Kakahi Falls

 

Tikitere, named Hell’s Gate after a comment made by the Irish playwright, George Bernard Shaw, is an area of violent geothermal activity located close to Rotorua City.

Being privately owned, an entrance fee is charged to visitors – in my view, it is money well spent to experience this amazing place where “myth and legend come to life, where the earth boils, mud heals, and steam disappears into the clouds above.”

One of the quieter gems of Tikitere is Kakahi Falls, the largest natural hot water falls in the Southern Hemisphere.

The waterfall is a constant 40 degrees Celcius (about the temperature of a hot shower), and was a sacred place where local Maori warriors came to bathe to help heal their battle-weary wounded bodies.

It was here they could wash away the lingering spirits of war before they returned to normal life in their village.

This healing tradition continues today, with the spa opportunities offered at the site.  I found the scenery awe-inspiring enough, without covering myself in thick mud!

Have a happy day 😊

Margaret.

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

Trying Again

Several people had trouble viewing my photos on yesterday's post (Geothermal Wonders) and I have not been able to find a way of fixing the issue so I will reload them today and see how we go.

Steam fumarole in a public park

A sulphur deposit

Lakes of boiling water

A waterfall of hot water

A very active pool of mud

Various colours in the hot water

Pohutu Geyser in Rotorua (1972)

Hopefully the photos will all upload correctly today.

It will be a bit of a sad day today as I have a funeral to attend - the 90 year old mother of one of my sisters-in-law has died.  I knew her many years ago when we lived in the same district.
It is always hard when one loses that last remaining parent.

Margaret.

Postscript:
I have just been looking at the News online, and see the World Health Organisation has declared COVID-19 (the coronavirus) a pandemic.  Very sad to see this happen as it will now cause so much more fear among people.
This virus appears to be highly contagious but, realistically, you are probably more likely to die from influenza than COVID-19.
Nevertheless, take care everyone.  Margaret xx

Geothermal Wonders

The city of Rotorua is a popular destination for tourists to New Zealand because of its geothermal wonders. 

Evidence of volcanic activity can be found everywhere, in the city as well as at the more ‘active’ wilderness areas that a person can visit, and is frequently accompanied by noise.  Water bubbles, mud plops, gasses and steam hisses – geothermal activity is not quiet! 

Steam will be more in evidence than anything else, and fumaroles can appear unexpectedly in the most unlikely places (this one is in a public park). 

The smell of sulphur can sometimes be overpowering with its rotten-eggs stench, and has been known to make some people feel decidedly ill.  Deposits, small and large, can often be seen close to where there are fissures in the earth's crust.

There are places where the hot geothermal waters have been harnessed and health benefits can be gained from bathing/sitting in the mineral-rich waters.

But many pools of hot water can be dangerous, often sitting at boiling point and resulting in death for those unfortunate enough to fall into them.  

Hot water streams can also be found, and this can result in amazing sights like this hot water waterfall.

Mud also reaches high temperatures, creating puddles of mud that ‘plop’ and gurgle as the gases rise to the surface and escape into the atmosphere.

Many different colours can also be found in geothermal areas.  The yellow of sulphur is well-known, but other minerals (such as silver, arsenic, antimony etc.) can all cause different colours when they come into contact with oxygen.

Geysers are scattered here and there, although many are not regular in their performance.  One of the most easily seen is Pohutu Geyser, which erupts several times a day and can be classed as the largest geyser in New Zealand.  (This photo was taken in 1972)

Rotorua and the surrounding district are not the only place in New Zealand where these wonders can be seen and experienced, but would be the most well-known.

For those who grow up around geothermal areas these things can be seen as everyday and normal, but for those who don’t they are a fascinating insight into the geology of our world.

Enjoy your day,

Margaret.


Linked to My Corner of the World