Canada August 2022: Geysers and Yet another Lake

Moving on fairly early today, although we don't have a great deal of distance to cover. The intention was to visit some thermal hot springs. Trying to decide which one to go and see, or should we frequent all three that were on our route to Taupo (pronounced toe paw)? Our hosts had told us that the geyser in one was 'forced' so that it erupted while tourists were there - so we ruled that one out. Another one he mentioned as being very natural, where you pay at a kiosk, park the car and then take a ferry to the thermal area. However, we were put off this one as alledgedly they ask you for more money before you can catch the ferry back to the car park! The decision was made, it would be Te Puia, which was only a few miles outside Rotorua. More decisions - a day ticket or one that included a Maori ceremony? We opted for the former, but it did include a complimentary tour, which just happened to start as we entered.

We thought the name for the Arts and Crafts Institute here would give LlanfairPG a run for its money.

The guide was keen to play down the possibility of us seeing the geyser in its full glory (we wondered if this was going to be a no show just like the Kiwi walk). After an introduction to the Maori customs, a description of what was real and what was re-enactment, and a look at the start of the Welcome Ceremony...

The Haka was not quite as scary as when the All Blacks do it.

... we made our way to the geyser site.

This time we were in luck, the steam was shooting about 15m into the air. It may have been higher if the local wind conditions had been slightly less dramatic.

There are three geysers in the same place, the main one is Pohuta but one of the others is called the Prince of Wales Feathers. There is a pool behind the geyser that the guide said was a good temperature for bathing in, but getting to it would be very dangerous as the rocks are about 90deg C. There were some warm rock steps to sit on to give you a feel for it.

Eric tests the warm steps out - nice.

The lady in the B&B last night told us that they have at least 10 children a week admitted to the hospital with burns. Also that a child of a friend of their's had been 'taken' as a hole opened up and swallowed her. A rather sobering thought regarding living in a geothermally active area.

The Blue Pool.

Eric watches steam rising from the fumurole - the smell was giving his sensitive nose a bit of trouble.

There is a coating of sulphur crystals on the rocks near the geyser.

Next, onto the mud pools, or to be more accurate the clay pools, as they are kaolin (but not suitable for making china). They call the big pool 'The Frog Pool' as the bubbling clay looks like lots of frogs hopping about. And it did. There's a video to accompany this but you'll have to wait until we get home.

Eric is fascinated by the 'jumping frogs'

There were a large number of swallows around, and we also saw this Fantail.

There was also a canoe made out of the trunk of one tree.

Eric admiring the workmanship on the canoe.

And some carvings set around the bush walk.

Who looks the most fierce?

Eric examining a deep bubbling fumarole...

...and some hot springs (you can cook food in these - er - no thanks).

And an old style Maori house.

Further attractions at the site included a weaving school and a carving school. It's an institute of art and design for people of Maori descent to encourage a revitalisation of old crafts. The carving is a three year course, and the weaving a two year one. They only take 3 people a year on the carving one, and about 15 on the weaving. They have to apply and go through a selection process. Money from the entry fee helps fund their places. The guide told us that the Maori language is doing well as it is taught in schools, but that the old culture was being lost and that this school was a way of improving that position.

There was also a Kiwi house! We were warned that Kiwi spend most of their time sleeping, and that we may only see them on camera - sleeping. Our luck was in again, both Kiwi were wandering about feeding - it might not be in the wild, but at least we have seen some in the flesh so to speak. No photos allowed.

On to Lake Taupo, stopping for a picnic along the way.

On our arrival, it was such a lovely day we had a stroll along the lakeshore with a view of Mount Doom out of Lord of the Rings in the background (or at least the mountain they used for the filming).

Eric photobombs another picture.

The active volcanoes at the other end of Lake Taupo are in the background. There is a ski resort there as well.

A stop at the Toursit Information place was in order, to find where our B&B was located, as Flossie could not find the address. Booked in and then out for another perambulation around the town. Gently walking along the river, contemplating a more strenuous evening hike to Huka Falls, we came across a sailing boat that did evening cruises to see some Maori rock carvings. We opted to go on board. The boat was called The Barbary and was built in 1926.