Booking fee
The booking fee includes the costs of booking your tickets such as charges for payment processing. It also covers the provision of our customer care center for processing your order, and all charges imposed by our suppliers.
* This tour requires at least one of the following per booking: Adult, Senior
Experience New Zealand's most visited archaeological site, and hear stories of the 1886 Mt. Tarawera eruption. This guided tour features a range of historical exhibits nestled in the scenic New Zealand landscape. Visitors can take peaceful walking trails and discover the life stories of the inhabitants whose fates were intertwined with the volcanic eruption. Discover the legacy of the Pink and White Terraces, which were once considered to be the Eighth Wonder of the World.
GST (Goods and Services Tax)
Food and drinks
Souvenir photos (available to purchase)
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Departure Point
1180 Tarawera Road, Lake Tarawera, Rotorua 3076, New Zealand
Buried Village of Te Wairoa, Rotorua, New Zealand The Buried Village of Te Wairoa, just a 15-minute drive from Rotorua city, offers a firsthand look at one of New Zealand’s greatest natural disasters. Learn about the devastating effects when Mt. Tarawera erupted in 1886, which buried Te Wairoa and ended more than 150 lives. Now, well over a century later, the excavated village provides a unique opportunity to see how the area's Maori inhabitants and early settlers lived.
Guided group tours, audio/video tours, and talks, which are included with your admission ticket, are scheduled throughout the day. Learn about the geological and geothermal features of Lake Tarawera, Mt. Tarawera, and the surrounding lakes region. Find out what happened to the Pink and White Terraces, once a popular natural landmark. Discover how the village of Te Wairoa came to be, the role it played in developing the region, and how its legacy continues to influence New Zealand's tourism industry to this day.
Encounter the world-class Museum of Te Wairoa and its collection of excavated objects. Explore the archaeological site, which reveals the devastation of the eruption, and walk a paved path along the very sites that the people of Te Wairoa once called home. Take the Waterfall Trail to Wairere Falls, which plunges 98 feet (30 meters) to the valley below.
Head to Vi's Teahouse for delicious scones, Devonshire tea, and excellent coffee, or browse the range of gifts in the gift store. Children can search through the excavated sites for clues, or go to the Adventure Playground.
Allow 1–1.5 hours to experience the entire Buried Village. 120 minutes
Wheelchair accessible
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately. Bring walking shoes and protection from adverse weather. The paths are flat and paved but the optional waterfall trail has several flights of stairs.
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
Wheelchair available for public use - please inquire at reception
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure 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.
Destiny321
12 Apr 2025
This was nice but underwhelming considering all the positive reviews. Unsure if this was supposed to be a guided tour, but we weren’t given this option.
Too expensive considering what we experienced. This feels like a tourist trap
darylh713
02 Apr 2025
Museum was great. Walking around the village was amazing to step back in time and the waterfall walk was truly amazing and well worth the effort if you're able.
ChristyM1995
19 Mar 2025
This was very interesting and informative. There is a nice museum before you go outside to walk around the remains of the village. There is a path and lots of informative signs to read. You can also choose to walk down to the bottom of a waterfall. (I highly recommend doing this) At the end there is a very nice gift shop and cafe.
This tour in
North Island
is organized by
Buried Village
We always double-check the availability with our local partners for each booking. Even though this is usually a swift process, it can take up to 24 hours. Once this process is completed you will receive your voucher or ticket by email. If our local partner is not able to confirm your booking we will offer you the best possible alternative. If the new date and/or time doesn’t fit your itinerary, we will reimburse the full amount paid.
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