Wai-O-Tapu Geothermal Wonderland

Wai-o-Tapu Geoihermal Wonderland

The visitor centre.

We drove to the Lady Knox Geyser.

A close up of the geyser.

 One of the rangers explained the history of the area.

The geyser erupts naturally between every one to four days. For visitors, the ranger adds a suffectant to encourage an eruption in just two minutes. 

And boom, we have a geyser, but difficult to make out the water from the steam.

We drove back to the centre and started along the geothermal trail. There are fumeroles such as this one in a cave with deposits of sulphur on the roof.

There are terraces, the biggest in the country.

The artists palette is a kaleidoscope of colours with red in the background partially obscured by the steam.

Another terrace.

Where the ground is unstable, there are board walks. 

More coloured pools.

A large green pool.

The oyster pool, so called due to its shape.

One of many pools.

A smoking fumarole.

A green pool...

...another view.

The visitor centre with just some of the pools and fumaroles steaming in the background.

The outflow from the area is warm and on a quiet road, there is a hot spring which is free for the public to enjoy.

The hot tub.

Rotorua

 Rotorua, the adrenalin centre of the North Island.

An art installation in the centre of a round about in Rotorua to recall the story of how fire came to New Zealand.

The entrance to the national park and our planned trek through the forest.

A detail of another entrance to the national park.

Every photographer has to have a picture like this in their portfolio.

Every entrance has to have a maori arch.

Redwoods are not natural to New Zealand but were introduced in the late 19th century onwards as a valuable tree producing quality timber.

In some places, the trail crossed marshy ground and a boardwalk was required.

The outsides of the forest let in the light but the insides were very dark.

A stand of tall timbers

A large fern in the sunlight. 

Not all of the forest was trees such as this small green glade. 

A bubbling mud pool deep in the forest, fenced to protect viewers.

So much for the Secret Place, well sign posted throughout the area. It is a hot mud pool and pa offering but nothing could be seen from the reception. 

A view of the trail through a valley.

Hamilton Botanical Gardens, NZ

We entered Hamilton and visited the Botanical Gardens. An ornamental bridge into the gardens.

There are some cultural buildings on site such as a theatre and this children's theatre.

But there was also an arts festival taking place with temporary stages...

...and decorations.

I went first to the rose garden for the colours...

...and more examples.

One side of the gardens borders a river and there is an interesting walk along the banks...

...sometimes from high up the bank...

...and occasionally with access to the beach.

There were several enclosed gardens such as the Chinese garden...

...a covered door...

...and a shelter...

...although there were also flowers typical of the area.

The Tudor garden with more roses but also this Tudor style building...

...and some typical heraldry on poles.

But there were also Maori influences...

...and a typical Maori with his tongue out.

A lookout over one of the lakes.

The bird and bat houses were not just functional but also themed...

...and ornate.

And in the centre of the gardens was a cemetery with a variety of styles, some plain...

...some grander...

...ornate....

...some modern ash burials...

...and a separate children's area.

A Fresher's Travels

 A Fresher's Travels

My latest book and the prequel to Sophomore's Travels published last month.

A Sophomore's Travels

 A Sophomore's Travels and another book is releashed, exclusive to Amazon, eBook version published in December 2022 and the paperbook version launched in January 2023 wth the prequel to be released later in the month.