Q_Q: Hells Gate

Raining heavily!

Wonder how we going to skyline gondola.

Hmm...waited till 11 am and it was still drizzling. We decided to get out of our room and head to the Skyline gondola. It was better than heavy rain. We took bus no 1 to skyline.

We were told that the zipline etc was not operating as it was flooded. Luge ride was still functioning. Our booking include Gondola, 5 luge rides, skyswing and Zoom Zipline. Since most of it was not operating we decided for a refund. They gave us full refund and we got nz 125.

Disappointed as the luge rides was really fun and we tried that in Queenstown previously. I wanted to try the Zipline! Hmm...Don't think I will come back to Rotorua.

↓ Can only view the gondola

Went to hellsgate. Waited at I site for transport to Hellsgate. Would be too far if we walk.

↓ Baby Adam

A collection of small pools with constantly changing levels of activity. The name was given by George Bernard Shaw as the largest pools activity reminded him of his nephew Adam bouncing on his knee. Depth 1 metre, temperature 68 degree Celsius, pH 6

↓ Sulphur Bath

This pool is very yellow in color, due to the high sulphur content. Although called the sulphur bath, bathing in it is not possible due to the very high acidic pH reading - pH1. In days gone by, the Maori people collected this water to use as a lotion for septic cuts, bites and certain types of skin disease. Also used in diluted form as an insecticide. Depth 18 metre and the temperature of 74 degree Celsius. In front of the sulphur bath, close to the path edge is a boiling submerged blowhole with clear water and a temperature of 98 degree Celsius.

↓ Inferno pools

(Sodom and Gomorrah, infants and spraying pools) The Inferno is made up of 3 major pools with an average temperature of between 105 degree to 110 degree Celsius. The depts. of the pools range from 8 to 20 metres, with an average PH of 3.5. Water in the pool exceed the boiling point of 100 degree Celsius due to naturally occurring minerals in the water, which elevates the boiling point.

↓ The Infants

The infants activity again reminded George Bernard Shaw of the very active nature of young children. The activity levels in these pools alter throughout the year but clearly highlight the active changing nature of the area. In this locality the thin crust of the earth can be seen, hence the danger of walking off the marked footpath.

↓ Spraying Pools

These are not pools but merely surface water interaction with the super hot ground, it is similar to the act of dropping cold water onto a hot frying pan. From a geothermal perspective it is known as "Frying pan effect"

This whole area has landforms like earth towers that show the layering of sediments from the ancient lake which have been subjected to erosion and geothermal activity alteration over a long period of time.

↓ Bush Walk

The bush walk provides a start contrast between the geothermal area and greenery for which New Zealand is well known. The native bush contains many examples of New Zealand's native trees and plants including totara, rimu, silver fern, tree fern, flax, shrubs and lichen. To Maori the bush represents a source of food, medicine, clothing and shelter as well as spiritual link to the land. Bird life is abundant in this area and includes the Tui (native Bellbird) and Fantail.

The Silver Fern, New Zealand's national emblem, is easily identified by its silver green branches and silver coloured underside to its leaves. For Maori the silver fern has always represented "going for a goal". The upper are of the walk transform into Camellia, Azalea and Rhododendron walk.

These shrubs which are over 100 years old were planted by the local Maori to signify the special relationship between themselves and the European. The beautiful colors of these shrub's flowers are due to the fertilizing effect of the sulphur produced from geothermal activity.

↓ Kakahi Falls

The Kakahi Falls is the largest hot waterfall in the Southern Hemisphere. Its temperature is approx. 40 degree Celsius, which is that of a nice hot shower. The falls hold a special place for our Maori people in that our warriors used to bathe themselves from the blood of battle. The sulphur in the water was very good in that it acted as a salve to the wounds and scratches that the warriors received at the hands of their enemies.

The full name of the falls is "O Te Mimi O Te Kakahi", which is translated into "The Urine of Kakahi". Kakahi was a noted warrior of Rangiteaorere.

