Rotorua's Thermal Country

Saturday morning, we headed out early for the iSite in Rotorua. It is a big tourist town and there are a mind numbing number of activities to choose from. We had decided that we were mostly interested in seeing the thermal areas. Found a good deal on seeing two of the most popular attractions--Waiotapu (Sacred Water) Thermal Wonderland and Waimangu volcanic valley Scenic Reserve.

An aside here: we are overwhelmed with the Maori names in New Zealand. Inevitably it seems we mispronounce them. Interesting, though, to have the very British sounding place names as well. Of course, personally now we have been to Waiotapu, Waimangu, Te Waihou, Waipara, Waimate, Wanaka, and will be headed to Wairoa. Add to that Te Anua, Oamaru, Kakanui, Hokitika, Opotiki, and lots of other names too numerous to list! There is one nearby thermal area called Whakarewarewa (“wh” is pronounced like our “f” sound) that the locals simply call Whaka for short. Here is the name of one town that we don’t even attempt to pronounce and have no idea what the locals call it: Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu. Since in Maori this has specific meaning, one witty writer described this name as, “a very lean short story.”

We drove south in order to get to Waiotapu in time to see the 10:15 erupting of the famous Lady Knox geyser. Unlike Old Faithful, however, this geyser gets some help with its exactly timed eruption--the Department of Conservation ranger type added a surfactant (like soap) to help it erupt on schedule. Cheating!  The rest of the park area did not disappoint. We spent an hour and a half walking the couple of miles of trails going by steaming lakes, bubbling pots, and colorful terraces, as well as mud pots and barren landscapes.

Champagne Pool

Devil's Bath at Waiotapu                                                          

Once again we picnicked for lunch and then drove back towards Rotorua to see the “newest geothermal system in the World”. Waimangu volcanic valley was created by the eruption of Mt. Tarawera in 1886 and modified by smaller eruptions within the area in 1900 and again in 1917. For a few years, it boasted the world’s largest geyser (1300 ft.) but it blew up and is no more! It was an easy 3 mile downhill walk with a short, steep climb up and down the Mt. Haszard hiking trail in the middle. It was a relaxing and beautiful hike. The entire area is reforested and is quite green with occasional long views to Lake Rotomahana in the distance. Nonetheless, rocks, streams and lakes steam and hiss and boil along the way and present in vivid blues, greens, or yellows depending on temperature, minerals, or algae. At the bottom of the hill we happily to took the shuttle bus back to the top of the ridge. A most interesting day.

Waimangu, Frying Pan Lake

Very warm water                                    

Inferno Crater Lake

Lake Rotomahana

Unrelated observations:

--a torch is a flashlight

--Kiwis seem to like to abbreviate words with the use of “ies” as in boaties, surfies, bikies, yachties, and our favorite, mozzies (mosquitoes)

--also new to us was carvery (restaurant) , cattery (kennel for cats), and cheesery

--Kiwis as a people have a quirky sense of humor. Recently we saw the following on the side of a liquor delivery truck: “in case of spill, lick road.”