The City Rotorua in North Island

Rotorua is a town in the centre of the North Island, New Zealand, and is famous for its Maori Culture and Geothermal activities. About 3 hours drive from Auckland, Rotorua is a famous attraction even back in the early 20th Century before airplanes were invented, where European visitors would endure the three weeks travelling time just to come here to see the geothermal landscape and enjoy the healing power of the hot springs.

One of the more famous geothermal attraction is the Waiotapu Geothermal Wonderland. About 30 minutes drive from downtown Rotorua, Waiotapu is one of the largest active geothermal sites in the area, and is also the most developed. Waiotapu literally means Sacred Waters in the Maori Language, and was one of the many geothermal features in the area that provided the local Maori tribes warmth, food and defense before becoming tourist attractions. With a $32.5 NZD ticket which you could buy online or onsite, you can visit three different sites adjacent to each other in the Waiotapu Geothermal Wonderland: the Lady Knox Geyser, the Waiotapu Geothermal Walk, and the mud pools. We went to the Lady Knox Geyser first, because it only goes off once per day at 10:15 am. A Geyser is a natural fountain where water periodically or a periodically spurt out water from the ground. At Waiotapu there is a giant geyser that know as The Lady Knox Geyser that is scheduled to go off every morning at around 10 am. Unlike most geysers where the eruption is caused by the natural built up of water pressure underground, the Lady Knox Geyser erupts by human intervention. Legend has it that back in the days when European settlers first came to the area, they built a prison adjacent to a forest. One day, three convicts were directed to explore the area, and found a hotspring, which was a perfect place for a soak and for washing their clothes.

So the next day, they brought with them soap and washing powder, and had a pleasant clean in the warm relaxing hotspring. However, it turns out that the chemical composition of the pool water was such that it reacts with the soap and washing powder, and triggered a reaction so violent that the hotspring erupted into a giant geyser. This geyser is, of course, the Lady Knox Geyser. While the prisoners escaped butt naked but unharmed, the hot pool was drained, and all was left was the vent of the geyser. To reenact the eruption, the guide pour some washing powder into the vent. At first, the vent just kept on steaming like it was previously. But soon, bubbles started to flowed out from the vent. Gently at first, but more and more vigorous as if it is starting to boil. Then came some rumbling sounds underground, and suddenly, the geyser erupted, with hot water spurting up 20 meters high above the ground. Steam and water spray shrouded the area while jets of water reaching high up into the sky. It was truly a magnificent sight to behold.

The geothermal walk starts about 500m from the Lady Knox Geyser. So after watching the geyser display we proceed to the geothermal park where we started exploring the area. At the visitor centre before entering the park, there are bathrooms, a souvenir store and a cafe. But most importantly, after buying or exchanging your tickets you will be given the map of the Park which plotted out the available walks and well as the description of each sight. We entered the park and walk across the a bridge that crosses a stream that is steaming in the distance. We are not sure whether the water is warm, but many birds, including the native fantail, seems to be enjoying it. The winding but well maintained path took us through some bushes, where we got a glimpse of the first geothermal feature at the park: the weather pools.

Apparently the colour of these pools depends on the weather. The greyish colour seems to be fitting to the gloomy weather of the day. The pool flows into the thermal stream that we crossed, forming terraces with yellow colour that came from the sulphur deposit that is characteristics of geothermal areas. Another thing that is characteristics of geothermal activities is the bad egg smell in the air that gets stronger as one go deeper into the park. This strong spell comes from the hydrogen sulphide emitted by thermal pools and vents, but it is not at all unpleasant. In fact, it is said that this thermal smell helps to relieve sinus problem, so sniff up!