Buried Village

61 Rankers Reviews

56 Face-to-Face

10 Tarawera

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Maps

Photos

Excavated Whare.
Objects excavated from the ruins.
Wairere waterfall.
Te Wairoa Stream
Te Wairoa Museum
Excavated Site

Information

Buried Village

Discover Te Wairoa the village buried by the 1886 Eruption of Mount Tarawera. Rotorua's premier Heritage Attraction

A place of exceptional beauty has been created around the fascinating remains of a settlement buried by the eruption of Mount Tarawera in 1886. Today at the Buried Village a world-class museum houses many precious objects dug from the ruins, guides in period costume escort groups though the excavated sites and the walk to the base of one of NZ’s most stunning waterfalls that shouldn't be missed. Buried Village is located fifteen minutes from Rotorua on the districts most scenic drive.

Details

Feature Value Info

Organisation

Buried Village

Commercial organisation

Location

North IslandRotorua RegionTarawera

Categories

  • Activity__heritage_attractionsHeritage Attractions

Directions

To Coordinates

Coordinates

-38.211951

176.363525

Latitude
-38.211951
Longitude
176.363525

Reviews

    • Very interesting visit.
    • Okay, little bit expensive for what you see.
    • Impressive.
    • Very interesting
    • Interesting.
    Rating Count Percentage
    10/10 5
    8%
    9/10 7
    11%
    8/10 12
    20%
    7/10 16
    26%
    6/10 6
    10%
    5/10 6
    10%
    4/10 1
    2%
    3/10 5
    8%
    2/10 2
    3%
    1/10 1
    2%
  • 5.0/5

    Very interesting visit.

    The staff is fantastic and give you a personal guidance in the museum, both inside and outside. Wort a visit.

    Reviewed over 5 years ago

    SWEDEN
    Anders Knutsson's avatar

    Anders Knutsson

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    History of the Pink and White Terraces.

    Combine with Whakarewarewa visit - a perfect combo. Child friendly with a lot of things to explore!

    Reviewed over 7 years ago

    GERMANY
    Frank Bien's avatar

    Frank Bien

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    Do not expect Pompeii but it was a real event which decimated the village.

    The set up and information gives a real understanding as to what took place and the devestation to the residents of the town. Combine with a view of the mountain a litter further south along the road. Staff were extremely helpful and friendly and the food at the delightful tea rooms was delicious. A marvellous range of different souvenirs and a wonderful few hours spent there. Exhibit is outside so take suitable clothing/coats.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago

  • 1.5/5

    Cost $30 per person and you see a few reconstructed 19th century houses.

    You do not see the white terraces which have been destroyed forever.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago

    GERMANY
    Frank's avatar

    Frank

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    Good in depth tour with a guide and a view of a fantastic waterfall.

    Reviewed over 13 years ago

    IRELAND
    Omar Candon's avatar

    Omar Candon

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    Impressive.

    Reviewed over 12 years ago and experienced in February 2012

    NETHERLANDS
    Langerak's avatar

    Langerak

    Customer

  • 3.5/5

    Good guided tour, interesting, nice nature walk, peaceful environment.

    Reviewed over 13 years ago

    NETHERLANDS
    Sanne's avatar

    Sanne

    Customer

  • 3.5/5

    Nice, but too expensive for the tour.

    Reviewed almost 13 years ago and experienced in March 2011

    BELGIUM
    Kris Gijbels's avatar

    Kris Gijbels

    Customer

  • 3.0/5

    interesting, but too expensive.

    half price would be ok. look for some discount vouchers :-)

    good coffee, nice waterfall.

    Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in November 2013

    AUSTRIA
    Bert Pubeg's avatar

    Bert Pubeg

    Customer

    Hi thanks for the review. On our Facebook page adults can receive up to 20% off! The story of the Mt Tarawera Eruption is interesting .. and we are glad we can share the fateful day with you that took place in Te Wairoa

  • 4.0/5

    Great service, really special, history, unique souvenirs.

    Reviewed over 11 years ago

    NETHERLANDS
    Roshnie's avatar

    Roshnie

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Very interesting visit.

    The staff is fantastic and give you a personal guidance in the museum, both inside and outside. Wort a visit.

    Reviewed over 5 years ago

    SWEDEN
    Anders Knutsson's avatar

    Anders Knutsson

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    History of the Pink and White Terraces.

    Combine with Whakarewarewa visit - a perfect combo. Child friendly with a lot of things to explore!

    Reviewed over 7 years ago

    GERMANY
    Frank Bien's avatar

    Frank Bien

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    Do not expect Pompeii but it was a real event which decimated the village.

    The set up and information gives a real understanding as to what took place and the devestation to the residents of the town. Combine with a view of the mountain a litter further south along the road. Staff were extremely helpful and friendly and the food at the delightful tea rooms was delicious. A marvellous range of different souvenirs and a wonderful few hours spent there. Exhibit is outside so take suitable clothing/coats.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago

  • 1.5/5

    Cost $30 per person and you see a few reconstructed 19th century houses.

    You do not see the white terraces which have been destroyed forever.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago

    GERMANY
    Frank's avatar

    Frank

    Customer

  • 3.0/5

    interesting, but too expensive.

    half price would be ok. look for some discount vouchers :-)

    good coffee, nice waterfall.

    Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in November 2013

    AUSTRIA
    Bert Pubeg's avatar

    Bert Pubeg

    Customer

    Hi thanks for the review. On our Facebook page adults can receive up to 20% off! The story of the Mt Tarawera Eruption is interesting .. and we are glad we can share the fateful day with you that took place in Te Wairoa

  • 3.0/5

    Inside the museum was good, waterfall was great, the rest below expectation.

    Reviewed over 11 years ago and experienced in December 2012

    NETHERLANDS
    Lydia Holleman's avatar

    Lydia Holleman

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    Great service, really special, history, unique souvenirs.

    Reviewed over 11 years ago

    NETHERLANDS
    Roshnie's avatar

    Roshnie

    Customer

  • 1.5/5

    It is interesting but too expensive for just a landscape with the imagination of a volcano city!!

    Reviewed almost 12 years ago and experienced in February 2012

    GERMANY
    Schael's avatar

    Schael

    Customer

  • 1.5/5

    Too expensive for the offer!!

    Reviewed over 12 years ago and experienced in February 2012

  • 4.0/5

    Impressive.

    Reviewed over 12 years ago and experienced in February 2012

    NETHERLANDS
    Langerak's avatar

    Langerak

    Customer

  • 1.5/5

    Cost a lot of money for nothing much to see.

    Reviewed over 12 years ago and experienced in November 2011

    BELGIUM
    Bart Goovaerts's avatar

    Bart Goovaerts

    Customer

  • 2.5/5

    From our point of view a lot of money for what you get to see.

    Reviewed over 12 years ago and experienced in November 2011

  • 3.0/5

    The presentation was not as we would have expected.

    Reviewed over 12 years ago

    NETHERLANDS
    Ellen Jacobs's avatar

    Ellen Jacobs

    Customer

  • 3.5/5

    Nice, but too expensive for the tour.

    Reviewed almost 13 years ago and experienced in March 2011

    BELGIUM
    Kris Gijbels's avatar

    Kris Gijbels

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    Good in depth tour with a guide and a view of a fantastic waterfall.

    Reviewed over 13 years ago

    IRELAND
    Omar Candon's avatar

    Omar Candon

    Customer

  • 0.5/5

    Not worth it.

    Reviewed over 13 years ago

    SPAIN
    Monica's avatar

    Monica

    Customer

  • 3.5/5

    Good guided tour, interesting, nice nature walk, peaceful environment.

    Reviewed over 13 years ago

    NETHERLANDS
    Sanne's avatar

    Sanne

    Customer

  • 2.5/5

    Exhibition of items in museum is nice, tour was very fast and short, lady spoke fast and with a strong accent, high price.

    Reviewed over 13 years ago

    GERMANY
    Florian's avatar

    Florian

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    Very interesting and beautiful walk, a guide told us at the entry what had happened with the village.

    Reviewed over 13 years ago

    DENMARK
    Marianne Astorp's avatar

    Marianne Astorp

    Customer

  • 3.5/5

    The museum and exhibition is really good: super pictures and explanation of what happened.

    The excavated houses are OK and give an idea of the extent to which houses were buried but it's not clear how much reconstruction there has been.

    Thought it was not good value: $20 would have been a fairer price and might get more people through the door. While I was there, 2 lots of people came in, looked at the price, and left.

    Reviewed almost 14 years ago

    UNITED KINGDOM
    allesca's avatar

    allesca

    Customer

  • 3.5/5

    Well described story of a traumatic event.

    Reviewed over 14 years ago and experienced in January 2010

    DENMARK
    Bo Moenstead's avatar

    Bo Moenstead

    Customer

  • 3.0/5

    The history about happened was interesting.

    Reviewed over 14 years ago and experienced in January 2010

    DENMARK
    Beute Jacob's avatar

    Beute Jacob

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    Go around the Museum with the guide and be spellbound by his personal story of how his ancestors were affected by the eruption of Mt.Tarawera

    Reviewed over 14 years ago

    NEW ZEALAND
    Tim's avatar

    Tim

    Customer

  • 2.5/5

    not worth the price - not too much to see.

    Reviewed over 14 years ago and experienced in November 2009

  • 1.0/5

    Only interesting for those who are really interested in the story of this village.

    Reviewed over 14 years ago

    GERMANY
    Mike Kirchner's avatar

    Mike Kirchner

    Customer

  • 3.5/5

    the guided bit is included in the price and was interesting but we already knew a lot from going to the geothermal parts wai-o-tapu is the best one.

    Reviewed over 14 years ago

  • 3.5/5

    Impressive to see how a town can be affected by a volcanic eruption!

    Reviewed over 14 years ago

    NETHERLANDS
    Bram-Jan M's avatar

    Bram-Jan M

    Customer

  • 2.5/5

    much too expensive for what you can see.

    Reviewed over 14 years ago

    SWITZERLAND
    Holliger's avatar

    Holliger

    Customer

  • 1.5/5

    rather boring for the price especially when you have been to Pompeii before

    Reviewed over 14 years ago and experienced in November 2009

  • 4.5/5

    Very cool tour + nice cafe.

    Great vege quiche!

    Reviewed over 14 years ago

    UNITED STATES
    anniest's avatar

    anniest

    Customer