
A moving experience
Jocelyn Wilson from
NZ
A moving experience
Jocelyn Wilson from
NZ
Great time for the whole family
Nathan Ross from
NZ
Loved it!
Samantha from
NZ
Loved it!
Samantha from
NZ
Great Trip
Jill from
United Kingdom
Great Trip
Jill from
United Kingdom
Historical wonder
vivienneb from
NZ
Historical wonder
vivienneb from
NZ
Historical wonder
vivienneb from
NZ
Fantastic
ALISON from
NZ
Fantastic
ALISON from
NZ
Fantastic
ALISON from
NZ
Interesting and beautiful
eileent1 from
Australia
Interesting and beautiful
eileent1 from
Australia
Family adventure
davidz6 from
NZ
Family adventure
davidz6 from
NZ
Great Experience - Lots of adventure and Fun :)
Kaylee Shaw from
NZ
Te Wairoa Buried Village
krissie from
NZ
Te Wairoa Buried Village
krissie from
NZ
Te Wairoa Buried Village
krissie from
NZ
The buried village visit
Linda Ly from
Australia
Amazing Historical Site
Ness from
NZ
Amazing Historical Site
Ness from
NZ
Amazing
P from
NZ
Amazing
P from
NZ
Educational with a beautiful walk
arnekat from
NZ
Educational with a beautiful walk
arnekat from
NZ
Educational with a beautiful walk
arnekat from
NZ
Waterfall was spectacular
Jessne Mae from
NZ
Waterfall was spectacular
Jessne Mae from
NZ
Superb history and a bonus waterfall
janep10 from
United Kingdom
Superb history and a bonus waterfall
janep10 from
United Kingdom
Superb history and a bonus waterfall
janep10 from
United Kingdom
Worth a visit
Karen Willis from
NZ
Worth a visit
Karen Willis from
NZ
Beautiful grounds
lisaf31 from
Australia
Beautiful grounds
lisaf31 from
Australia
Great experience!
Kerin from
NZ
Happy new yr!
bronwynt2 from
NZ
Well worth the visit
dianad9 from
Australia
Well worth the visit
dianad9 from
Australia
Bit too expensive
annechristinaj from
NZ
Bit too expensive
annechristinaj from
NZ
Buried Village
Ronell Rohlandt from
NZ
Buried Village
Ronell Rohlandt from
NZ
Buried Village
Ronell Rohlandt from
NZ
Buried village
paulab3 from
NZ
Speechless
Stevieanne Edmonds from
NZ
Nice history lesson.
Julie Hart from
NZ
Buried Village Rotorua
DAVID CUTHERS from
NZ
Excellent
Debbie Wilson from
NZ
Excellent
Debbie Wilson from
NZ
Great fun
Annabelle Borrie from
NZ
A little bit of history
amandam26 from
NZ
A little bit of history
amandam26 from
NZ
A little bit of history
amandam26 from
NZ
Enjoyed exploring historical site at our own pace
kirstyw5 from
NZ
Enjoyed exploring historical site at our own pace
kirstyw5 from
NZ
Enjoyed exploring historical site at our own pace
kirstyw5 from
NZ
Well worth a visit
amirap from
NZ
Ataahua
Parekawa Turner-Graham from
NZ
Ataahua
Parekawa Turner-Graham from
NZ
Ataahua
Parekawa Turner-Graham from
NZ
Awesome Experience
Serenity from
NZ
Awesome Experience
Serenity from
NZ
Awesome Experience
Serenity from
NZ
Culture high
Rebecca from
United Kingdom
Culture high
Rebecca from
United Kingdom
Authenticated Reviews & PhotosAll of our reviews are from people who have booked and paid for this activity thru Bookme
Showing all 404 authenticated Bookme reviews
From The Buried Village - Archaeological Site and Museum Admission
Thanks for coming to visit us and learn the fascinating history of Te Wairoa
Karen Watson from New Zealand wrote on 30 March 2026
AWESOME
Totally enjoyed this, have never been before My hubby said he went here on school trip at intermediate, he was telling me what he remembers So he went 54 years ago... he really enjoyed his second trip here
From The Buried Village - Archaeological Site and Museum Admission
Thanks for coming back to visit us Many New Zealand school children have had educational visits to the Buried village over the years - it's great hearing stories of what they remember from their visits
Judith Peterson from Australia wrote on 04 March 2026
lovely 2 hours spent learning about this event
WE had a lovely time at the buried village - the staff were freindly and helpful - the information was useful and interesting
Axel Conrad Schlegel from Germany wrote on 21 May 2026
Gut aufgearbeitet, aber nicht wirklich begraben
The town wasn't really buried. I had somehow imagined something like Pompeii, but it was just a few stones in a meadow and some wooden huts they'd set up. The information signs repeated themselves quite often, at least in parts. The experience was geared toward children, but it didn't seem interesting to them. The waterfall was probably the highlight, but the stairs leading to it were terrible and not manageable for small children or older people. The museum was incredibly interesting and dramatic, but it portrayed the colonial era in a very positive light without questioning it or presenting the Māori perspective. It also describes a multitude of personal experiences in great detail... from tourists and white people. You hear very, very little about the Māori stories. It’s a real shame and, in a way, actually not okay.
From The Buried Village - Archaeological Site and Museum Admission
Thanks for taking the time to write this review We consider the outdoor site to be more than a meadow with some stories in it. There are many points of interest, including a rare pātaka - Māori food storage, baker's oven, whare (Māori houses) that have been excavated to the original floor level, parts of the old mill, hotel cellar as well as many other objects uncovered after the eruption. As a family we have spent decades uncovering the history of the village of Te Wairoa that was definitely buried by the eruption of Mount Tarawera. The museum tells European and Māori stories`, as this village unlike many others was European and Māori from the start, and was a great example of two cultures working together. Our VR exhibit and new outdoor signage also have many Māori ideas and perspectives. The tourists who came here were also European / Foreign generally speaking, and their accounts do provide important and interesting perspective about 1800's Te Wairoa. If you'd like to provide some specific ideas of where you feel Māori perspective could be added or enhanced, I'd be happy for you to email us discover@buriedvillage.co.nz
Stephanie Schwer from New Zealand wrote on 20 May 2026
Interesting history but disapointing overall
I found the Buried Village a bit disappointing overall, as it wasn’t quite as engaging as I expected. However, I did really enjoy learning about the history behind the site and the story of the Tarawera eruption—it was interesting and informative. Worth visiting if you’re into history, but I wouldn’t go in with high expectations.
From The Buried Village - Archaeological Site and Museum Admission
Glad you enjoyed learning about the history of Te Wairoa and Tarawera
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Kadisha from New Zealand wrote on 15 May 2026
A must do!!
I’ve been to Rotorua so many times but this was the first time we went here. It was amazing!!!! Very affordable, the most lovely staff & the coolest treasure hunt for our kids!! The drive to this place was stunning!! All in all an amazing experience. Well worth doing with your family