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Waiotapu and Rotorua 29.-30.12. 2019

Crossing Ruahine Range through Te Apiti wind farm.

Hello my friends, cows, on wind farm instead of cow farm.

Progressing towards the centre of the Northern Island.

There is a volcano in the distance

Passing the Mount Ruapehu (2797 m) where Tongariro National Park begins after driving 300 km.

And Mount Ngauruhoe volcano (2291 m).

We planned to do a part of the Tongariro Alpine Crossing this day but postponed it to the next day due to bad weather. Lake Taupo north of the park.

Hot water springs at the beach of the Taupo Lake in the town Taupo.

Not really suitable for swimming.

So we went to Otumuheke thermal stream.

A lot of people squeezing at the mouth of the stream where water gets less hot.

We devoted the day to volcanic phenomena and visited Waiotapu, which means "sacred waters" in Maori language.

Pathway leads past several collapsed craters.

They formed due to erosion of underground acidic streams.

This one formed in 1967.

Trying to do exactly what the sign says that is forbidden.

Some of the mud pools contain unrefined crude oil.

The sludge on the surface was used to burn in lanterns.

The area called Artist's Palette. The hot water evaporates and leaves behind minerals with various colours.

Red and brown come from iron oxide, purple from manganese oxide, yellow from sulphur and white from kaolin.

Smrdi, smrdi kako smrdi (Oh, how terrible it smells).

Building in the distance is geothermal power plant.

The largest of the pools is Champagne pool.

It formed around 700 years ago with a hydrothermal eruption.

It is 65 m deep and measures also as much in diameter.

It got its name from the carbon dioxide bubbles. The water has 75 °C.

The water flowing out of the Champagne Pool created Sinter Terraces.

Small terraces form when carbon dioxide escapes water and precipitates minerals.

The terraces end with this waterfall, which is coloured green because of bacteria and archaea.

The geothermal water slowly gathers in the lakes.

Traditional Maori art. It looks like they are also impressed by the fantail bird.

This area keeps surprising with interesting forms. These sulphur mounds were formed under water before the area was drained.

It looks like they are trying to get rid of this non-native forest.

Sulphur Cave with precipitating sulphur crystals.

Oyster Pool as they call it.

The trail ends at Lake Ngakoro.

Another collapsed crater on the way back.

Another interesting-coloured pool with pH 2.

Left part of the panorama was taken with direct sunlight and the right part without. The lake changed colour from yellowish to greenish.

Moving further north to Rotorua to see a geysir.

But we ended up at another memorial to heavy tourism industry of New Zealand. It is not possible to see only geysir, they want to show you kiwi, maori shows and other stuff in a package of course for a lot of money.

Adria caravan made it all the way to New Zealand.

A place for rich people.

There is at least a place where it is possible to see Pohutu Geysir from behind a fence.

During the eruption which lasts for several minutes and usually reaches up to 20 m.

Time to swim again in thermal water.

Kerosene Creek is quite popular with pretty hot water.

Nearby lake is a bit less warm, although green, but still fine.

So-called Rainbow Mountain.

The geothermal power plant on a way back to Tongariro National Park.