Kiwi Paka Backpackers Hostel camp ground
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a drain in Rotorua- notice the steam venting from it!
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a drain in Rotorua- notice the steam venting from it!
Rotorua is the most active volcanic town in New Zealand with thermal pools, geysers and bubbling sulphurous streams covering the entire area. It sits on the banks of Lake Rotorua, one of the biggest inland water sources in New Zealand and is surrounded by pretty, innocent looking green countryside but who knows what's happening only inches below the earth's crust. Our camping ground is located near Kuirau Park which has many thermal pools, bubbling away, producing continuous hot steam clouds. This area of parkland was the most recent to have significant activity and erupted only in 2003. Inhabitants of Rotorua don't seem to be too concerned by threats of boiling hot explosions- they have developed ways of harnassing and controlling the endless source of heat energy below their feet. Most houses have a water pipe directly pumping hot water into their taps and under floor heating for free, which keeps their houses toasty warm 365 days of the year.
