Rotorua

Rotorua is situated on the shores of a vast caldera lake that blew out in a titanic prehistoric eruption—the abundant hydrothermal activity of the region is the only sign of volcanic life remaining today. Rotorua has been a spa resort since the late 19th century, when ‘taking the waters’ was considered essential for peak health (as opposed to simply being enjoyable). Today not only can one ‘take the waters’ but there are also a number of interesting hydrothermally active sites to see in the area. These include Hell's Gate (so-named by George Bernard Shaw), Waimangu Volcanic Valley (with the world's largest hot spring), Waiotapu (featuring craters of spattering hot mud, the largest silica terraces in New Zealand, and the beautifully coloured Champagne Pool), and Te Puia adjacent to Rotorua town. Te Puia features one of the world's most active geysers, Pohutu, which usually spouts once or twice an hour but has been known to erupt for days on end. An impending eruption is signalled by the spurting of the neighbouring Prince of Wales Feathers Geyser. Pohutu can occasionally reach 90 ft but heights of 30-50 ft are more common. It is the most spectacular regularly erupting geyser outside of Yellowstone.