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WHAT’S SO GREAT ABOUT THIS PLACE?

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A taonga for all visitors – Rotorua, Te Wairoa Buried Village

 

The Buried Village. Source: RotoruaNZ Marketing

 

BY SARAH JANE

BENEATH THE ASH: UNEARTHING THE STORY OF THE 1886 TARAWERA ERUPTION

The early hours of June 10, 1886, brought a shared fate of fear, horror, and sudden terror to tourists and locals in Rotorua, Central North Island, as ash rained down from an abruptly erupting Mount Tarawera. This devastating volcanic event extinguished 120 lives, transforming Te Wairoa into New Zealand’s Pompeii.

WHAT’S SO GREAT ABOUT ROTORUA’S TE WAIROA BURIED VILLAGE? 

It’s our fascination with catastrophe, specifically the annihilation of the 19th-century world-famous Pink and White Terraces and accompanying stories of heroism. 

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE MT TAWARA ERUPTION

Several days before the violent eruption local Maori and tourists alike commented on a phantom Māori war canoe sailing across Lake Tarawera. 

Local guides noted an increase in hot spring activity and surges in the water rippling over the Pink and White Terraces; otherwise there was no dramatic increase in volcanic activity. 

GREAT NEWS FOR LOCALS (& OUR AUSSIE VISITORS)

Location is everything? Rotorua’s Buried Village is conveniently located in the golden heart of tourist New Zealand. Nearby is Rotorua with a myriad of things to do (the best bits are free). Nearby is Taupo; further afield the Coromandel peninsula and Whakatane, gateway to Northland adventures.

DISTANCE 

Te Wairoa Buried Village to Tauranga  86  km

Te Wairoa Buried Village to Morrinsville 115 km

Te Wairoa Buried Village to Thames 169 km

Te Wairoa Buried Village to Whitianga 245 km

Te Wairoa Buried Village to Whakatane 92 km

Te Wairoa Buried Village to Auckland 251 km

ROTORUA BURIED VILLAGE HIGHLIGHTS

Memorising voices echo as visitors commence their walk through the Te Wairoa Museum. It’s small in size and big in content.  There is a comprehensive overview of the Te Wairoa village before and after the eruption. Using audio clips, narration, and conversations with survivors, the trauma of the volcanic eruption is aptly conveyed. Visitors are immersed in the unfolding horror of the night.

A recreated village trail features accompanying visuals of the meters of ash that covered the buildings. 

Throughout the award-winning experience are archaeological finds, photographs, and stories of valour. The stunning beauty of the pink and white terraces offers a counterpoint to the grey ash photographs illustrating the depth of damage.  The fortitude of individuals and the sense of community that led to the survival of visitors and locals are moving personal stories of heroism. 

The 30-meter waterfall trail awaits. Water cascades in a horsetail fan over the cliff top, creating a diamond-light-filled spray.  Good walking shoes are recommended, especially on the steep staircase to the lower platform. Remember to look into the depths of Te Wairoa Stream for rainbow trout, which spawn in the vicinity. The walk is approximately 1.5 km.

For those whose fitness levels make the waterfall staircase descent a challenge, the upper Waitoharuru Valley lookout offers views of Lake Tarawera where you can listen to the cascading waterfall through the bush

Picnic areas and seating invite visitors to relax in the quiet surrounds as you ponder what it’s like to survive a volcanic eruption.

VISITOR INFORMATION:

Opening Hours: Open daily from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, except for Christmas Day.

Admission: There is an admission fee, supporting ongoing archaeological investment and historical record care.

Duration: Allow 1.5 to 3 hours for your visit.

Gift Shop: An excellent gift shop features local artisans and artists, and visitors can enjoy a photo memory moment by dressing in period costumes in a recreated sitting room.

Tours: Scheduled guided walks are available throughout the day, or visitors can explore with a self-guided multi-media tour. Photography is permitted in the museum and on the grounds.

Dining: Viv’s Cafe offers Devonshire scones, muffins, hot and cold snacks, and freshly brewed coffee, with both indoor and outdoor seating in a garden setting.

Facilities: Toilets and a car park are available on site.

For a deeper insight into Maori culture visit the Ohinemutu, Rotorua Village & St Faiths Church, and Rotorua Whakarewarewa: an iconic living Maori village.

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