Springs and things

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Today we focused on hot springs. After another magnificent breakfast, we headed out to Wai-O-Tapu where there are some hot springs, and a geyser erupts every day at 10:15am. We got there just in time, and I wondered how they could get a geyser to erupt on time. The answer was soon revealed, the guide told us a little about it and then put what was basically soap powder down the geyser hole. This allowed a pool of hot water to mix with the very hot water underground and for it to erupt. This would happen naturally anyway, but anywhere from 24 to 72 hours at random without intervention.
After that we went on a walk through the various volcanic pools around the place, which you cant really do justice to on a blog without putting a couple of stink bombs up your nose. The hydrogen sulphide wafts past you at intervals getting stronger and fainter - but always there.
There are all manner of colours visible - although often hidden by the big clouds of steam that are always around. We also got to see some boiling mud pools too.

After that we went to Te Puia which is a sort of combined hot spring and Maori centre. We had a guide show us around and saw some more hot springs and also saw Maori artists carving wood and weaving flax.

Finally we went to the Polynesian springs pools where we went swimming in rather sulphated water - a very warm pool open to the air, heated geothermally. There were also a couple of yellow pools that were even hotter that we affectionately named "The wee pools".
After that we went back to the guest house for the final night in Rotorua before heading further north.

We don't know if we'll have internet access there - so there may be a break here!

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Comments

[Christine Howes]

geyser holes
I'm sure my little grandsons would just love to be the ones to put the soap powder down the geyser hole - what a great job!

[A.Audrey]

no title
Can't think of a title today but we have both enjoyed the 4 entries we have just seen. What a lot you are seeing and doing. I especially like the geyser coming out of Simon's head !!!!! We have never been anywhere like that but it makes us think we might try sometime........... such lovely adventures to be had around the world. We are SO glad you are on this trip and doing it all together. More soon ....L o L A + T

[peter]

I hope Simon's head has recovered from having the geyser come straight through it - he looks very stoical about the whole thing. Great that they can switch the geyser on and off for you tourists - perhaps we should develp one in West Bridgford. Looking forward to our holiday in France which starts on Friday - probably no geysers though so not as exciting as your trip. Hope the holiday continues to be as successful as it has been All the best Peter