Wai-O-Tapu Geothermal Area


Wai-O-Tapu Geothermal Area is today the most diverse and spectacular geothermal area in the Taupo Volcanic Zone, New Zealand. The publically accessible part is only a small portion of the 18 square kilometer area. After destruction of the Pink and White terraces in lake Rotomahana by the 1886 eruption of Mt Tarawera, touristic focus in the area shifted to Wai-O-Tapu which had the largest remaining sinter terrace in New Zealand. A hotel was built nearby to assist in the touristic development of the area which was declared a scenic reserve in 1931. Wai-O-Tapu is located on the northern perimeter of the Reporoa caldera. This caldera is approximately 10x15 km in size and was formed 230000 years ago during a massive eruption which emplaced 100 cubic kilometers of breccia (ash and pumice) referred to as the Kaingaroa Ignimbrites. These are over 30m thick in places. Around the time of the Kaharoa eruption of nearby Tarawera (800 years ago) a number of large hydrothermal eruptions occurred in Wai-O-Tapu. Drill holes at Wai-O-Tapu show that the current source of heat is located under the N margin of Reporoa and the S part of Wai-O-Tapu.


WaiOTapu Artists Palette Mineral Deposits WaiOTapu Artists Palette Mineral Deposits

Artist's Palette - colouful mineral deposits in overflow from Champagne Pool Hot Spring

Artist's Palette, Champagne Pool (top right), Primrose sinter terrace (top left behind walkway)


WaiOTapu Artists Palette Mineral Deposits WaiOTapu Artists Palette Sulphur Deposits

Artist's Palette - sulphur-rich deposits

Artist's Palette - sulphur-rich deposits


WaiOTapu Artists Palette Sulphur Deposits WaiOTapu Artists Palette Sulphur Deposits

Artist's Palette - sulphur-rich deposits

Artist's Palette - sulphur-rich deposits


WaiOTapu Artists Palette Sulphur Deposits

Footprints of birds in Artist's Palette deposits. The deposits are soft since they are under a thin layer of water at the location shown and have a muddy consistency.


WaiOTapu Artists Palette Fumarole WaiOTapu Artists Palette Sulphur Deposits

Small fumarole in Artist's Palette

Seagull nesting in the middle of Artist's Pallette


WaiOTapu Devils Ink Pots WaiOTapu Thunder Crater

Devil's Ink Pots (crude oil and graphite form dark areas on surface)

Thunder crater - collapse feature formed in 1968


The surface features of the geothermal area are generated by groundwater that is superheated deep underground by old magma bodies which have not yet fully cooled. The superheated water dissolves minerals from rocks and deposits underground and deposits these in places where it reaches the surface and evaporates. The colours of the deposits indicates the minerals involved in the process and may vary even locally. For example, the following colours (minerals) are found: green (colloidal sulphur / ferrous salts), orange (antimony), purple (manganese oxide), white (solica), yellow (sulphur), red (iron oxides) and black (sulphur / carbon).

Notable features are Lady Knox Geyser, the large mudpools and various craters and lakes including the famous 65m wide and 60m deep Champagne Pool which was formed over 700 years ago by a hydrothermal eruption. Silica deposits emplaced by water overflowing from the pool have formed the 1.5 hectar primrose sinter terraces.


WaiOTapu Champagne Pool WaiOTapu Champagne Pool WaiOTapu Champagne Pool

Champagne Pool Hot Spring

Carbon dioxide bubbles rising in Champagne Pool

Shoreline of Champagne Pool

WaiOTapu Champagne Pool WaiOTapu Champagne Pool WaiOTapu Champagne Pool

Shoreline of Champagne Pool

Orange Antimony-rich deposits in Champagne Pool

Shoreline of Champagne Pool

WaiOTapu Primrose Sinter Terrace WaiOTapu Primrose Sinter Terrace Silica deposits

Primrose Sinter Terrace formed by overflow from Champagne Pool.

Close-up view of Primrose Terrace showing silica deposits.


Waiotapu Lady Knox Geyser Waiotapu Lady Knox Geyser Waiotapu Lady Knox Geyser

Eruption of Lady Knox Geyser


Sulphurous Hot Spring Waiotapu lakes

Sulphur-rich hot spring

Lakes formed by overflow from Primrose Terrace


Sulphurous Hot Spring Oyster Pool, Frying Pan Flat

Sulphurous Hot Spring, Frying Pan Flat

Oyster Pool, Frying Pan Flat


Devil's Bath lake Waiotapu Devil's Bath lake Waiotapu

Devil's Bath lake

Detail from Devils Bath lake shore


Mud pools Waiotapu Mud pools Waiotapu Mud pools Waiotapu

Mud thrown up by surfacing steam

Mud Pools

Mud-bubble bursting


Mud pools Waiotapu Mud pools Waiotapu

Mud-bubble just starting to burst

Mud-bubble just starting to burst


Wai-O-Tapu (Sacred Waters) Thermal Wonderland has a modern visitor center. Most of the park is accessible along paths and walkways. The Lady Knox Geyser is located a short drive away and a ticket must be obtained from the visitor center before access will be permitted to the site. For the convenience of tourists, the Geyser is artificially induced to erupt every morning with the help of a little soap. It is however able to erupt naturally but with a longer and less predictable cycle. The mudpools can be visited without entrance fee and are located down a sideroad leading off the road to the main geothermal area.

For further info on New Zealands volcanoes, see sections on Ruapehu, Tongariro, Tarawera and White Island.



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