Waimangu Volcanic Valley

Waimangu Volcanic Valley was a surprise find. We saw it on the map, and sort of expected to see something mildly steaming off the side of the road. What we found instead was a fantastic reserve/tourist facility. They have won numerous ecotourism awards. The place is set up to be hiked going downhill, and they run busses approximately every half hour back up the hill. At the bottom of the hill is a volcanic lake where you can catch a boat ride around the crater.

http://www.waimangu.co.nz/

This place blew our collective minds....this is but just a sampling of what we saw....


View from the top of the hill at the visitor's center into the volcanic valley.


Southern crater lake. The red is a type of azolla, a floating red plant that covers the lake, leaving a glimpse of the blue water below.

Frying Pan Lake is supposedly the world's largest hot spring. I wouldn't go in there though as the pH is very low, making it extremely acidic. Even the steam can be toxic. There are a number of plants that have evolved to live in these conditions...amazing.


The steam and water bubbles out of the earth and pours into the lake, creating strange colors and patterns.


Amazing colors in the sand as the high-mineral content water bubbles to the surface.


Jon...always pushing things to the edge. At this point, water exits Frying Pan Lake and flows as a hot stream through a small valley.


A hot caldera spills water into the hot creek.


Bubbling waters


Thick vegetation surrounds the hot creek.


A series of bridges lets you look down into the water and at other geothermal wonders.






Inferno crater lake was worth the climb uphill! This crater fills with dreamy blue water and spills out on a regular cycle. The interpretive board explains more (click to enlarge and read).



Lake Rotomahana was a much smaller lake prior to a violent volcanic eruption. The interpretive board below shows what the valley looked like right after the eruption. The lake fills with rainwater. Thick vegetation now covers the area, showing that this forest is very resillient.




Marble Terrace


Iodine Pool


Warbrick Terrace

cool blue pool...

We had to get running along, so we took the bus back up to the visitors center. We met a nice couple from Santa Barbara, of all places. It sure is a small world. We really enjoyed this place...it was spectacularly beautiful and really weird at the same time.

The staff at the center suggested a nearby thermal resort campground where we stayed for the night. We soaked for a while at night, then again first thing in the morning before we headed off to yet another geothermal park!

I'm playing with movie making/slideshows, so here's the whole thing again in video slideshow if you'd like to see it....