Come Soak Your Feet

The city of Rotorua sits within a massive volcanic caldera, which is why geothermal activity is so commonly found here.  Close to the city centre there is a large public park where visitors can go to see geothermal activity for free.

Kuirau Park was named after a beautiful young woman who was swimming in the lake here when a taniwha (dragon) dragged her to his lair beneath the lake.  The gods above were so angry that they made the waters in the lake boil, and they have continued to bubble ever since.

One of the biggest attractions in the Park is the couple of areas where foot-baths have been built so that people can sit and soak their feet in the naturally hot spring water.

This is a fabulous place to unwind and relax after spending a day walking, but it is recommended to take a towel to sit on as the wooden seats around the edge can sometimes be quite wet.

There are gardens to wander around, and in summer there are shady trees to spread a picnic blanket underneath.

A great playground is available to keep the children happy.

Most of this area is geothermally active and it is recommended that you remain on the cool side of the fences!

Occasionally a new steam vent will open up in the ground, accompanied with hissing steam and boiling mud.  Sometimes these new vents can be quite eruptive, throwing rocks into the air and frightening any person in the vicinity. 

They usually settle down quite quickly, a new barrier fence is erected, and something else is added to look at in the Park.

Kuirau Park is a great place to wander around for a couple of hours, with the bonus of being free of charge.

And remember to go and soak your feet for a while.  There are indoor and outdoor foot-baths to use and they really are a great way to unwind and relax after a busy day.

Of course, visit only after lockdown finishes!

Stay safe and be kind,

Margaret.

LINKED TO My Corner Of The World

Thank-you Betty for hosting this lovely link J