Sunday, 25th February 2007
The Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland is part of a scenic reserve and has the largest area of surface thermal activity in the Taupo Volcanic Zone. The area is literally covered with collapsed craters, cold and boiling pools of mud, water and steaming fumeroles. The wide range of colours in the area are all natural and are due to different mineral elements.
I continued on to Rotorua to visit the lake and the museum with the original bath house.
Geothermal Park
Devil's Ink Pots
Artist's Pallette
Primrose Terraces
Artist's Pallette & Champagne Pool
Primrose Terraces
Artist's Pallette & Champagne Pool
Bridal Veil Falls
Alum cliffs
Oyster Pool
Sulphur Cave
Lake Ngakoro Waterfall
Lake Ngakoro
Bridal Veil Falls
Champagne Pool
Devil's Bath
Lady Knox Geyser
An open prison was established . . .
at Wai-O-Tapu in 1901.
Some prisoners first discovered the geyser in a clearing . . .
and used the bubbling hot spring waters to wash their clothes . . .
They discovered that the geyser could be made to erupt by adding soap.
Rocks were subsequently placed around the base of the spring to enhance the eruption . . .
and over the years silica from the eruptions has built up . . .
to give a white coned appearance
Mud Pools
. . .
Black swan at Lake Rotorua
View from the museum tower
again
again
Blue Baths - public bathing