Geothermal Country
As much as the South Island is characterized by ancient glaical activity, much of the North Island can be characterized by its geothermal history. We drove through the heart, along the geothermal highway to Taupo and Rotorua. We saw some foul smelling mud pools, and craters where the steam rose straight to the sky. Outside of Rotorua we found these mud pools:
The town of Rotorua is pretty unique in that it has mud pools and some huge steam holes right in town. In a park at the edge of town there is one area that is completely engulfed in huge clouds of steam coming from the ground. Its quite cool, but the smell may put you off eggs for a while.
After spending a few wet and slightly chilly days in the central North Island, we went north to the beach. We stayed the night at the base of Mt Maungenui. It is a cone shaped mountain at the end of a large sand spit next to the town of Tauranga. You can hike to the top. Its a bit strenuous, but its worth it. The locals seemed to use the tracks for exercise, we took a more leisurely approach.
We’ll be wrapping up this trip soon, and we’ll have the rest posted when we get back to Christchurch in a few days. Its been a great trip, but home’s a calling!
Ciao
Tags: New Zealand, Travel
Christen and Al
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