New Zealand Adventure - Thermal Explorer Highway

Today we travelled along the Thermal Explorer Highway between Taupo and Rotorua. First stop was Huka Falls. 220,000 litres of water rush over these falls every second!

Next up was Craters of the Moon thermal area. Like the name says this area has lots of steaming craters; some tiny, some huge.

To find out how all the volcanoes, geysers and thermal areas in New Zealand work we visited the Volcanic Activity Centre. Here the children got to put together the Earth's plates, touch a variety of volcanic rocks, use the microscopes and interactive displays. The was also some great footage of eruptions and earthquakes in the Taupo area.

Onwards we went to Orakei Korako Cave and Thermal Park. Here we took a quick boat ride across the lake to the mineral terraces. Here we found hot springs, geysers, mud pots, and colourful thermophiles.

Wild stick insect

Finally we arrived in sulphur stinking Rotorua. Check tomorrow for more thermal activity.