It's getting hot in here...

Not that I am going with a song theme here, but it seemed only appropriate after visiting a very active thermal spring area these last few days. As we know, New Zealand is home to many natural beauties. From the aforementioned waterfalls, to beaches, to mountains, to glaciers, it's really got it all. I have been in the Bay of Plenty area, home to many natural warm water springs, bubbling mud pools and roaring geysers-getting hot hot hot

My first stop was in Rotorua, a popular Maori city, home to an infamous sulphur smell from the thermal activity below.

Lake Rotorua


Just walking around town, you smell the sulphur and see pipes from the ground, safely releasing the gases below. Here and there, you also run into hot water ponds, with steam rising rapidly in the crisp autumn air.


I took the opportunity and visited Te Puia, a very active thermal site just outside of downtown Rotorua. It is home to bubbling mud baths 40,000 years old


Three active geysers


Landscapes that made me feel more like on the moon then here on Earth,


And a fun traditional Maori show, celebrating their heritage, their traditions, and way of life.


The guide at Te Puia was born and raised in the area, and lives in the same place as her grandparents and their relative before them



She was such a kind person, and told her stories of playing in these springs as a kid, evading security guards so they could get to the best spot. She explained on how they cook their meals even still, over the steamy areas in her backyard. Now she has to be the security guard she said, as kids come over and try to steal her cooking out of the pot above the boiling earth below. Though I don't think anything would protect her dinner if this happened...


I was sad to only spend a short time there, but I had to move a little more south to Lake Taupo.


Though my main mission in this area was unattainable and spoiled by unfortunate weather, I was able to spend some quality time in the natural thermal spa just minutes outside of downtown Taupo.


The water rushes furiously out of the hillside, and has created lovely baths for many to enjoy.


The spring leads into the Waikato River, and though this picture, taken from the warm protective spa waters, doesn't quite show it, the river was fabulously clear, blue, and swift.


So swift in fact that just a few kilometers down the road, you find this narrow section of river, full of roaring water, called Huka Falls.





If you look to the middle right of the photo, you can see the fence on the cliff, and then gauge how big these falls actually were.



The falls landed in this crystal clear pool and the river, though still very strong from the rains, seemed calm and peaceful again. Simply amazing.