A Kaleidoscope of Rotorua and Taupo – Central North Island of New Zealand

Rotorua

Rotorua is a geothermal town. Think of Yellowstone National Park, but with a town built on top. Steam comes out of grates in the ground or wafts over bridges in the park–not the kind of park where ducks swim in the water and toddlers splash around in the summer. Instead, notices of potentially scalding water hang on fences and the whole place has a faint whiff of sulfur with the occasional stronger odor blown in on the breeze.

Māori Culture

Rotorua is also a central location for Māori culture. The geothermal region drew Māori hundreds of years ago and many still retain strong ties to the area. Because of this, it’s the best place to go in New Zealand to see cultural performances, eat traditional Māori food, and learn about the culture and history of New Zealand’s first people.

Blue Springs

The Blue Springs are one of the purest sources of water in the world and provide about 70% of New Zealand’s bottled water. A walk along the edge of the blue water and green banks makes me feel incredibly peaceful.

Tutea Falls

Tutea Falls is the highest commercially rafted waterfall in the world at 7 meters. But I just went for a walk to see it rather than tumbling over the edge in a raft.

Tree Top Walk

Rotorua’s tree top walk is Instagram famous and these photos show why. I went on a rainy evening and so didn’t have to share the pathways with many people. But, this is one of those situations where the photos are better than the reality. In the whole 45 minute walk, these photos represent the best moments. And even then, the photos brighten the lights far more than what was real. The walk was, for the most part, dark and dreary.

Geothermal

Rotorua and Taupō are both located on calderas (the Rotorua Caldera and the Taupō Caldera). A caldera is a large depression formed when a volcano erupts and then the edges collapse and become low spots. The Taupō Caldera is home to the largest freshwater lake in Australasia (Lake Taupō) and the lake is the same size as the country of Singapore. Needless to say, there is a lot of geothermal activity in the area from silica terraces to hot springs to mud pots to geysers to colorful pools of water.

Huka Falls

The Waikato River runs out of Lake Taupō and quickly crashes through a narrow canyon and then drops in a burst of white water.

Aratiatia Rapids

Further down the same river, a hydro-dam brings the water to a small trickle except for a few times a day (10, 12, 2, and 4) when the floodgates open and gushing water transforms the riverbed from a rock pile to a raging maelstrom of blue and white.

Before the flood gates open and after…

Rock Carving

At 14 meters tall, the beautiful carving on Lake Taupō looks ancient. However, it was done in 1980, but that doesn’t detract from the beauty and the hard work involved over four years.

Taupō

Located on the edge of Lake Taupō and commanding views of the volcanos in the distance, the city of Taupō seems built around nature.

Wairakei Hot Springs

Wairakei Hot Springs and Spa was a beautiful place to read a book for a few hours. I love that these hot springs, while natural, have been used in a beautiful environment and aren’t sulfuric!