Blue Baths 1933

 

The Blue Baths is in Rotorua and was opened in 1933 with the aim for the building to promote the town for it's geothermal qualities. When the town was founded in the 1880s the goal became to show people how tourism could grow. The building above shows it's affinity with the art deco era with it's curves and rounded windows. 

The pools inside offered mixed men and women bathing together facilities which would've been scandalous back then. When we were there a few years ago it was closed sadly as I would've liked to have taken photos of the interior. The water in the pools is apparently taken directly from the geothermal piping in Rotorua so I could imagine it being quite hot.

Tea rooms above the blue baths February 1965, G. Riethmaier, National Publicity Studios

Photo from 1936, Auckland Weekly News, Kura Heritage Collections Online.

Linking up with Through my lens, Tuesday Treasures, My corner of the world, All Seasons and Wordless Wednesday.

Waimangu Volcanic Valley - Part 3

Last and 3rd post about Waimangu Volcanic Valley. Above are 3 of the many artworks that are displayed along different parts of the nature walk.

The further down we got to the bottom the more smaller waterfalls we saw. I'm sure I sure some human bones on the edge among the rocks, looked like a pelvis.

The above 2 photos are part of the original Pink and White Terraces. What was once 2 small lakes lined with the terraces is now 20 times larger and 40 metres deep which is why much of it is now not visible.

 

This part of the valley was near the bottom where the steaming water meets another cold freshwater stream. After we rounded the next corner we borded a bus which takes people back up to the top again. 

This is a calcified picnic basket that was found in 1924 from the former site of the terraces. Photo from the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences. If you are ever in Rotorua I highly recommend doing this, extremely good value for money.

Linking up with Our World Tuesday, Travel Tuesday, Tuesday Treasures, Through my lens, My corner of the world and Wordless Wednesday.

Waimangu Volcanic Valley - Part 1

During our holiday earlier this year in April we visited Waimangu Volcanic Valley near Rotorua. Because I took so many photos and there is so much information about this spot I'll be putting up posts in probably 3 parts. 

So basically we started at the top of the mountain, the whole walk is about 5kms all up to get to the bottom. This is the home of the pink and white terraces which were covered by Tarawera Eruption in 1886. From here we could see a rough overview of the valley, you can see steam and smoke rising from below.

This lake is known as the "emerald pool" in the southern crater - this whole area is all hydrothermal. At the time of the original eruption craters burst on the volcano, a 16 km long rift running southwest from the mountain opened up with 22 craters exploding from the land. 15 of the craters are now underwater Lake Rotomahana, the 7 remaining ones are in this valley. 

This is a painting of the Tarawera Eruption - from 1886 by Charles Blomfield so you can see how massive it would've been back then.

A long trail from start to finish wound down through the valley, this is part of the nature walk we ambled down. Because our borders are still closed to overseas tourism there weren't many people, we were the only ones here at this time.

We did pick up a map explaining who painted the various artworks throughout the trail but once we got home there was no trace of it.

This one is of Echo Crater and Frying Pan Lake - the latter is the largest hotspring in the world. An accommodations house which use to exist near this spot fell victim to the valley's largest hydrothermal eruption. In 1917 it erupted bursting through the roof of the house and burns from the steam killed the wife and her child of the guide who lived there. 

 

This one is Cathedral Rocks - the heat of this lake area is around 55 degrees celsius and climb to around 67 degrees celsius when the heat is really bubbling below. The rocks are made of rhyolite lava estimated at around 60,000 years old. 

There were signs up everywhere warning parents to supervise their children, for obvious reasons so I took this fun photo of B pretending to look displeased next to it 😂

Part 2 coming up next week. Linking up with Our World Tuesday, Travel Tuesday, Tuesday Treasures, Through my lens, My corner of the world and Wordless Wednesday.

Waitūkei

One from Rotorua this week. This bronze sculpture was unveiled in 2001 to mark the new millenium. Supported by both the Millenium Trust and the Rotorua Energy Charitable Trust, Waitukei was made by Rotorua artist Lyonel Grant. His inspiration for the sculpture was the people of the area and the rich melding of Maori and European cultures. It was crafted from bronze over a 2 year period and depicts 2 symbolic figures, one male and one female.

