30. Rotorua - Wai-O-Tapu

Tuesday 9 January


Wai-O-Tapu Geothermal Area is the most diverse and spectacular geothermal area in the Taupo Volcanic Zone. The publically accessible part is only a small portion of the 18 square km area.


Champagne Pool

Colouful mineral deposits in overflow from Champagne Pool Hot Spring



Devil's Ink Pots

Devil's Ink Pots (crude oil and graphite form dark areas on surface.



Thunder Crater

Thunder crater - collapse feature formed in 1968.

Keep Off The Grass!

We were told not to try dipping our hand in any of the pools or go walking off the designated tracks - otherwise we'd "fry."



Primrose Sinter Terrace

After destruction of the Pink and White terraces in lake Rotomahana by the 1886 eruption of Mt. Tarawera, touristic focus in the area shifted to Wai-O-Tapu which had the largest remaining sinter terrace in New Zealand.

Wai-O-Tapu is located on the northern perimeter of the Reporoa caldera. This caldera is approximately 10x15 km in size and was formed 230000 years ago during a massive eruption which emplaced 100 cubic kilometers of breccia (ash and pumice) referred to as the Kaingaroa Ignimbrites. These are over 30m thick in places. Around the time of the Kaharoa eruption of nearby Tarawera (800 years ago) a number of large hydrothermal eruptions occurred in Wai-O-Tapu. Drill holes at Wai-O-Tapu show that the current source of heat is located under the N margin of Reporoa and the S part of Wai-O-Tapu.

Rainbow Crater

Colours are the result of sulphur and other minerals exposed.


Obey The Signs