Wai-O-Tapu

The Maori translation for Wai-O-Tapu is sacred waters, but it may as well be colourful waters. These hot springs are bright shades of yellow and green, one called Artist’s Palate is multicoloured, with sections of dense green surrounded by an apron of yellow. A marble effect blend of both colours permeates the rest of the pool. The most famous spring is called Champagne Pool, which has a ledge of bright orange caused by arsenic deposits leaching out from underground but the name comes from the bubbles of carbon dioxide, which twinkle out of the pool like out of a champagne glass. The Lady Knox Geyser is another part of the region, which has had visitor infrastructure built up around it conveniently. The geyser erupts daily at 10:15.