today we took a guided tour of the volcanic valley of waimangu and rotomahana. at $230 kiwi per person, this is one of the most expensive activities during our entire trip. but, i think it was a fair price, or else i wouldn't have done it. it's round trip shuttle provided, includes morning and afternoon coffee/tea, lunch, guided tour of the valley, cruises on both lake rotomahana and lake tarawera, trip to the buried village of wairoa, quick stop to view green lake and blue lake, and a trip to the polynesian spa. our tour guide, robbie, was excellent. there was only 2 others taking the tour, a couple from austria, so it was a very small and personalized tour. very cool.

collage of waimangu volcanic valley

we walked along the waimangu valley, which is a bush walk, and viewed a lot of geothermal activity. steam was rising from the hills and streams. one of the famous bits i had read about that i really wanted to see was frying pan lake. it's inside echo crater and cathedral rock is right above it. it's a nice spot. what was cool about the guided tour was that robbie had a thermometer and tested the temperature at a couple different spots. he even told us the temperature in fahrenheit, which was quite helpful for us who do not use the metric system on a daily basis.

inferno crater is quite beautiful

after walking through the waimangu part, we hopped on board a boat that took us across lake rotomahana. then we walked the te ariki isthmus to board another boat that took us across lake tarawera. i don't know if i was that tired from the morning walk or if the ride was just so calm and peaceful but i fell asleep during the second boat trip. it was a long, slow ride and the captain's voice as he gave a tour was low and sleep-inducing.

lake rotomahana

lake tarawera

the reason for all the excitement or why the hell did we visit this place. this area is famous because mt. tarawera had a huge eruption on june 10, 1886. it is the only eruption in new zealand during recorded history. everything else erupted hundreds or thousands of years ago. this place was mostly occupied by maori tribes but there were some british living there as well.

panorama stitch of mt. tarawera

the area was already known as a tourist spot due to the geothermal activity. there were spectacular pink terraces and white terraces. they were self-proclaimed as the 8th wonder of the world. however, the eruption changed all that. the terraces were destroyed, the villages were buried, and the geological face changed. it's been long enough that the forest has regenerated and tourism is thriving again.

maori rock paintings

making friends at the buried village

after we crossed lake tarawera, our guide showed us the way to a rare sight, maori rock paintings. the age and meaning of the paintings are unknown. the paintings are protected by a fence but you can get rather close. there is a sign that declares, 'tuhourangi te iwi of lake tarawera presents maori rock art.'

we left the volcanic valley and visited the buried village. it was a very short drive. i wanted to see this place because for now it's the closest i will be to pompeii. there is a museum and excavated parts of the buried village. more is to be excavated. there was a display of what life was like in the 1800s, once again reminding me that i could never live in the past. i enjoy the convenience of modern facilities immensely, such as running water toilets.

after viewing the museum and excavated parts, we walked down to catch the gorgeous view of waitoharuru valley and the wairere falls. it was quite a steep walk down. as was the walk back up. at the end of the walk back up, there is a sign congratulating you on making it back!

excavated maori house foundation

a more intact excavated house

wairere falls

very close to the buried village, we stopped to view green lake (rotokakahi) and blue lake (tikitapu). the lighting conditions weren't the greatest so we didn't really get to see the greenness and blueness of the respective lakes. but we did get to see them, for which i am glad. those were another on my list of things to see in rotorua.

green lake

blue lake

we got back into the city of rotorua and spent some time at the polynesian spa, relaxing in the main mineral pool and the priest pools. there are 3 priest pools, each at a different temperature. the temperatures are 39C, 41C and 42C. i found 41C to be the most comfortable and have the best view. these were outdoors and the potential for a spectacular time is huge. the main pool is lukewarm, even cold feeling after being in the rather hot priest pools. then we were dropped off back at the hostel. this was a full day excursion, to say the least! time well spent i think.

i just wanted to comment on the smell of rotorua once more. this morning the stench of sulphur was quite strong. it must have festered and gathered strength during the night. perhaps it read my blog and decided to toughen up. it was almost putrid.