New Zealand 1 - volcanic adventures (english entry)

Endlich schaffe ich es dann mal - der erste Eintrag nach der Rueckkehr aus Neu Seeland. Die Rueckkehr in den australischen Sommer und ins Buero muss man sich allerdings etwas anders vorstellen:
Die Urlaubsruckkehrer in Deutschland werden vielleicht nach dem Gips am Bein gefragt und koennen atemberaubende Geschichten von den Gefahren des Wintersports berichten. Andere waren im Sueden und praesentieren stolz die Rest-Sonnenbraeune. Hier hiess es nur kurz 'Na bist so blass! Warst wohl ueber Weihnachten weg?'.

So, dann mal zu dem Bericht ueber die Neuseelandreise und damit alle was von davon haben: Ab hier auf englisch.

To spare myself the agony of a chronological description of the trip I attempt to share some of the best photos in a series of topic entries (hopefully the series will go beyond the first entry ;-))

I think that the volcanic landscapes of the North Island are one of the most striking features of NZ – hence, the topic of the first entry.

Roturua:
Our first exposure to volcanic activity was the rotten egg smell in the town of Roturua where all the caravan parks have their own thermal pools or even thermal steam cooking facilities. However, even the ample usage of the facilities of our accommodation did not prepare us for the visit of the village green:

The place hardly deserved the name. The sparse green was interrupted by steaming hot pots and boiling mudpools.

They were fenced of with more or less eleborate structures. Some that apparently had just popped up, sported a temporary construction fence. Others were even fitted with warning signs. The one in the photo stood next to one mud pool that had apparently recently errupted and sprayed the sourrounding vegetation in a range of 15m in white mud. I can't get the image of an old Lady walking her dog out of my head....

At the Wai-O-Taipo thermal area we had then the opportunity to admire volcanic features on a larger scale. It is a truly amazing place. A symphony of shapes, colours and sounds....


The local geyser during its daily (triggered) eruption.


The artist's palette. The flat areas surrounding a huge thermal pool are coloured by mineral deposits.


The pool itself is at 70 deg (Celsius) a bit warm for a comfortable bath.


The nearby mud pools are even warmer...



... but I could spend hours watching those bubbles!

The walk we did there led past enormous cliffs sculpted by the thermal activity and lakes of unhealthy bright yellow (higlighter fluid) color. You could even get really close to the heat and admire the sulphur deposits on one of the hundreds of steam vents.