DAY 3: Tramping in the Waimangu Volcanic Valley

From NZ Day 3

ROTORUA -- Above is a picture from the Echo Crater in the Waimangu Volcanic Valley.

I took a three hour tramp through the valley today. It was long and arduous. Most of it was easy except this one section which went up and over Mount Hazard. I think it is named after a local who died in the the last eruption here in 1886, but it certainly could have meant hazardous.

It was rough and took a lot of out of me. My legs got a good workout but it should be good training for the coming weeks.

The tramp ended with a boat trip around Lake Tarawera. There are springs and geysers everywhere in the valley.

There is a really interesting story that I learned about later in the day by visiting the Rotorua Museum of Art and History.

Apparently there use to be these terrace type steps (like those in Yellowstone) that were created by the minerals in the volcanically affected waters. Anyways they created natural pools where people could bath as well as they just looked darn cool.

Well apparently there were two of these -- a pink one and a white one.

That was before 1886 when the last eruption occurred and wiped them out. There is some interested Mauri (native) legend about this eruption as a prophecy.

It is an interesting story if you look into it. It also says a lot about Mauri and the relationship with colonialists.

Not pleasant, but not as bad as what happened to Native Americans.

Anyways... so in 1886, these terraces, which had become a worldwide tourist destination were wiped away by this massive eruption that also killed 120 people.

Later on the hot waters were sold as "cures" for numerous ailments and people flocked to get "treated" at a bath house in a rebuilt Rotorua. This was the place where the Museum is now located.

The museum gave you a great in and out look at the operation. Much of the museum still had remnants of the baths.

Other parts of the museum displayed Mauri culture, which I knew nothing about. It was great to finally get an idea the real New Zealand Heritage.

There are some pictures in my Day 3 web album that you can check out from my tramp and the outside of the museum.

As a side note there were resplendent lawns in front of the museum which people were using to play crochet. I found that amusing.

After that I found myself checking into a hostel in town. I did not really plan to stay here tonight, but this is a pretty cool town.

I had some brew and food at an Irish pub that was nice while I watched the U-17 Women's World Cup Football match between the U.S. and Germany. Germany was winning when I left.

Anyways that is about it. Tomorrow I am heading south to Taupo for more adventuring.

I am ready to leave the sulfur smell behind. The entire town smells of sulfur. The only good part of this is that you do not have to worry about how bad you smell after a three hour tramp.

Cheers. Hope everybody is well in the motherland. Weather here is amazing!