Whakarewarewa & Wai-o-Tapu

Country: New Zealand by Lisette

17-02-2005

Close to Rotorua is a forest that has giant Californian redwoods, the reason why it is often referred to as simply Redwood Forest though the official name is Whakarewarewa Forest. The forest is set up with hiking and biking trails and is just simply gorgeous.

I took the chance to get a bit more in shape because I am planning to walk the Tongariro Crossing! For more than five hours I walked and walked.

A day later I went to Taupo, which will serve as my base to go hiking between volcanoes! On my way, I stopped at Wai-o-Tapu. Similar to the Waimangu Valley, this area was created by a mud volcano eruption in 1920.

Wai-o-Tapu is a real tourist hangout. I was impressed with the constantly bubbling Mud Pool. The little pond you see at this picture here is highly toxic. I believe it is called The Devil’s Bath! The real attraction for tourists is Lady Knox Geyser. This geyser has a 24-hour eruption cycle. Now, as we’re being commercial here, she gets a little help in the form of soap. This triggers the eruption at exactly 10.15am every day. Good for business, but it didn’t feel like the real thing. Yet, impressive to see her spewing water as high as 15 – 20 meters!