Today, I planned to explore Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland near Rotorua—a mesmerizing thermal park boasting numerous spectacular geothermal features. What an extraordinary day it promised to be! I awoke at approximately 9:00 am and kicked off my day. After a refreshing shower and teeth brushing routine, I ventured to the outside terrace on the first floor of the dorm. While the hostel was satisfactory, the bathroom didn’t quite meet my cleanliness expectations, but I shrugged it off.
En Route to Wai-O-Tapu on the Thermal Highway
Swiftly departing from Lake Taupo, I cruised down the Thermal Highway (I do appreciate these straightforward highway names, haha). The weather was ideal at this juncture—clear blue skies, abundant sunshine, and a reasonably pleasant temperature. Presently, the temperature hovers around 15 degrees, with the nights progressively growing colder. This was yet another justification for my decision not to spend the night in the car.
After covering a distance of ten kilometers, I drove into a dense fog cloud. Initially, I entertained the idea that it might be thermal steam from the various parks lining the highway, haha. While there were indeed numerous thermal parks along the highway, the specific one I aimed to visit was approximately 40 kilometers away from Lake Taupo.
Exploring the Wonders of Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland
The Wai-o-tapu Thermal Wonderland stood out as a highly rated park on TripAdvisor among the many thermal parks in the vicinity. Given the multitude of options, this park claimed the second spot on TripAdvisor’s list. Parking my car, I made my way to the entrance, paid a fee of 35 NZD, and commenced my exploration of the park.
Descending the stairs, I crossed a petite bridge where fellow visitors were capturing moments. Captivated by the scene, I joined in, capturing swift-flying birds in my lens. Proceeding further, a distant landscape unfolded with smoke billowing in every direction.
Three Main Routes
Faced with three choices—green, red, or yellow routes—I opted for the adventurous decision to explore them all, a choice I thoroughly enjoyed. While I won’t delve into the specifics of each route and its features, I can confidently say the park captivated me from start to finish.
Initially shrouded in a light mist, the weather gradually shifted as I spent a remarkable two hours in the park. The main highlights captured in the following pictures showcase the sheer amazement of the experience. Throughout my visit, I snapped approximately 150 pictures.
The nomenclature within this park can be rather ominous, featuring names like Devil’s Home, Devil’s Ink Pots, and Devil’s Cave, among other intriguing features.
The Sacred Track, Wahu Tapu
Eventually, I ventured onto the orange track, the central path within Wai-o-tapu Thermal Wonderland, and proceeded to explore the Sacred Track. This woodland trail showcased an abundance of orange moss clinging to the branches, creating a truly eerie atmosphere. The orange substance coating the branches is, in fact, a result of the precipitation formed by the diverse sulfur emissions present in the park.
After concluding the bushwalk, I reached the Wai-O-Tapu Geyser. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much to see at the moment, so it didn’t leave a significant impression.
The Frying Pan Flat, Oyster Pool and Sulphur Cave
The Frying Pan Flat, the Oyster Pool, and the Sulphur Cave left a more lasting impression, marking my final remarkable highlights at Wai-o-tapu Thermal Wonderland. The sunlight filtering through the trees at the Frying Pan Flat area was truly a captivating sight.
Lake Ngakoro Waterfall
At last, I reached the Lake Ngakoro Waterfall—a petite thermal cascade flowing into an emerald lake, signaling the conclusion of my hike. Because of the warm water from the waterfall, the lake maintains a year-round warmth, creating conditions favorable for algae growth, resulting in the green color of the lake.
From this point onward, I retraced my steps along the yellow route, merging back onto the final stretch of the orange route before concluding the remainder of the red route.
During the yellow route, I ventured into the Bush Walk section, treating myself to a fascinating hike through peculiar trees. A delightful and unexpected detour. It eventually led me to Puke Whanariki, where an array of anthill-shaped sulfur mounds is showcased, formed underwater before the region was drained during the road construction in the 1950s.
