Rotorua & Taupo

This is Rotorua geysers, steaming hot water and boiling mud pools the thermal area of New Zealand. Located in the heart of the North Island of New Zealand, Rotorua is perhaps best known for its awesome geothermal activity. Convulsive volcanic activity thousands of years ago shaped a fascinating landscape that has held an irresistible attraction for visitors for the past 150 years. This wonderland of nature houses New Zealand's greatest concentration of geothermal activity. all lying on the city's doorstep

Boiling Mud Pool------------------------------------Geyser

Kakahi hot water falls

Mt Tarawera

Artists impression

The eruption of mount Tarawera was the most recent of numerous volcanic events in the Rotorua region over the last 20,000 years. It destroyed the famous ?Pink and White Terraces? and buried Te Wairoa and two smaller villages under hot, heavy ash and mud. More that 150 lives were lost. Violent and unexpected the eruption of Mt Tarawera in the early hours of June 10th, 1886, was New Zealands greatest natural disaster, for more than four terifying hours rocks, and boiling hot mud bombarded the peaceful village, the firy glow in the night sky and the thunderous sound of the explosions were seen and heard as far away as Auckland, In the gloom of the day the wreckage of the hotels and houses and the burial of more that 5000 acres of scenic countryside brought awe and dismay to rescuers.

Cathedral Rock

Hot Water Lake

Boiling Pool-------------------------------Boiling mud pool

Lake Tarawera

Taupo

Lake Taupo is New Zealands biggest lake and is located in the heart of the volcanic region of the North Island. The lake is peaceful and serene and is one of the best Trout fishing spots in the world. Lake Taupo is actually the scene of one of the worlds two biggest volcanic eruptions and it explodes on average once every 2000 years.

The volcano last erupted in the year 186 and actually blew its top to form the lake that we see today. The eruption of 186 AD was approximately 100 times the magnitude of the Mt St Helen's eruption and is regarded as the biggest in the last 5000 years. So big was this eruption that the bang was recorded in China and they also noted brilliant red sunsets for 6 months, the Romans also noted the sunsets. If the eruption were to happen today it could easily decimate the central North Island and that area is populated by 200,000 people


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