IgoUgo

Things To Do in Rotorua

Craters of the Moon

  • Off hwy 1
    Taupo
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Craters of the Moon

Sulphur fumesMore Photos
Located on a volcanic plateau, Rotorua is not only famous for its adrenaline-packed activities, but also for its thermal sources and geysers. If you want to enjoy a rest between two extreme sports activities, go and visit the earth in action in one of the numerous geothermal areas around Rotorua. Whakarewarewa thermal village is probably most popular place to go but it is not free (25 NZD). Instead of paying to see a natural event, I went to Wairakei Tourist Park, near Huka Falls (between Rotorua and Taupo) to admire bubbling ponds of hot mud, shooting geysers and other geothermal activities.

Wairakei Tourist Park houses the Craters of the Moon, an amazing 50,000 square metres geothermal field. The first thing I noticed when arriving there were the fumes and the strong smell of sulphur (bring a handkerchief with you to put on your nose if you cannot stand this smell.)

I could admire bubbling craters, mud pools, and steam vents along with sulphur rocks. The wide pathway through the geothermal area was well designed with explanations throughout the way, even though I had to breathe the sulphur fumes most of the time because of a bad wind. Some days, the fumes are so poisonous that the staff guide visitors through another way to bypass them. There are some elevated viewing platforms from where I could take panoramic photos. I was quite surprised to notice a thermal resort just behind the mud pools. How can tourists stand this smell the whole day without having their lungs irritated by them?

The most impressive sight for me was probably the bubbling mud ponds even though I saw several geysers erupting and shooting hot water. The bubbling ponds make you realise that the earth remains powerful, the nature is still in control. The incredible forces of earth are at work there: in the 1950, there was little thermal activity in the area but when the Wairakei Power Station (2km from there) was built, it used underground water which resulted in increased hot pressure in the earth (because of a lack of water to cool it down) and the increase of geothermal activity. Soon, geysers, mud ponds appeared and their number has increased ever since.

Rotorua area hosts one of the few visible zones of earth activity in the world, so if you are interested by the wonders of Mother Nature, this is something not to be missed. Also, you can grab the opportunity and relax in one of the numerous spa resorts in the region. But first of all, visiting Wairakei will not cost you a single cent (if you head towards Taupo after Rotorua) and it is certainly as good as any other thermal area in New Zealand.
From journal Crazy Kiwi Experience in Rotorua