Linking up with Our World Tuesday, Travel Tuesday, Tuesday Treasures, Through my lens, My corner of the world and Wordless Wednesday.

Waimangu Valley Mural

 If you're ever in Rotorua this is one place to put on your bucket list. The Waimangu Volcanic Valley is home to the Pink and White Terraces which now lie underwater after the famous eruption in 1886 of Mount Tarawera. I did take a load of photos while we were there but I will save those for another post. This mural is at the top of the mountain when we first started our walk through the valley - it shows the view from the old guest house looking towards the Waimangu Geyser in 1903.

Linking up with Mural Monday.

Whakamaharatanga Hoia o Te Arawa

This rather interesting memorial located in one corner of the Government Gardens in Rotorua caught my eye recently.  The original idea for this came from the Ohinemutu Native Patriotic Assocation in 1919. Later the Te Arawa Trust Board took over the project and still cares for the memorial today. The board hired sculptor William Henry Feldon to design it which he did alongside local iwi (tribes).  He then created the memrial with architect Edward La Trobe Hill overseeing the project. The statue of Rangitihi, at the bottom is a replication of the original which was vandalised in 1936 created by Rakei King in 2018.

King George stands on the pedestal, below him is the star Rehua which is said to have guided the Arawa Waka (canoe) to New Zealand. 

Under this section are a tier of panels which depict: King Edward VII, Queen Victoria, King George V, a white marble cross, a navy seaman, a red cross nurse holding a floral wreath, an army soldier in a mirrored stance to the seaman.

Under another tier is a section of panels depicting: Maori weapons, local missionary Reverend Thomas Chapman, governor Hobson signing the Treaty of Waitangi under the watchful gaze of Ngati Whakaue chief Tanira Te Tupara, the God Puhaorangi looking down from the heavens at the beautiful maiden Kuraimmonoa. 

Another panel shows the Maori Regimental Badge which has 2 Maori weapons crossed under a crown, a further 2 panels which list the names of those men from Te Arawa who died during the war. The figure standing on the stone block on the steps is the Te Arawa chief Rangatihi, on the front stone block is an image of the Te Arawa waka (canoe) and lastly the Krupps field gun is thought to have been captured by the Maori Pioneer Battalion at Le Quesnoy, northern France.

Phew so that is alot of information!

Linking up with Skywatch Friday.

Rachel's Spring

In and around both Taupo and Rotorua there is loads and loads of geothermal activity. While we were visited Rotorua we spotted this within the Government Gardens. Rachel Spring has a temperature of approx 212 degrees farenheit and is a natural hot spring of alkaline water.

Originally named Whangapipiro by the Arawa people but was later renamed Rachel Pool after Madam Rachel who was a notorious English cosmetician who promised youthful complexions because of the softening effect of silica water on the skin.

 Linking up with The Weekend Roundup and  Weekend Reflections.

Volcanic Kerosene Creek

While we were in Rotorua last week B took me to this spot called Kerosene Creek, he use to live in the city and Taupo many years ago. It's like a watering hole/swimming spot off the beaten track that isn't well known. When we were there we only saw a mum with her children and a couple with their dog enjoying the hot geothermal water. There is geothermal activity all over Taupo and Rotorua so this is probably one of many natural heated streams. We didn't have our swimming stuff with us so we just walked the track. Enjoy the photos.

 Linking up with The Weekend Roundup and  Weekend Reflections.

The legend of Lake Kuirau

Back when we lived in the Tauranga there was a day we made a trip out to Rotorua with my daughter. We wanted to show her the hot pools as the whole region is full of geothermal activity. One of the walks was at Kuirau Park where the ground and water wasn't just hot but we could see the sulphur which turns a yellow/orange colour.

Here is the story behind it:

Lake Kuirau use to be cool enough to bathe in. According to Maori legend a beautiful young lady named Kuirau use to swim here, however a large Taniwha use to live in the lake.

The Taniwha would watch the girl swim until one morning he rose up and seized her. Maori believe that either she died of fright or he was taken back to the Taniwha's lair but whatever happened she was never seen again. The Gods were so angry that they made the lake boil to get rid of it. From that day on the Lake was named Lake Kuirau in memory of the lady who use to swim in the water.

