Buried Village of Te Wairoa
Buried Village of Te Wairoa
Buried Village of Te Wairoa
4
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
Experience New Zealand's most visited archaeological site where stories of the 1886 Mt Tarawera Eruption come to life! Violent and unexpected, the volcanic eruption was one of New Zealand's greatest natural disasters, burying the peaceful village of Te Wairoa, and ending more than 150 lives. Today at the Buried Village encounter the world class Museum of Te Wairoa, explore the Archaeological Site which once housed the people of Te Wairoa, experience the unique insights of stories from our tour guides, and take the Waterfall Trail which showcases the stunning Wairere Falls.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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from $26.67
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4.0
1,101 reviews
Excellent
516
Very good
393
Average
145
Poor
33
Terrible
14
NamFahBluewaterworld
Surin, Thailand1,408 contributions
Dec 2023 • Couples
At firs quite boring but it had a nice garden and display after that a long walked to waterfalls it was amazing and challenging. Such a great walked.
Written 30 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dayle D
40 contributions
Average tourist attraction especially for the few charged. Staff very friendly. Beautiful gardens , gorgeous waterfall
Written 23 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Clementine D
1 contribution
Nov 2023 • Couples
Great visit at the Buried Village, full of history and very interesting explaination. And there is a gorgeous shop at the end. Thank you for the experience, we loved it !!!
Written 19 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Smoltman
Courtenay, Canada9,064 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
This was a terrible tragedy and this museum did a very good depiction of it. The displays, artifacts and descriptions were well done. We spent over 2 hours here and did the museum part and walked around the site. The waterfall was amazing.
Written 10 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Phoebe H
Fremont, CA75 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
The village was an unexpected excellent find. It was well laid out, and fascinating for history fans. Much work had been put into telling the story which was perfectly brought to life. The grounds and walk were beautiful... we only wish we had had enough time to get to the waterfall. We read everything and it did take longer than the recommend time. Nice place for a picnic afterwards!
Written 7 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
G M
1 contribution
Oct 2023 • Solo
I imagine the excavations were at their peak some time ago, and I think 'The submerged village of Te Wairoa' would be a more fitting name. The eruption event is interesting but the weathered excavations seem to lack something to spark further interest. The waterfalls, museum and superb cafe make up for the international entrance fee. A little rejuvenation wouldn't go amiss.
Written 8 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stopticklingmeplease
Whanganui, New Zealand157 contributions
Came here with two friends to have a look around the buried village and have a scone and drink. We haven’t been out here since we were kids so it was rather nice to have a look at the museum and a walk around.
It is a little pricey but I think for something that is so unusual it’s worth it.
It is a little pricey but I think for something that is so unusual it’s worth it.
Written 3 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TraceyC62
Burpengary, Australia155 contributions
The museum and outdoor display gives a good idea of life before the eruption and then the devastation. The walk to the falls does have steps, but if you are reasonably fit and take your time, it's worth the effort, especially if they've had rain.
Written 13 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
g0girlmelb0urne
Melbourne, Australia60 contributions
Apr 2023 • Couples
We stumbled across this interesting historical site on our way out of Rotarua- and it was well worth the visit. The first part is a museum which explains the story of a volcanic explosion which destroyed the once thriving village of Te Wairoa. The second part is a walk around the site of the village. While there are no remaining buildings, signs and photos provide explanations of buildings and families that lived there. The mountain region is also a beautiful place to walk through. The third optional, but highly recommended, part is a short uphill hike to the waterfall. Finish your visit with refreshments at the tearoom. All staff very pleasant. We had a very enjoyable visit.
Written 20 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JElliot32
New South Wales, Australia3,800 contributions
Mar 2023
A visit to the Buried Village is in three parts: the museum; the excavated village site, and (for something completely different!) the waterfall. You start at the museum, which I can only describe as brilliant. Worth 5 stars in its own right. The story of the eruption of Mt Tarawera in 1886 and the destruction of the world-famous Pink and White Terraces ('the Eighth Wonder of the World') as well as the annihilation of Te Wairoa and several other villages is told here with great skill and imagination, using an array of resources like wonderful, evocative old photos, household items retrieved from the archeological dig, excerpts from contemporaneous letters and diaries, etc. It is completely compelling.
Next section is a meander through the site of the excavated village, which is well sign-posted but far less compelling than the museum. It didn't look like any serious archeological digging had been done for years - and yet there were important sites mentioned in the museum that are not accounted for in the walk. One is the whare of the Maori Guide Sophia, where she sheltered 60 people on the night of the eruption. Guide Sophia was one of the true heroes of the disaster and it would have been good to see where her house had stood (assuming it is known).
The third part of the site is the Wairere Falls, also excellent though probably not recommended if you have mobility issues. The path down to the falls (especially the base) is steep and can be slippery. Not a big waterfall though the drop is an impressive 30 metres.
Next section is a meander through the site of the excavated village, which is well sign-posted but far less compelling than the museum. It didn't look like any serious archeological digging had been done for years - and yet there were important sites mentioned in the museum that are not accounted for in the walk. One is the whare of the Maori Guide Sophia, where she sheltered 60 people on the night of the eruption. Guide Sophia was one of the true heroes of the disaster and it would have been good to see where her house had stood (assuming it is known).
The third part of the site is the Wairere Falls, also excellent though probably not recommended if you have mobility issues. The path down to the falls (especially the base) is steep and can be slippery. Not a big waterfall though the drop is an impressive 30 metres.
Written 19 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Buried Village of Te Wairoa
- Buried Village of Te Wairoa admission prices can vary. Entrance tickets currently cost $27.81, while a popular guided tour starts around $109.48 per person.
- Hotels near Buried Village of Te Wairoa:
- (0.43 km) Tarawera Views - Luxury 5 Bedroom | Spa Pool & Fantastic Lake Views
- (5.46 km) Solitaire Lodge
- (3.91 km) Blue Lake Top 10 Holiday Park
- (10.17 km) B&B @ The Redwoods
- (11.62 km) Kings On Peace
- Restaurants near Buried Village of Te Wairoa:
- (1.25 km) The Landing Cafe
- (13.03 km) EL Mexicano Zapata Cantina
- (11.18 km) Ciabatta Cafe and Bakery
- (13.11 km) Gelato Mio Ice Cream
- (13.02 km) Ali Baba's Tunisian Cuisine