Leaving the volcanoes behind us we moved on to see more of the geological phenomena of this region.
Our visit to the Wai-o-tapu Thermal Wonderland certainly was a 18 sq km wonderland...
Starting our visit with Lady Knox Geyser who at 10.15am relieved herself at a height of around 20m lasting a good 20 minutes and was still going as we moved on.
The area was packed with collapsed craters, bubbling and steaming hot pools which with the vivid colours from the minerals were creating works of art.
The most spectacular was the champagne pool, fizzing like a giant glass of brut (62m deep) but at a temperature of 74 degrees and with a rich burnt orange rim lining its edge.
We finished our tour with Devils Bath; a lime green coloured pool from the sulphur and ferrous salts, and a stop at the gloopy mud pools.
The smell of rotten eggs and geothermal wonders continued in Rotarua. A laid back yet buzzing town, its inhabitants (including a Maori settlement) living with steaming and boiling water appearing around the bases of their houses, in their back gardens, and bursting through tarmac roads and bricked pathways. The local park was even a hot spot covered in mud pools and steaming ponds!
After filling our tummy's with grub from the stalls of the night market and free beer from the Jason's tourist guide vouchers we headed out of the 'smelly zone' and into the world of hobbits!
Our visit to the Wai-o-tapu Thermal Wonderland certainly was a 18 sq km wonderland...
Starting our visit with Lady Knox Geyser who at 10.15am relieved herself at a height of around 20m lasting a good 20 minutes and was still going as we moved on.
Lady Knox Gesyer at full pelt (12th Dec 2013)
The area was packed with collapsed craters, bubbling and steaming hot pools which with the vivid colours from the minerals were creating works of art.
Artists Pallet Pools (12th Dec 2013)
The most spectacular was the champagne pool, fizzing like a giant glass of brut (62m deep) but at a temperature of 74 degrees and with a rich burnt orange rim lining its edge.
The Champagne Pool (12th Dec 2013)
We finished our tour with Devils Bath; a lime green coloured pool from the sulphur and ferrous salts, and a stop at the gloopy mud pools.
Devils Bath (12th Dec 2013)
The smell of rotten eggs and geothermal wonders continued in Rotarua. A laid back yet buzzing town, its inhabitants (including a Maori settlement) living with steaming and boiling water appearing around the bases of their houses, in their back gardens, and bursting through tarmac roads and bricked pathways. The local park was even a hot spot covered in mud pools and steaming ponds!
Rotarua geothermal activity (12th Dec 2013)
After filling our tummy's with grub from the stalls of the night market and free beer from the Jason's tourist guide vouchers we headed out of the 'smelly zone' and into the world of hobbits!
No comments:
Post a Comment