Thermal Activity in Rotorua and Taupo

It has been suggested to me that as I have shared my photos of White Island taken in 2009, I might consider uploading my photos of other thermal activity sites in New Zealand which I visited at the same time. The colours leaching through the earth and drama of the steam and geysers create a memorable spectacle.

Unfortunately I no longer have the specific details of the areas I photographed.

I have included photos of The Hidden Valley and Waiotapu, and what I believed was Craters of the Moon, all in the Rotorua/Taupa area.

As far as Craters of the Moon is concerned, I have been attempting to research current information on the internet, as my notes seem to be non-existent, and I am relying on memory. There appears to have been upgrading of access paths since 2009, unless I have the wrong area. The building of the Wairakei Power Station in the 1950s about two kilometres north of the field reduced the pressure in the hot water systems below the earth surface. Since then much of the geothermal activity in the region has dramatically changed and the heat output at Craters of the Moon increased. A lot of hydrothermal eruptions occurred, which formed the craters.

At Huka Falls you can witness natural hydro power with more than 220,000 litres of water per second tumbling over the eleven-metre-high waterfall.

The Hidden Valley, or Orakei Korako Geothermal Park, in Taupo, was accessed by ferry over Lake Ohakuri, “on demand” as it was one of the lesser known areas of thermal activity, although to my mind quite spectacular and was a pleasure to explore because it was not as developed.

Waitapu Thermal Park is probably the one mainly associated with Rotorua and was more commercially developed and attracted larger numbers of visitors.