Every now and again we read news stories about people who accidentally fall in (there's usually not much left of them after) or those who try to cook their food in the pools but usually there are warning signs up everywhere to stick to the paths and steer clear.

Linking up with Weekend Reflections and The Weekend Roundup.

Te Pouwairua a Tuhourangi

2 years ago when we lived in Tauranga we travelled through Lake Tarawera for the day. Te Pouwairua a Tuhourangi meaning Tuhourangi's cradle sits at the top of this look out. It is in honour of the Te Arawa tribe of Rotorua who honoured and respected their chief Tuhourangi who long ago lived in this area.

In 1886 the volcano in the background of this photo erupted and the Pink and White Terraces were buried. Recently I read a news article which said that scientists maybe have discovered them underneath all the water. I'm excited to see what happens...

Linking up with Skywatch Friday.

Te Papaiouru Wharenui

This wharenui (meeting house) at Ohinemutu Marae is located in Rotorua that is named after chief Tama Te Kapua who came from Polynesia in about 1350. Te Papaiouri meeting house was first opened around 1873  but was demolished in 1939. It was rebuilt and opened in 1943.


Happy Matariki (Maori New Year) everyone!

Linking up with Our World Tuesday and My Corner of the World.

Clear water at Lake Okataina

Road trip today and once of the spots we stopped at was lovely peaceful Lake Okataina which is the largest of 4 lakes between Lake Tarawera and Lake Rotorua. This lake has native bush all around it and there are signs up saying no overnight camping, there were only a small handful of people while we were there. Scorching hot day so we paddled our feet in the shallows.

Linking up with Our World Tuesday :-)

Poor little abandoned house...

On our last road trip through Rotorua, we drove through various parts of the city. This was one area the other half wanted to show me in a poorer section of town. An old state house from what looks like the 1960s/1970s era when it was fashionable for the government to build properties like this for families of a low social economic background. These days most of them are being torn down in favour of newer houses but unfortunately there are still alot of them that have been used to make/use drugs so they are unsafe and unhealthy to live in. This poor little abandoned house looks like it's been left in a big decaying state with broken windows and timber along with gang graffiti.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday...

Redwood Forest (Whakarewarewa) - Rotorua

While out at Rotorua last week one place we visited was the Redwood Forest (Whakarewarewa). 6 ha of Redwood trees scattered in close proximity to each other that grow so tall and leafy.

Apparently 170 trees were planted in the early 1900s and only a handful are still there today. This one is one of New Zealand's Ponga tree ferns.

We could't believe how cold it was while walking along this track. The temperature for the day was around 8 deg celsius. I should've taken a jacket.

Sad to see quite a few mushrooms and toadstools had been squashed and stood on, this was the only one I could find.

This track we walked took about half an hour but there were various other tracks there too.

One of the main attractions there was the treetop walk which costs around $25 NZD which we weren't going to pay, we were just as happy on the ground - besides I'm scared of heights so that left me out.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday :-)

Kayakers at Okere Falls

One spot we visited last weekend was beautiful Okere Falls in Rotorua. The Okere River is 11 km long and part of the Kaituna River. Near the end of the walking track was this area where the falls leaps into a wide flow and bursting out all of a sudden came these kayakers who seemed to be greatly enjoying the adrenaline rush - not for me though sorry.

Linking up with Wednesday around the world :-)

Hamurana Springs - Rotorua

Time for another trip, yesterday we drove nearly an hour out to Rotorua in search of things to see and do. This time we visited Hamurana Springs which is sort of like Blue Springs in Putaruru.

Normally on a warmer day the trees would be green and no leaves on the ground but tis Autumn.

And the water would be crystal clear blue but we visited here on a very chilly day where the temperature got down to about 8 deg celsius and the wind chill was freezing.

So many colours and reflections over the water and all the ducks were huddled together in places.

In various parts there were bubbles where the Spring was pushing water to the surface from the ground.

The whole walk takes about an hour roughly around the full circle of the park. This part had a small lookout where we could see into one of the main Springs and down the river.

I took a short video of the main spring from the lookout we stood at 3/4 of the way around. There was a very fat trout fish swimming around nearby.

Linking up with Our World Tuesday :-)