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Rotorua & Taupo Explore New Zealand, Australia & Fiji!tune
New Zealand's most visited archaeological site where stories of the 1886 Mount Tarawera Eruption come to life!
Highlights
- Visit the award-winning Museum of Te Wairoa exhibition
- Explore the archaeological sites which reveal the devastation of the eruption
- Gain unique insights with guided storytelling or by using our electronic tour app
- Children can partake in Smithy's Treasure Hunt with clues around the excavated sites
- Take a stroll along the waterfall trail to Te Wairoa Falls
The violent volcanic eruption of Mt Tarawera erupted in 1886 which engulfed the village of Te Wairoa in rocks, ash and mud. 150 lives were lost and the eighth wonder of the world; The Pink and White Terraces vanished.
Step back in time and learn the history of Te Wairoa village!
Museum of Te Wairoa - Displayed are a large array of objects over 90 years old excavated from the ruins of the eruption and exhibits of the early settlers.
Archaeological Site - Explore the devastation of the eruption as you walk through the excavated sites which once housed the people of Te Wairoa.
Waterfall Trail - View the magnificent Te Wairoa stream and Wairere Falls. Catch a glimpse of the trout in the stream making their way through the crystal clear waters and feel the spray from the stunning waterfall as it plunges 30 metres over the Waitoharuru cliffs.
Smith & Co Cafe + Gift Store - Established in 1931, Smith & Co Cafe and Gift Store provide famous Devonshire Tea and Scones, excellent coffee, delicious home baking and check out the great range of eco-friendly giftware and NZ books.
Children - The kids will love digging in the discovery room and exploring the Buried Village with Smithy our archaeologist, and playing on the playground at the end!
All prices are shown in NZD ($)
- Adult$25.00
- Teen$10.00
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Authenticated Reviews & Photos All of our reviews are from people who have booked and paid for this activity thru Bookme
Showing all 380 authenticated Bookme reviews
Jayne from New Zealand wrote on 15 May 2025
Waterfall walk was the best
A great afternoon exploring history. My 2 teenagers and I enjoyed the stream and waterfall walk the most.
amanda76 from New Zealand wrote on 13 May 2025
Interesting
This was an awesome walk through history. Neat little treasure hunt for children with a prize at the end! Found it very interesting, children and adults. Lovely walk, beautiful waterfall at the end is a must visit, quite a few stairs, but we'll worth the effort.
Jayellepi from New Zealand wrote on 04 June 2025
Improvements needed
Our visit was a mix of highs and lows. The standout highlight was definitely the natural surroundings — the walk to the waterfall and back is absolutely incredible and not to be missed. A good level of fitness and mobility is needed as the stairs can be tricky to navigate, but our 4-year-old and 9-year-old managed it well and loved the adventure. The rest of the site, however, is in need of some serious TLC. Many parts are run down and would benefit from cosmetic repair. The lifesize map at the exit of the museum wasn’t functioning (no lights), and the white terrace fountain replica was inactive and covered in green algae. It would also be great to see stronger representation of local Iwi Māori. The narrative is currently centred heavily on the Smith whānau, and the experience would be greatly enriched by local iwi involvement — Māori sharing their own stories, on their own whenua. There was a lovely moment when we were greeted by a cheerful young girl sweeping outside the café — a small but appreciated gesture that made us feel welcome. The playground is quite tired and would benefit from a makeover — fresh bark, updated motifs, and general upkeep. Some areas of grass were noticeably overgrown, which left us wondering whether that was intentional or just a lack of maintenance. With some restoration and a broader, more inclusive cultural lens, this place has real potential to be something special.
Hilary Newby from New Zealand wrote on 12 May 2025
Fantastic trip
Great site and very interesting information
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Candice Paewai from New Zealand wrote on 17 May 2025
Inspiring and intriguing
I was met at the entrance with beautiful Kiwi hospitality. How refreshing. I was given plenty of information about past events and it was lovely to hear about where the survivors had moved to around the country. The 3D movie room was fantastic! Enjoyed the museum and filling in the gaps about all the families who were affected. Walking through the old village was interesting - with some remnants dug up and showing how they had dug down into the earth for their accommodation. Trying to figure out in my head how they stopped the rain from running in. I took the waterfall walk. Stunning.