Buried Village — Tarawera's Shadow
Uncover the cursed secrets of the 1886 Tarawera eruption that buried Te Wairoa alive. Decipher survivor codes hidden among the ruins to expose the prophecy that foretold the disaster and claim the lost Pink Terraces treasure.
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
In the shadow of Mount Tarawera, the idyllic Māori village of Te Wairoa thrived in 1886 as the gateway to the Pink and White Terraces, the Eighth Wonder of the World
Buried Village — Tarawera's Shadow
You are a scholar of Māori history, arriving in Rotorua, New Zealand, today, to investigate the legends surrounding Mount Tarawera's devastating 1886 eruption.
In the shadow
Rotorua, 1886: Guide Sophia's Prophecy and Tarawera's Fury
« The canoe of the god will return. »— Māori Prophecy (circa 1886)
The Tarawera Catastrophe and the Lost Terraces
Before 1886, the Pink and White Terraces of Rotomahana were considered the eighth wonder of the world. Formed over thousands of years by the deposit of silica from geothermal springs, they attracted tourists from all over, who came to bathe in their mineral pools of ethereal colours. These terraces also held great spiritual significance for the local Māori iwi, particularly the Tuhourangi, who saw them as a sacred gift from the land.
On June 10, 1886, Mount Tarawera, a volcano dormant for centuries, erupted violently. The explosion tore through the landscape, creating the Waimangu Volcanic Rift Valley and engulfing Lake Rotomahana as well as the Pink and White Terraces under tons of mud and ash. The village of Te Wairoa was completely buried, causing the deaths of over 120 people. This event forever marked New Zealand and radically altered the geothermal landscape of the Rotorua region.
How does it work?
Explore the city on foot solving puzzles based on real historical facts. No locked room — the city is your playground.
No app to download. Play directly from your browser. Guided step by step, at your own pace.
One purchase per phone is enough. Play with family, friends or as a couple — everyone participates.
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears and speaks to you in your language. Golden letters magically write themselves on the wall to reveal the puzzle answer.
Stuck? Progressive personalised hints. The character repeats the puzzle on demand — at your own pace.
French, English, German, Spanish, Italian + 27 other languages auto-translated by AI.
Want to go deeper?
Places tied to your adventure — optional entries, totally up to you · per person
The Route
5-10 curated sites across the territory
The gameplay: AR, camera, hidden clues
At each stop, open your phone camera: an augmented reality character appears on the façade and speaks your language. Hunt the clue — it materializes as golden letters on the real wall or floats in front of you. When you find it, the phone vibrates, an AR chest opens and reveals your answer fragment. 8 stops, 8 clues to find with the camera, 1 final code.
The stops on your route are a surprise. You'll discover them one by one, guided by your phone, starting from the meeting point.
How does it work with a group?
One phone = one team. Pick the number at checkout (1 to 10).
Solo, or a group sharing the screen. One team, one code.
Family, couple, or 2-3 teams competing. Each phone has its own code and its own score.
Friends, bachelor/bachelorette, small office outing — each their own code, each plays at their own pace. Tiered pricing then €6 flat per phone from the 6th.
- ✓All codes are independent — play at the same time OR separately, each team advances at its own pace.
- ✓Leaderboard between your teams + global game leaderboard — each score appears in the public ranking.
- ✓More than 10 phones or need a personalized quest? Discover custom tours.
Ready to live this adventure?
Get my code · 14,90€No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒 Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
Practical info
Why this route?
Geothermal Mystery
Discover the latent power of the earth, amidst bubbling springs and mysterious fumaroles.
Forgotten Journal
Reconstruct fragments of a secret journal to reveal a prophecy and an evacuation plan.
Buried Terraces
The echo of a forgotten warning.
In the shadow of Tarawera, avert a past tragedy.
9 features nobody else has
OddballTrip combines gamified play, augmented reality and AI. All our competitors deliver 1 or 2 of these angles. We deliver all 5.
AR treasure chest
A golden chest floats in front of the monument. Tap → opening animation → reveals a secret message.
AR narrator character
Point your phone at the façade: a knight, witch, monk, sailor, detective or ghost appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language with their dedicated ElevenLabs voice (each character has their own unique voice) — your living guide.
Magic golden letters
At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's the puzzle answer. An unforgettable visual effect.
Written + audio narration
Every puzzle available as text AND voice-over: read at your own pace or listen eyes-free while walking. Great in groups and for accessibility.
360° radar + vibration
A mini-radar shows the target even behind you, and the phone vibrates when you aim in the right direction.
Heritage storytelling
Every puzzle weaves in real historical facts (architecture, era, anecdotes). You learn by playing — like a gamified audioguide.
Progressive AI hints
3 levels of AI-generated help: vibe → where to look → answer format. You're never stuck.
AR selfie memento
At the end of the game, capture a selfie with OddballTrip banner + mascot, shareable on Instagram, TikTok.
Zero app to install
PWA technology: open the link, it plays in your browser. Same quality as an app, no App Store hassle.
Frequently asked questions
Q01Do I need to download an app?
No, never. You get a link, you click, it plays in your browser. That's the point of a PWA: same as an app, without the hassle.
Q02Does it work offline?
GPS yes (handled by your phone). Maps yes (tiles cached). AI and hints need an intermittent 4G connection.
Q03How long does a game take?
1 h 30 to 2 h 30 depending on your pace. The timer runs but only for the leaderboard — you play at your own tempo.
Q04What happens if I'm stuck?
You get 3 levels of hints per puzzle (increasing penalty). If truly stuck, you can skip the step (45-min penalty but you keep going).
Q05What's the age range?
From 12 without an adult, from 6 with an adult reading puzzles. Works for families, couples, friend groups, companies.
Q06What if my city isn't in the catalogue?
Pre-register or contact us — we'll email you as soon as your city is live.
Q07What is augmented reality exactly?
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language. At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's your answer. After each puzzle solved, a treasure chest floats in front of you. Seeing is believing.
Avis des aventuriers
Soyez le premier à partager votre expérience.
Did you play l ombre du tarawera? Check the email you received after your game to leave a verified review.
Your turn to play
Uncover the fragments of Guide Sophia's journal and reconstruct her plan to save the inhabitants before Mount Tarawera erupts.
1 purchase = 1 phone. Play several on the same device.
No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
🪙+24 TripCoins granted with your booking
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