'Drive from Ackland to Roterua and Napier

19-Dec-2004
Part of the project plan for New Zealand was that I would also work a week in Napier on the south east coast of the North Island. Although there are several ways to get there I decided to drive the 450 kilometers over the weekend with a stop in Roterua.
As a seaman I have been in Napier in 1980 and had taken a day off to drive to Roterua and view the thermal wonders of the Wai-O-Tapu valley.
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A view of one of the rivers that I passed on the way to Roterua.
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A place like this I always try to find for a stop to stretch my legs.
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Enjoyable views of a beautiful country.
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Mostly meadow land that is one of the reasons why the Dutch explorers called in New Zealand after the province Zeeland back home.
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The Saint Faith's Anglican Church on the borders of lake Rotorua.
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Steam coming out of Kuirau park in the middle of the town.
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The hot water lake in the park that causes the steam I saw from the car ...
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... another view from the park ...
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... with a hot lake behind the fence ...
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... as can be seen when the steam is blown away by the wind.
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In other places you can see smoke coming form hot pools.
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The water and fumes from the vulcanic activity has killed the plants around the pool.
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Trying to give an impression of boiling mud ...
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... in the middle the steam comes from below ...
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... the mud is in bubbles ....
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... back to the original situation.
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The water in this lake apparently is cooler.
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The Roterua visitor center.
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A Maori statue at the entrance to the Roterua Museum park.
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The Roterua Museum.
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On Sunday morning I am on my way via State Highway 5 also called the Thermal Explorer Highway.
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The first sign of thermal activity at Wai-O-Tapu valley.
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The Primrose Terrace
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A Mud pool with not too much activity at this moment.
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Also in this Mud pool I don't see the bubbles from boiling mud.
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On my way to the 'Champagne Pool' at the central pools area of the park.
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Amazing landscape with yellow and orange colors from the sulphur.
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The Champagne Pool that was formed during a volcanic eruption about 900 years ago. The colours come from metalloid compounds in the water.
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Take a good look at the water surface to see the bubbles that gave this pool the name the Champagne Pool.
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Panoramic view on my way to Lake Ngakoro.
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Lake Ngakoro that is at the lower slopes of the volcanic mountain.
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The grey colours come from the silica in the water and rock formations.
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Lake Ngakoro coloured green from the sulphur in the water.
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A last view of the lake before going back to the car and continue my journey.
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On the highway again to go south.
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Passing by Lake Taupo, the largest lake in New Zealand in the middle of the North Island.
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Another view of the lake with the snow covered mountains in the background.
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The rough but beautiful landscape that I am driving through after leaving Lake Taupo.
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The gravel beach of Hawke's Bay on the South Pacific Ocean coast. Picture taken facing north.
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Napier that is situated at the south of Hawke's Bay is seen on the left of the horizon in this picture.

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