The Buried Village is situated about a 20-minute drive to the southeast of Rotorua. It’s the site of the former village of Te Wairoa, which was tragically buried during the 1886 eruption of Mount Tarawera. This catastrophic event blanketed the village and surrounding landscape in thick layers of ash and mud. Today, you can walk through the excavated ruins of the village, including a number of houses and an old hotel. There’s also a stunning waterfall within the village grounds. Besides that, the site features a museum that tells the stories of the people who lived here and details of the devastating eruption. 

• Entrance: NZ$25 

• Tip: the Buried Village is open Wednesday to Sunday from 10 AM to 4 PM