Monday, 27 January 2025 - Up early for another all-day adventure. This time to the geothermal fields in the middle of the North Island.

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First we headed to Rotorua and the Maori Te Puia complex where this replica of a Maori lodge was built.

We then toured a Kiwi exhibit which was very dark, as Kiwis are nocturnal. With 30 people moving through a black space looking into a black exhibit for a small black bird, it was confusing. We could see a young kiwi bird very clearly.
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Then out to the thermal field. There are over 1000 thermal features in the park. The walkways do not go to all but go to several of the larger features.

Mud bubbles in a hot pool with steam rising from the superheated water below.
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A bubble captured after bursting.
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Pohutu geyser is bursting into the air, it did not have a schedule but was continuously bubbling.
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Sulfur stains on the earth around a little hole with steam coming out, water must splash out now and then.
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This little geyser was very active.
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Pretty pool below a geyser rich with minerals creating blue hues.
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A small cemetery just outside the complex.
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Maori artwork leading into the Maori Arts and Crafts Institute
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A predominant art form of the Māori people is wood carving. The National Wood Carving school is centered at Te Puia.
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Our Maori guide for the 2-hour tour of Te Puia. His tattoo resembles the traditional face paintings and is depicted in several works of art in the Auckland War Memorial Museum.
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We then drove to Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland. There are a number of geothermal features from this area east to the ocean.

Here the sulfur stains the earth as steam rises up.
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Colorful Champagne Pool water caused by all the chemicals in the hot water.
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Champagne Pool changes color several times. Not sure why, maybe due to depth/algae?
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This pool was so fun to photograph. The colors are vibrant.
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Virginia Ann takes a picture of the Champagne Pool.
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One last picture from an elevated position on a trail over the pool.
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Interesting chemical crystal buildup on a wall below Champagne Pool.
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Orange shelf gives way to green water.
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Ok, now the last picture of the Champagne Pool and the steam rising.
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Another pool of water which is full of sulfur water turning the water and earth yellow.
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We had a great time at the park, hiking several miles of a path through the geothermal features.


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