Walk through a volcano

Explore places that have been shaped and coloured by volcanic and geothermal forces for thousands of years. Watch boiling mud pools and feel the heat underfoot from landscapes that hiss with steam. New Zealand straddles an active fault line where two giant pieces of the earth's surface are in a constant state of collision. This is also the force responsible for the creation of the towering Southern Alps. In the central North Island, the area centres around Rotorua, which is an active and accessible volcano island. Sneaky threads of steam drift upward from parks, river banks and drains, and the unmistakable scent of sulphur wafts through the air. Just minutes from the city centre, geysers of boiling water and pools of bubbling mud gurgle and belch as walkways offer easy access and good geothermal views. If you want to experience the thrill of a live volcano, there are several tours that take you to the edge of a steaming crater.