Champagne Pool and Nature’s Spectacle
Ultimately, I found myself back on the red track, leading me to the park’s main attraction, the Champagne Pool, boasting a depth of 62 meters as the deepest hot water spring of the park. Although I had encountered it at the beginning, I now enjoyed a fantastic view of the lake. The mesmerizing smoke it emitted added to the spectacle. Occasionally, the smoke would dissipate, revealing the vibrant colors of the lake.
The water from deep within the earth flows into the Champagne Pool via a conduit at a scorching 230 degrees Celsius, gradually cooling to a surface temperature of 74 degrees Celsius. While the initial water is acidic, as it reaches the surface and moves towards the adjacent Artist’s Palette, the temperature decreases to approximately 15 degrees Celsius, and the pH levels rise, rendering it slightly alkaline. Additionally, the orange hues at the pool’s edges stem from arsenic and antimony sulphur compounds, enriched with minerals such as gold and silver.
Navigating Challenges and Shopping in Rotorua
Following this incredible adventure, I headed towards Rotorua, which was about 20 kilometers from the Wai-o-tapu Thermal Wonderland. Unfortunately, my Google Maps encountered difficulty in pinpointing my position, causing some concern. While navigating in areas like this is manageable, I rely on GPS for comfort, especially in larger cities like Auckland. Fortunately, I anticipated reaching there in a few days.
I traveled along the Thermal Highway towards Rotorua and upon reaching the city center, I explored a mall called Rotorua Central. Inside, I came across a drugstore, similar to the Australian Target.
Toiletry Bag Hunt
My quest was to find a new toiletries bag, as my current one had developed a small cut that was progressively worsening. Despite a thorough search in the luggage and bathroom departments for about 20 minutes, I couldn’t locate one.
Eventually, I sought assistance from an employee and discovered the bags in the perfume department. Opting for a gray bag, I proceeded to the cash register. Additionally, I reluctantly purchased batteries for 20 dollars, as my camera was consuming more power these days—an aspect I found displeasing. As of January 2024 (as I rewrite this), I still have the New Zealand toiletry bag, serving as a reminder of this incredible journey.
When it came time to settle the bill, I realized I didn’t have enough cash in my wallet, thanks to the purchase of those inconvenient batteries. I had to make a trip to the car, retrieve money, and return to the drugstore for the transaction. Following that, I visited the Countdown supermarket to buy some groceries. I kept my purchases minimal as I was working through the remaining food I had, including a few cans of vegetables. As mentioned earlier, in a few days, I would be in Auckland, preparing to depart from New Zealand.
Nature’s Beauty at Redwoods Forest
Following the grocery shopping, I set off towards my next natural highlight. While there were more thermal parks to explore, they all seemed similar to me. They also brought back memories of Kawah Ijen in Indonesia, where, at least, you were allowed to roam freely. Safety regulations were not a top priority there, and they didn’t seem to care much about it, haha.
I drove for about 15 minutes and reached the Redwoods Forest. After parking the car, I grabbed a coke and a cookie, and I began my walk. The time was around 4 pm, and I opted for the 30-minute track since I planned to locate a campsite later and needed time for the drive as well.
The walk was incredible, surrounded by towering trees. It was an amazing experience with birds flying around, the sounds of the forest, and very few people in sight. After completing the 30-minute walk, I returned to my car. I chose to enjoy my slices of pineapple, disposing of the juice in the toilets before savoring them in front of my car. They were absolutely delicious. Later on, I discovered there is a canopy walkway within this forest. Fortunately, it is considerably safer than the one I encountered in Malaysia.
Campsite Arrival and Preparing for Departure
Later, I checked Wikicamps and attempted to resolve my GPS issues. While it somewhat improved, there were still occasional minor glitches. The glitches would be inconvenient during the 1.5-hour drive to the campsite. Yesterday, I was not inclined to camp, but now I find it a preferable option. It would save me some money. As my departure from New Zealand was approaching, I preferred not to use the ATM again to avoid additional fees.
I reached the campsite at approximately 7 pm, situated about 10 kilometers from the town of Cambridge in the Waikato region. After parking close to the toilets, I unwound with a movie and did some minimal typing. As midnight approached, I finally retired for the night, looking forward to a visit to the hobbits the next day!
