Thermal Valley and Hells Gate

En route from Rotorua to Taupo on the North Island there is a great deal of thermal activity, the road signs indicate the thermal highway (although the plumes of steam at the side of the road are a giveaway, if a little strange).

Waimangu Thermal Valley (www.waimangu.co.nz)

The thermal valley is a privately owned valley that is being studied as the native plant life recolonises the area following complete destruction by a volcanic eruption on 10th June 1886.

Top left image, gives the view from the visitors centre down to the lake and Cathedral Rock (a closer shot of which is on the top right and left.) that isn't low cloud by the way, it's steam, appearing from cracks in the rock.

There is a planned walk of 3-4 kilometres down through the valley and buses are provided from 3 points to take you back to base if you get tired or don't want to walk the whole length. There is also a boat trip around the lake at the end of the walk.

Along the walk you can see small pools of bubbling mud and water, all at super heated temperatures.

Hells Gate (www.hellsgate.co.nz)

Hells Gate claims to be the most thermally active area. There are no geysers at the site but lots of buubling mud and pools above boiling point. The photographs cannot do it justice as the smells and sounds are all part of the experience.

The waterfall shown is actually 38 degrees Celsius and the Maori warriors used to bathe in it after battle.