Today I’m finally on my way out of Rotorua. I’m going to visit Wai-O-Tapu which is a Thermal Wonderland as they call it. Lots of hot pool to visit and even try sometimes. Let’s go!
Since I left Rotorua I’m riding on a path like this one. It’s really good 🙂 Rotorua is situated at around 300m altitude and I’m now reaching 500m but it feels flat.
Unfortunately, 20km later, I reached the end of the beautiful path. It gradually became a sand path like this. I’m not sure I’m going on the right direction but I want to see where its heading.
As often, many cows are interested and come closer to see what’s happening. It’s only a guy with a bicycle sorry, not much for you to see 🙂
Back on the road
Finally, the sand track guided me back on the main road.
I’m now front of the Rainbow Mountain showed in the photo above. It seems that there is something to visit.
Apparently, we can ride on these tracks, that’s cool. At the bottom of the map there is Kerosene creek, a geothermal bath. I know where I’m going to have a next break now 🙂
On the track
After 500m there we can see Crater Lakes. Surreal colors!
This track level was indicated as ‘Easy’ but it’s not! Coming here with my trailer might make the experience more difficult than it is but that track is slippery, steep and really curving.
Easy track… Disappearing track is better definition for that section!
OK, that’s too difficult for me. I have only 3km more to ride. My trailer will rest here. I hope it will still be here when I come back…
It feels so light now 🙂 Let’s continue now.
I’ve reached the spot!
This hot river is so cool! After 35km it’s much appreciated. I also met one Canadian guy who is travelling around the world. New Zealand is his first country too. Hence another guy who is just graduated is spending one year in new Zealand as well.
Enjoying natural hot pool!
This bath was great. I can freshly continue my way to Wai-O-Tapu now but wait… I need to get my trailer back first.
Wow! Another one!
Arriving at Wai-O-Tapu
Wai-O-Tapu is the largest area of surface thermal activity in the Taupo volcanic zone. That is THE place I have to visit. While I was paying my expensive ticket, the woman asked me where I will sleep tonight. I didn’t know the answer yet! The campsite around here is too expensive for my restrictive campsite budget. Unexpectedly, she offered me to pitch my tent onto the picnic place front of the office, for free. How can I refuse that? 🙂 Bonus, she indicated me a hot river 400m away from here. A camp + a hot pool all for free! That’s better than perfect :-). Splendid!
Let's start the visit
This one does not look human friendly!
We would be cooked in no time!
Something extraordinary! A hole… OK, it’s the first attraction of the zone.
The yellow color is due to the presence of sulphur.
Thes are Devil’s Ink Pots. A series of mud pools whose water levels fluctuate with the amount of rainfall. The color is due to the small amount of graphite and crude oil brought to the surface by the water forcing its way up.
This area is called Artist’s palette: As the water cool and the minerals are exposed to our atmosphere they show themselves in a variety of locations and colours depending upon water levels and wind direction.
The smaller area where the smoke is coming from is called the Champagne pool because of the bubbles.
On the right, this is a geyser but nature decided do not activate it today…
From this point of view, we can see the geothermal power station far in the background.
This signature reminds me someone… Z…
Very spacious and comfortable area to walk through.
That’s all the animals who live here.
Second part of the visit
It’s called Frying pan flat.
This area has water reaching 100°C.
Another view from the inside of the “pan”, That’s right: it’s frying all around.
This lake Ngakoro has formed 700 years ago. Really young one.
Somewhere else in the park
The Primrose terrace is the largest of New Zealand.
A closer look reveals is organic stairs pattern.
Back to the main attraction
I’m come back next to the Champagne pool but there is too much steam to face it.
That the famous pool of Wai-O-Tapu Wonderland. All around the pool, there is this bright orange colors. Minerals contained in the water are gold, silver, mercury, sulphur, arsenic, thallium, antimony etc and are presently depositing in the surrounding sinter ledge.
The pool was formed 700 years ago as well.
Video!
Those dark clouds are amazing!
Next pool
Back to the entrance
It’s 5pm so I have so much time to take another bath at the river that the woman of the reception indicated to me.
This place is where I will be camping tonight. It will be certainly quiet. I’m waiting for my towel to dry a bit and…
Last bath of the day
When I arrived there were two guys swimming here while handling beers and cigarettes. They stayed in this pool something like 4 hours haha. The great advantage of this place is that water arrives from two sources: one is cold and the other one is hot so we can choose our perfect temperature 🙂
That was a nice day 🙂
Waouh. Superbes photos. Et le bain pour la fin. C’est le meilleur. On n’a pas ça à Sainte-Maxime. Tu découvres vraiment plein de choses.
Bisous
Marie
Hello Marie 🙂 c’est clair que les bains en pleine nature et gratuit c’est le top!
Je rêve ou tu te baignes cul nu toi ?????? mdr
En tout cas les couleurs une fois de plus sont incroyables !!!! Tu es sur qu’ils mettent pas des colorants pour faire parler les gens ah ah ah 😉
Ça donne envie en tout cas !!!!!
Nanana je suis pas à “oualp” dans la rivière, je suis simplement aussi blanc que mon maillot de bain…
Quand j’ai vu la photo j’ai tout de suite pensé que quelqu’un ferait la remarque ahaha 🙂