Buried Village Of Te Wairoa

The museum here is fantastic, it has a very clear timeline & recount of the villages, settlers, tourists & life before & after the 1886 eruption. The Smith family should be very proud of the work they have done to resurrect this part of history & escavate the village to show what the eruption meant for the village.

This is something that you just don't see every day so it is worth going just for that reason. It is just so surreal walking around the site and trying to imagine the horrors and wonders of that historic night. I wish I could have seen the pink and white terraces. I also think it would have been truly amazing to see the eruption (from a safe distance of course!). It is also one of the cheaper experiences in the Rotorua area so I'm not sure why people are complaining about the price.

What an interesting history that the buried villiage tells us about. A good price for the experience. It took us about an hour to go through the history and walk the grounds. Being August, it was quiet, but it was a lovely educational experience that was enjoyed by us both.

I was a little disappointed, there is a lot of information at the beginning and it is all very interesting, but was a little lost once we walked outside. I wasn't sure exactly what I was looking at. Also we were told there was a wonderful waterfall loop to walk, but then you get there and no loop because of a rockfall, so you were not sure how far to go. More accurate information on this would have been nice. I felt it was a bit overpriced for what it was, although well set out. A great affordable cafe on site is a bonus though.

We visited the Buried Village during our Honeymoon Campervan adventure. Found the museum to be very informative and well worth the trip off the beaten track. As Australians on our first visit to New Zealand we learned a lot about the history and culture while visiting. This location is a stark reminder of how temporary we as humans are in the face of nature's raw fury. The walk through the village and waterfalls was stunning and loved the stories alongside the historical sites. We also enjoyed great service from the curators and coffee shop staff alike. Definitely recommend a visit.

Was a surprising little gem of a place. Awesome walk down to a beautiful view of a water fall. Gorgeous little cafe and gift shop. Definitely recommend

Beautiful scenery Interesting Steep stairs We did it in very heavy rain, but that made it more atmospheric, lush and challenging in some areas. Enjoyed it more than expected.

Informative and tragic step back in time of the 1886 volcanic eruption which near destroyed the village of Te Wairoa. The personal memoirs from survivors recounted traumatic first-hand experiences brought the event to life.

We appreciate that this is a small private enterprise, but the price is too high. We were occupied for 1.5hrs. The museum and the waterfall are the highlights. The excavated areas are certainly not Pompeii. Having read and heard about the eruption of 1886 on other tours, we could have skipped this attraction.

Amazing place with a real atmosphere. The museum told the story of the volcanic explosion really well. Makes you wonder how we would react if it happened again today.

The history is interesting but I loved the path especially by the stream and the waterfall was great, very calming and peaceful even the waterfall .

Fascinating and tragic, so much information. Felt like we got to know individuals and their lives. Really enjoyed learning the history and delicious food in the friendly cafe.

Sad but interesting story of the village and people who lived there. Worth visiting.

This is an absolutely hidden gem of an experience that's not mentioned so much amongst the other Rotorua activities. A beautiful nature walk, including a fantastic waterfall in the setting of a village buried by a volcanic eruption. The remains of the village plus a short VR experience of the time of the event provide the history. Also has a nice little cafe to round off your visit. Fantastic.

It was the most amazing walk, especially walking to the waterfall. The authenticity of the displays made such an impact as it was clear how high the lava came up to. A memorable day and we'll worth visiting!

Great family visit. Mixed ages. Lovely walk through the garden, looking at the remains of some of the grounds. The fountain is worth the steep steps if able bodied. It’s beautiful Coffee shop is a welcome stop at the end for a treat.

Very good museum (including AVL presentation) and experience regarding the 1886 Mount Tarawera eruption, and beautiful waterfall walk

My immediate family and I extremely enjoyed our time here and staff here was very friendly and accommodating! 💞 Would recommend this for all to do.

I was ver reluctant to have a look at this but was very glad we did ultimately. It is a very well set up place to show what the area used to be in the times of the pink and white terraces and what the volcanoe did to the area. I particularly enjoyed the recollection Margaret‘s recollection of the outbreak and the aftermath for the area and her personally. The cafe and the little shop are worth a visit as well and don’t miss the waterfall

Must visit amazing customer service awesome attraction.I am so grateful i choose this tour it is worth it

This is a must if visiting Rotorua, especially if interested in recent history. This attraction is much more than the Tawerua Eruption as includes much of life at this time.

Amazing history beautiful place now but such a sad story about the Māori villagers who lost their lives from a volcanic eruption that covered the village with boiling mud. The Musuem did an excellent job telling the story and recovering artifacts. I would defiantly recommend this is a got to see place, the nature walk is pretty easy until you get to the hike that goes to the water fall there are some steep stairs, but it was worth the hike.

The tour was very educational a bit sad that so many people died from the mud slide love the hikes of the buildings that they were able to recover my favorite part was the Te Wairoa Falls what a magnificent place standing at the bottom of the falls with with mist and water was cold a-lot of steps and slippery in some parts where good shoes i wore my chaco water sandals did t have any issues definitely 💯 would recommend

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

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.

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.

Informative museum, a lot of artifacts, a very nice walk. It is such a a tragedy, but it is well explained, and you can really see the before and after

What an unexpected educational experience. We found it enjoyable, We had no idea of the history before we came here; we just visited as it filled in a space in our schedule. It was so well worth it! It has a small but interesting museum with various artefacts and newspaper reports of the day and a walk around the site showing the various buildings which made up the original village. We took the optional walk down to the waterfall and back, which was very picturesque, so make time for that!. The baked goods and even gluten-free cakes in the tea rooms were delicious.

