Orakei Korako Geothermal Park & Cave, Waikato, New ZealandWairakei Terraces / Orakei Korako
We came here to Lake Taupo and also Rotorua because of the
geothermal areas: the two Gine picked are both on our way towards Rotorua and
as we didn’t do one yesterday – today will be a busy day visiting both:
Wairakei Terraces
- Wairakei and Wairora Valley are famous for their thermal features like the previously known pink terraces of Wairakei – the once we see today are a few leftovers of these once famous terraces
- During their existence the pink and white terraces on the shores of lake Rotomahana near Rotorua were regarded as the 8th wonder of the world – they got destroyed by the volcanic eruption of Mount Tarawera in 1886
- In 1996 Bill heaps the general manager of contact engineering talked about making the Silca terraces – which would be the first man made ones in the world. In 2001 they cleared the area, they made support walls and then let Silca rich water flow over them, when they had the steam coming up it was so powerful that it erupted 30 m high in the air, they then filled the colling ponds and let is cascade over the terraces leaving silca deposits to make coral like shapes and over time the terraces formed
- The blue color comes from the colloidal silca – it is so delicate it doesn’t settle on the bottom and remains in the water. When light hits the water the silca absorbs some very short wavelengths and the water some longer ones which leaves the water in this bright blue color.
- The geyser is fed from a source 1.5 km deep in the ground and it reaches the surface with 130 C: 250.000 pounds per square inch of pressure is released to make this geyser
- In the 1950s they started to use and built geothermal power station here in the Valley, in the 1960s the geothermal activity in the area declined and many geysers disappeared and with it the famous Waireiki Geyser which was sending water up to 30 m in the air for 10 Min every 10 hours
If we would have one more day: we would spend the whole day
here and also enjoy the super cool Thermal pools. Today we are going through
the thermal walk (as per the lady it takes a half hour – we took nearly 1.5
hours as sometimes you have to stand and look and look).
Already in the parking lot we could see some steam coming up
in the air. Once we started out, we walked along a little stream, we could
already smell and see the steam coming up, but this is only the start as we
then came to the famous Terraces: they are so amazing: white terraces going
down, at the top is a pool with such a clear bright blue color you nearly can’t
believe it is true. What is also super cool is that the geyser constantly lets
out steam and depending on how the wind goes you can see or you can’t see the
terraces – making it very mystic. As well, sometimes we have the feeling we are
in the shade – but it is not the clouds, it is the steam going in front of the
sun.
We then walked around a Maori village: passing through a
gate, we saw several Maori style houses, all with the head at the top of the
roof, we saw some beautiful carvings, and yes even here we once in a while saw
an area where once the silca rich streams were flowing.
- I arrive where unknown earth is under my feet. I arrive where a new sky is above me. I arrive at this place a resting place for me – oh spirit of the earth!
We also came by the area where a lot of the hot water is
coming out of the ground and they contained it to guide it on its path – and
even here it was steaming.
We came back to where they Geyser and the water is coming
out of the earth – and depending on the steam you can see the water splattering
in the air – you definitely can hear and see it boiling!!! After watching it
for quiet a while we walked along it and as the steam comes to you everything
fogs up it is like walking into a steam shower or dense warm fog. Looking down
the colors are unbelievable. We had to look for a bit longer before leaving –
as it was so truly amazing.
Driving on the thermal highway
We are now heading towards Rotorua – and as we drive once in
a while, we can see some steam coming out between the bushes and the trees –
little geysers and vents – that is so cool and weird. And then we come to the 2nd
stop of the day:
Orakei Korkao
- This is one of the most spectacular thermal areas left in NZ with they said 81 active geysers, coloured terraces (all natural) and the only geothermal cave in the world
- It is on lake Ohakuri and you go by boat over to the other side to the geothermal field where you head out on a 2.5 km boardwalk with a lots up and down to walk through
- Orakei means: a place of Adorning
- The colors of this great terraces are from hot water algae which can grow in Temperatures of 60 C
- By the way here is the largest Silca terrace in New Zealand and is 20 mm to 20m thick and it continues another 35 m under the lake
- Rautapu Cave: is a sacred cave to the Maori, it is not sure on how she came, it is believed a giant hypothermal eruption – regardless it is one of two geothermal cave in the world (the other one is in Italy)
- Mud pools form in places where the thermal fluids are chemically change the rocks to clay, the clay is heated by an underground energy source, it depends on how much it rained on how active the mud pools are – they are more active in winter
We come and no, it is not cheap (but it was so worth it!!!).
