Trip Planner: South Pacific / New Zealand / North Island / Bay of Plenty Region / Rotorua District / Rotorua / Buried Village of Te Wairoa

Buried Village of Te Wairoa, Rotorua

4.1

#4 of 7 in Historic Sites in Rotorua

Historic Site Tourist Spot

Stories of New Zealand's largest eruption come to life at Buried Village of Te Wairoa, a popular archaeological site in the heart of the volcanic plateau of North Island. Follow the scenic pathways through pristine nature up to the waterfall overlooking the remote volcanic scenery. While there, try to catch a glimpse of the native rainbow trout. At the museum, discover the valuable collection of Victoriana, including the excavated remains of a Maori village and recreated scenes from the lasting devastation of the Tarawera eruption. Ask the guide to tell you the legend of the phantom canoe. Geological treasures include the pink and white terraces, which had been hidden in the depths of the lake but were recently excavated and made available to the public. Amenities include a tearoom nestled in tranquil native bush, a children's playground, and a gift shop. Add Buried Village of Te Wairoa to your Rotorua travel itinerary, and discover new vacation ideas by using our Rotorua itinerary planner .

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Buried Village of Te Wairoa Tours

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Buried Village of Te Wairoa Reviews

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840 reviews

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4.3

Inkyandwe

October 12, 2017

A beautiful walk and interesting history. Steep steps to the waterfall, but otherwise a gentle area to explore. Café also very good. more »
Jeff M

October 10, 2017

Recently visited the village with a cousin from the USA . What an amazing insight into such a terrible disaster. Well set out museum leading into a fantastic property unveiling all the detail of this ... more »
MelToyer

September 30, 2017

I was fascinated by the stories of the locals- how they lived before the eruption with a thriving tourist trade. Interesting excavated buildings and objects plus fictitious letters and newspaper artic... more »

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Donna Tawhara

July 23, 2017

We went to visit not really knowing what to expect. When my kids seen it was a walk they cringed. That soon became a distant memory when they were asked if they were interested in doing the treasure hunt😁. The Buried Village really is a beautiful place to visit and the history learned along your travels is great. The waterfall is absolutely beautiful, definitely worth taking that path as you have a choice to walk down to the waterfall or back to the cafe. We took many photos there, just gorgeous. The staff are so welcoming and friendly I couldn't fault them for hospitality. Will definitely visit again and it wasn't expensive either $64.50 for 2 adults and 2 children. By far the cheapest adventure on our holiday 😁.

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Kaza Billington

July 9, 2017

What and unique and interesting place.. had such a wonderful time, worth doing the extra walk to see the waterfall.. seen trout swimming in the stream!! Absolutely magical.. take warm clothing!

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Paul L

June 11, 2017

My mum used to take me here as a kid and I took my kids for the first time. It really is worth a visit to see just happened on the morning. Do not miss the waterfall walk

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BRAYDEN MCFARLANE

August 13, 2017

Nice waterfall and lots of interesting things from the past a lot to be learn about the new Zealand heritage and lovely people can go back in time with there free photo booth can even go as far as dressing up can get boring after awhile but takes about 2 hours to fully explore

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Jennifer Mey

June 7, 2017

Very interesting. Worthwhile doing the whole walk including the waterfall. Amazing. Good food and coffee.

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Where to stay in Rotorua

Rotorua has a range of different accommodations, mainly centered around the lake itself. In this downtown area you will find luxury hotels and hostels, many benefitting from good views of the surrounding scenery. Farther out of the town, comfortable motels offer those with a car a good option for setting up a base from which to explore the area. Campers and others wanting to enjoy the outdoors as soon as possible can opt for campsites and RV parks, all best accessed by car or taxi.

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Buried Village of Te Wairoa, Rotorua

Inkyandwe

Jeff M

MelToyer

Donna Tawhara

Kaza Billington

Paul L

BRAYDEN MCFARLANE

Jennifer Mey

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