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examples of the amazing scenery at Wai-o-Tapu thermal reserve
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Lady Knox geyser erupting
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We made an early start from our DOC campsite on Lake Rerewhakaaitu (a peaceful spot near the volcano Mount Tarawera, which shaped the Rotorua area when it erupted in 1886) so as to reach Wai-o-Tapu Thermal Reserve before Lady Knox geyser blows at 10.15am (it's 'persuaded' to go by a park ranger with some 'special soap'). The whole area is active when we arrive, clouds of sulphurous steam rises through the fir trees and reminds us of scenes from Jurassic Park. We take the signposted walk round the park passing huge craters bubbling mud and steam to the first main attraction so-called 'Artists Palette' for its vast array of mineral colours in its waters. It's a run-off lake from 'Champagne Pool' (it's bubbling surface is reminiscent of champagne, but I bet it wouldn't taste like it- arsenic is present in the orange powder edging the lake along with other toxic chemicals). 'Champagne Pool' sits atop a giant fissure in the earth's crust which drops more than 60 metres. Nearby sits another off-shoot named 'Devil's Cauldron', which I can only describe as a crater full of pea soup, the colour was so acid green. We're impressed by further craters oozing fluorescent yellow sulphur and dark grey mud pools spouting and burping. As time approaches 10 we all make our way to Lady Knox geyser for the 10.15 show. A park ranger explains that soap triggered the geyser when convicts from a local prison decided to wash their clothes in the warm thermal waters and sure enough they got a big surprise when their underwear shot 20 metres into the air. Now, every day, Lady Knox is made to go off for the viewing public and it's quite a sight but I have to move away from where I'm sitting at first because I get showered with cold water when she blows. After the excitement dissipates we finish off our tour of the park taking in the apple green-turquoise lake and the vast mineral terraces formed by the run-off water. As it's a boiling hot day we can't resist a dip in the thermal spring nearby, a spot that attracts many 'dippers'. It's a pleasant sensation of hot and cold as its a meeting point of two separate rivers.
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Lady Knox geyser erupting
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the 'Devil's Cauldron'
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the 'Artist's Palette'
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the 'Artist's Palette'
We made an early start from our DOC campsite on Lake Rerewhakaaitu (a peaceful spot near the volcano Mount Tarawera, which shaped the Rotorua area when it erupted in 1886) so as to reach Wai-o-Tapu Thermal Reserve before Lady Knox geyser blows at 10.15am (it's 'persuaded' to go by a park ranger with some 'special soap'). The whole area is active when we arrive, clouds of sulphurous steam rises through the fir trees and reminds us of scenes from Jurassic Park. We take the signposted walk round the park passing huge craters bubbling mud and steam to the first main attraction so-called 'Artists Palette' for its vast array of mineral colours in its waters. It's a run-off lake from 'Champagne Pool' (it's bubbling surface is reminiscent of champagne, but I bet it wouldn't taste like it- arsenic is present in the orange powder edging the lake along with other toxic chemicals). 'Champagne Pool' sits atop a giant fissure in the earth's crust which drops more than 60 metres. Nearby sits another off-shoot named 'Devil's Cauldron', which I can only describe as a crater full of pea soup, the colour was so acid green. We're impressed by further craters oozing fluorescent yellow sulphur and dark grey mud pools spouting and burping. As time approaches 10 we all make our way to Lady Knox geyser for the 10.15 show. A park ranger explains that soap triggered the geyser when convicts from a local prison decided to wash their clothes in the warm thermal waters and sure enough they got a big surprise when their underwear shot 20 metres into the air. Now, every day, Lady Knox is made to go off for the viewing public and it's quite a sight but I have to move away from where I'm sitting at first because I get showered with cold water when she blows. After the excitement dissipates we finish off our tour of the park taking in the apple green-turquoise lake and the vast mineral terraces formed by the run-off water. As it's a boiling hot day we can't resist a dip in the thermal spring nearby, a spot that attracts many 'dippers'. It's a pleasant sensation of hot and cold as its a meeting point of two separate rivers.