Mount Tarawera erupted on June 10, 1886, destroying the village of Te Wairoa and the nearby Pink and White Terraces. We got to see this museum and site of the local hotel that tells the story of that fateful night. Our Kirra Tour led by Jake M. was met by Pam, great granddaughter of the original owner who took us through a synopsis of the events. We walked through the property viewing artifacts and buildings damaged in the eruption. We also walked to a beautiful waterfall on the property. Highly recommend this stop!

Fascinating history and walk through this self guided tour of the remains and relics of this natural disaster. The waterfall walk is well worth it - wear proper footwear, lots of steps down and back

Pam was very knowledgeable and explained the history very clearly. You could almost imagine what the site was like decades ago. Such a disaster to the village and the people when the volcano erupted in 1886. The water falls were spectacular, so mesmerizing. Grateful we visited this site and would highly recommend it to others.

Nice walk and cafe Waterfalls were beautiful so don’t miss them on your walk staff was very friendly and helpful. The cafe has great food and a nice outdoor area. Museum was very interesting

Interesting to learn the learning the history and see the relics. Waterfall was beautiful did the walk down the steep stairs and up the steep terrain to get out but well eprth it for those who he a reasonable fitness level. Proper shoes are suggested for the waterfall walk as the ground can be pretty uneven.

We were disappointed with this tour. The museum is interesting and informative, but the tour is self led and dull, with little to see. It needed more graphics to help us to imagine the sites that were buried, particularly the strata that people travelled to see historically. The waterfall was incredible, well worth the steep climb

I really appreciated the welcoming manner of the staff at reception. It was pleasing to be greeted with my surname when I gave my first name. I also appreciated the depth of history that the beautiful lady at reception gave us. The museum at the beginning was a great way to provide context on the areas that we visited. Although a sad event in our history, the visit enabled me to reflect on the privileges that I experience today. Thank you for the experience. Ngā mihi

We only found out about the Buried Village through a local recommendation……and we have been passing on the word since our visit! The village was buried by volcanic eruptions in the late 19th century. While there has not been a huge amount excavated, it is worth seeing and the walk is worthwhile, don’t miss the waterfall. However the small museum, and the helpful and knowledgeable staff, do a great job of explaining the story. Thank you.

As a kid my parents came here often with overseas visitors. I have not been here for over 30 yrs and it was quite nostalgic. Lots of memories. It is a great part of the history of the Tarawera eruption in 1886. Good walk. Beautiful waterfall. Not an easy walk but if u can do it would recommend it. Great staff, informative and friendly. Bookme guide cheaper rates but I didn't think it was too pricey. The cuppa at the end was appreciated

For anyone interested in a bit of history on the tragic eruption of Mt Tarawera, then this activity is a must. The visit includes a museum which contains a wealth of information on the eruption and its devastating effects on neighbouring villages, including Te Wairoa, and their inhabitants. One can also go for the extensive walk through what's left of the village, dug up from the layers of volcanic ash. This is not Pompeii but emotionally moving all the same. The track also takes visitors to a beautiful waterfall.

This is a great place that boasts history, physical sites and a hunt for clues for children under 15. My teen enjoyed the hunt. There is also an option to visit the waterfall that is hidden away in another section of the trail - stairs are steep and may not be suitable for young children. For those who are still young explorers at heart - take your time going down and up the stairs. Otherwise you can stay on the easy trail to get back to the main area which has a reasonably priced cafe with delicious food. We enjoyed our time there so highly recommend. :)

A place of great history and beauty. The guides are so engaging, knowledgeable and personable. Staff are friendly, helpful and genuinely interested in you as a visitor. Not to be missed off the Must See list.

The letters from Margaret, a guest at the village at the time, detailing her time there prior to the event and after.

This is such an interesting museum, where we got to learn a lot about the history of the area and the eruption. However, what really made the day was the experience of going through the archeological digs, which really brought home the extend of the destruction in the area, as well as the waterfall walk (which definitely requires a good level of fitness).

This was a surprising attraction. The walking path was beautiful. It is great to learn the history of the last big volcanic eruption in the area. 15 Anglo and over 100 Maori people perished here in the 1800's. The museum was immersive, with yummy baked goods and coffee in the cafe. I recommend allowing more than a couple of hours so you can also explore the waterfall.

What an interesting museum. I knew nothing of this historical event or what was the 8th wonder of the world. To see the bottles and crockery etc that were found intact and to see and hear the stories from survivors was fascinating. The staff are lovely and there is a great little cafe with home made goodies. The gift shop is very reasonably priced and has an extensive selection of gifts. Check out the long legged goat. I really found it interesting.

This is a really beautiful place. Calm, quiet and interesting. The creek that’s part of the easy walk is gorgeous and tranquil. Also, drive a few minutes further down the road for great views of the old volcano.

Educational experience amazing scenery was very enjoyable, family friendly staff very polite and hospitable.

An excellent experience combining poignant human stories, historical records an archaeological excavations from the tragic volcanic eruption of 1886 which destroyed local towns and villages and changed the landscape of the region forever. Also including a pleasant scenic walk and Waterfall. Informative, interesting and moving.

We did this tour on our own. It was beyond amazing. The ticket lady gave us a lovely introduction to the village. Walking around the village was quiet & eerie but beautiful. We chose to walk the waterfall (warning - this is not for the faint hearted or those who cannot walk lots of stairs) - was very much worth the walk.

A very interesting place, but sad that so many people died. It’s a bit like Pompei but on a smaller scale. Good self guided tour with lots of information with a good little trip round. I had my mobility scooter with me so didn’t do the waterfall