Once we paid, we got instructions regarding where the emergency points are and
you call back to the main office in case of emergency, where the evacuation
routes are and the emergency exists. Wow – sounds like an active area.
As we head over the lake, we can see the colorful terraces
going down into the blue lake – that is so cool, and Gine wondered if the water
in the lake is warmer??? Once there we start on the boardwalk and walk right by
some like geysers steaming out alongside the walk (yes, we saw those once all
along the walk: and you see them because of the steam and because of the grey
dead shrubs around it) - over the terraces – that is amazing it bubbles under
our feet, left and right you can see those unique cool colors – it is so
amazing how it bubbles all around us. It is difficult to say which is the best
view – as each view is amazing. Along the way we also learn about the local
flora and fauna – very cool to read.
Rainbow lookout: from here we have a good overview and learn
that every day 20 Mill liters of hot water “trickles” down into the lake (that
is a lot of water) – after a bit up and down in the heat (I’m not sure if it is
only the sun or also the “hot flashes we get when walking through steam”) or
the hot water making it feel hotter. Also, from here looking down we learned
that in 1954/55 here suddenly a geyser erupted and then suddenly disappeared
again after a lot of little earthquakes.
More walking over the terraces and around geysers and then
we can see the water bubble in front of us, as we watched it some people came
by and said “oh no it bubbles, it didn’t do that before” and we read that this
area is very unpredictable – yes, it is a lot of fun seeing it boiling out of
the earth – guess the sign “danger – hot” is appropriate.
Elephant rock: as we continue up, we come by a rock
“look-alike” an elephant it is an old silca stump – and by the way it steams
out here too.
Did I mention it is super fun to take pictures here? Because
of the colors, the geysers, the bubbles – I said to Paul today I can really
make some steaming hot pictures of you.
We continue on through the forest – but even that is not
boring as every once in a while, you can see the steam coming out near you – or
you look across into the forest and you can see the steam coming out between
trees
Artist’s palette lookout: from up here we can see one of the
most unpredictable and most dangerous area of the geothermal field. This area
got formed around 8000 – 14.000 BC and the silca in some areas is only 20 mm
thick, sometimes the whole area is covered in hot water and at other times not,
this creates algae growing in all kind of colors with some crystal-clear blue
pools. We actually see from here one huge hole and wonder if a geyser would
come out of there too.
We get hot, as we go further up – good thing we brought
water: we came to see the famous Ruatapu Cave: for that we have to go down again
– it is a huge cave opening and at the bottom inside is a dark green lake,
already the walk down and up is amazing along the rocks with the ferns growing
out of it.
The Mud pools: another cool hot walk through the forest (yes
with steams around us) we came to the mud pools where you see the mud bubbles
come up and bust (we saw similar ones before) but it is always fun to watch
them grow and the burst apart making weird sounds.
After heading up and then a long way down through the fern
forest (which is so pretty) we are back at the main terraces as we head down
towards the ferry – Paul touched them and it was warm but not hot.
Soda fountain: this is a cute little boiling pot, and we
read that it was dormant for 17 years and then suddenly it refilled and started
to bubble again in 1984 and since then it fills and empties – guess we are
lucky because today it is bubbling.
Back at the Ferry station: we press the button to call the
ferry and have our individual ride back with some last glimpses and as experts
we can see now even more steams and silca terraces along the shoreline.
No question – this was an absolute highlight!!!!
We head on to Rotorua
We still have another hour to drive and then as we
approached the town we could smell it: the sulphur!!! I think we arrived in
Rotorua, we head to our Airbnb to have a coffee first, as our brains worked in
overtime today with all the super cool staff we saw.
Relaxing along the blue lake
We learned from our Lady at Airbnb that we can’t swim in
Lake Rotorua as it is murky and if we want to go for a swim we should go to the
blue lake, which we did. I think this is a hang-out for the locals – the
parking was cramped full and nearly every spot along the beach was taken, the
boats were out, the people in the water and no the lake is not very big. For us
it looked like a nice lake like we have at home (except here there are the big
ferns along the shoreline). We spend some time in the sun relaxing, people
watching before heading back.
The Combo
We found a funky takeaway place and it has different combos
like 2 fish and 3 chicken nuggets (that’s what we got), you could also have 2
fish, 1 hotdog and 1 sausage, or 2 fish 3 potato fritter and chips, or 1 fish,
2 hotdogs 1 sausage and a crab stick… super funky. Two big pieces of fish with
chicken nuggets and fries – what a funky meal.
Then Gine had a shower and when you wash yourself with fresh
water and then open the shower door when the window is open it is like getting
a whip of Sulphur in your noise… so weird.
2025-05-23