Buried Village – Open Weekend

The date was June 10, 1886. More than 150 people in the Te Wairoa village lost their lives that night when Mount Tarawera erupted. Ash, rock, and mud came forth from the bowels of the volcano, covering the less than 40-year-old Te Wairoa settlement. The only existing evidence left of magnificent pink and white terraces, what many across the globe considered to be the 8^th wonder of the world, were the photographs and paintings left behind.

The Buried Village has become the most visited archeological site in New Zealand, and this weekend only, June 7^th and 8^th, you will have the opportunity to explore and experience this piece of history for FREE! The Buried Village is hosting an Open Week to celebrate the 128^th anniversary of the Mt. Tarawera eruption. There will be entertainment for all ages, so bring the whole family. You’ll have a blast!

This weekend at the Buried Village is packed with guest speakers, a Kapa Haka group performance, a treasure hunt, pumice carving, Poi and Maori stick games, other old fashioned games, helicopter rides (weather permitting, fees apply) and much more! Visit the museum where you can view the collection of excavated items from the devastation. Walk the very sites where the Te Wairoa people lived and imagine what life was like for them before one of New Zealand’s biggest natural disasters changed everything. When you’re ready for a break, refresh yourselves with some coffee, tea and baked goods at Vi’s Teahouse (on-site).