New Zealand 2014

David of HeadFirst met us at the motel after breakfast and drove us to Waimangu Volcanic Valley. This is a Scenic Reserve, owned by the people of New Zealand and administered on their behalf by the Department of Conservation. It is the world’s youngest geothermal system which was created as a direct result of a volcanic eruption – the Tarawera Eruption of June 10, 1886.

We began our walk at the head of the Volcanic Rift Valley and followed the well labeled trails. Along the way there were numerous informational signs.
	Tree Ferns
	Click here to see a short movie of the steaming/boiling lake
	Tree Fern



	One of the side trails climbed steeply up Mount Haszard with views of the valley and Lake Rotomahana.
	Refreshments


At varying speeds we walked the length of the valley to Lake Rotomahana, a distance of 4.2km. A few also walked back. Some went slower, had lunch at the lake and then took a bus back to the entrance. After lunch we left Waimangu with David. Five were dropped off at a mountain bike place for an adventure. Everyone else went to the Rotorua Museum where we had a tour. It is a historic bath and Maori museum.

Model of the old baths.	One of the original baths.
After the museum tour was free time. The museum is in a large park on the shore of Lake Rotorua and adjacent to downtown. A few went to the adjacent Polynesian Spa where we soaked in the thermal waters for a while. Supper was on our own and several found the Fat Dog Cafe in the nearby town center.