The first thing you notice is the smell. It’s starts from the second you enter the city of Rotorua and it will follow you until you leave. It’s kind of like bad eggs. That said, I don’t think it’s really that bad and it’s definitely something you quickly get used to, mainly because there is no escape.
The city is built on geothermal ground, which provides not only the smell of bad eggs but also unusual sights and attractions. One of them being Wai-O-Tapu, meaning “Sacred Waters” in Maori, which is an active geothermal area, with boiling mud, geysers, caves, multi-coloured pools and whatnot.
Silvery boiling mud – I was told that if you throw a rock into the mud it will fly right back out (and could potentially kill someone).
Lady Knox Geyser which they every day at 10:15 provoked to erupt by dropping a bar of (hopefully environmental friendly) soap into it.
More of Lady Knox Geyser, which erupts to heights of 10-20 metres
Champagne Pool
The Devil’s Bath
I went to Wai-O-Tapu with a girl I met on my hostel in Rotorua. I think I was lucky to meet one who was just as enthusiastic as I was. Not that I wouldn’t have enjoyed it being there by myself, but it’s always nice to be able to share your enthusiasm with others.
Hello Malene – I read your comment to Simone – which lead to my first visit here. I like your blog – and will be back again…..
A place I loved in NZ (was there in 1997) was Rotorua and this geothermal area.
Posted by Truels | 07/06/2012, 22:16Thank you very much. And I’m glad you like my wee blog
Wait a second, you’re Danish, too !?
Posted by Malene | 08/06/2012, 07:54Ja, det er jeg
! Jeg bor syd for Århus.
Men som du skriver jeg min blog på engelsk – for at kunne nå rundt i verden. Hvilket heldigvis ser ud til at lykkes….
Posted by Truels | 08/06/2012, 22:40