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Travelogue New Zealand

Oct 31
Tue

Erupting Pohutu Geyser and a sparkling hot pool

Almost opposite to the campground there are Te Puia and Te Whakarewarewa. We don't see the difference between the two Māori cultural centres, neither with the help of the leaflets we got yesterday in Rotorua. In the campground office we hear that Te Whakarewarewa and Te Puia had been one place until conflicts between the resident Māori tribes came up. Now the place is parted by a fence, explains our host shaking her head. In Te Puia you can get closer to the Pohutu Geyser – this makes the decision easy for us.

Pohutu Geyser · more Rotorua pictures

While our stay in Te Puia we are lucky to experience Pohutu in action twice. It's fountain is said to reach up to 30 metres into the sky. It doesn't spray that high today, but the power of the geyser is really impressing. Again steam is rising from cracks and crevices. Sky is grey and the temperature low, but the ground in Te Puia is that warm as if there was a heater immediately under the surface. Stones with Māori words and their meanings lie on the ground. Mana – Power. Waiata – Song. Karakia – Prayer. Several mud pools and hot springs, a recreated Māori village and a typical meeting house. The giant Māori Arts and Crafts Institute including a carving and weaving school is still under construction, but you can already see the artists working. With the help of the schools traditional arts and crafts will be preserved and passed for the next generations.

Te Puia It's hot in Te Puia. · more Rotorua pictures

The ticket is $28 p.p. and contains a Māori concert with traditional dance, but we don't get it: The concert at 12.15 pm is fully booked while the following at 3.15 pm is too late for us, because we want to leave before. But it doesn't matter to us, because we are not really fond of events which are especially for tourists ;-)

I enter the little kiwi house right at the moment when a group of japanese tourists is leaving. I'm alone then and glad to see a little kiwi. But you can't compare this kiwi house to the Otorohanga Kiwi House which is far more beautiful. Afterwards I meet Ralph in the cafe. I have a yummy piece of carrot cake – and take one more for the way. Finally we browse through the souvenir shop where they have really beautiful wood and bone carvings from local artists.

We have our next stop at the nearby Waikite Valley Thermal Pools. For $8 p.p. you can heavenly relax in hot pools which are directly supplied by a boiling mineral spring. Or you decide to stay at the little campground and pay $12 per night per person, the pools are already included then. For 4 more dollars you can rent a private pool for 40 minutes. We choose the full packet. The weather has become fine and we enjoy the rest of the day here. The beautiful pool offers a view over the sunny, green wide valley. The hot water is sparkling on the skin. It's simply gorgeous.

On the way to the hot spring. Waikite Valley Thermal Pools, Eco Trail · more Rotorua pictures

There's the pretty little Eco Trail (15 min.) leading to the spring. It follows the steaming stream which makes its way along pongas and ferns with white mineral sediments in the streambed. The source itself boils, you can see huge brewing bubbels reaching the surface.

The campground is simple but ok. Together with the pools it's a lucky strike and in addition to that a good base if you like to go to Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland which is planned to be our next and last stop in Rotorua. Also Taupo is just half an hour from here.

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Erupting Pohutu Geyser and a sparkling hot pool