The first Europeans to Rotorua would use the waters of the waterfall for the purposes of healing many aliments including arthritis, rheumatism, skin diseases and muscle disorders. This site and Hurutini were used as water sources for New Zealand's first destination spa operated in 1871.

↓ Sulphur Crystal Valley

This area is covered in deposited sulphur that condenses from the geothermal steam. The blackened areas highlight a unique phenomena-spontaneous combustion which occurs when deposited sulphur reaches approx. 120 degree Celsius from ground and sun heat, ignites then burns at 380 degree Celsius causing the silica rocks to melt and flow like lava. In this area you can also feel the heat of the earth under your feet by touching the flat rocks in the path which is always warm to touch.

↓ Devils Cauldron

This black mud has temperature of 120 degree Celsius and is always creating the wonderful circle and plopping patterns as steam is being released. The thermal reserve contains three types of geothermal muds- black, grey and white, each with their own unique physical and chemical properties. The black mud has been used in the treatment of arthritis and rheumatism.

↓ Mud Volcano

This is the only example of a large mud volcano in a geothermal reserve in New Zealand. The mud volcano is unique in that normally mud formations only reach 1 metre in height. Currently the volcano is approx.2.4 metres in height and growing.

From a volcano perspective the shape of mud volcano is that of a composite cone similar to that of one of the volcanos in the middle of north island, namely Ruapehu. Instead of lava the mud volcano regularly discharges mud lahars or ejects mud similar to lava bombs. Every 6 weeks or so the top of the volcano goes hard and over a 2-3 day period pressure builds which causes the top mud layer to erupt over a 5 metre wide diameter. Usually these eruptions take place at night.

↓ Steaming Cliffs

The steaming cliffs pool is the hottest in the reserve. At the surface the temperature is 122 degree Celsius and 145 degree Celsius one metre below the surface. The boiling activity of the pool constantly changes with erupting waters sometimes reaching heights of more that 3 metres above the pool. On the left and right hand side of the main pool are 2 pools with different coloured water. These were caused by an eruption in 2002 and are fed from a different underground reservoir than the main pool.

↓ Hot Lakes (Koro Koro)

This large hot lake that can be seen is connected to 3 hot lakes in total that discharge over the Kakahi Falls. Water is actively heated in the lakes in some areas reaching temperature in excess of 90 degree Celsius. These lakes are named Koro Koro ( the birds throat) as every year during February/ March insects fly out from the forest and bush areas and are attracted to the hot water in the lakes, the insects die through cooking which, with the prevailing winds that have come up the valley, present a cooked meal ready to be served to our native Hawks that wait on the shores of the lakes.

↓ Cooking Pool

The cooking pool has temperature of approx. 90 degree Celsius, which remains constant throughout the year. Although smelling of sulphur and containing black water, there is no tainting to the food which is cooked in the pool. An adult pig can be cooked within 2 hours and is achieved only as a result of the natural water softening chemicals in the pool. Around the edge of the pool there is a growth that can be seen which is "land coral". This coral consists of a thermophillic (heat loving) bacteria that lives on the nutrients in the water and over time get coated with the silica to produce coral type formations.

↓ Sulphur Lake (Medicine Lake)

The yellow green waters of this lake have been used for hundreds of years by Maori people for treatment of all manners of aches and pains particularly skin diseases and arthritic conditions. Around the edges of the pool can be seen the grey mud which is extremely fine and again used for hundreds of years for body treatments and bathing. The temperature at the edge of the lake is approx. 38 degree Celsius whereas in the middle it is 68 Degree Celsius plus. Visitors can put their hands in the water to feel its softness. Only members of the tribe use the pool today for bathing, as it is too dangerous due to its changing nature. The water and grey mud can be experienced by bathing in the Hells Gate Mud spa at the entrance to the reserve.

↓ Map of Australia

The outline of this pool imitates that of Australia. Its shape was not manmade, as we would have shaped something more appropriate to New Zealand. The temperature of this pool is approx. 48 degree Celsius, which was lukewarm when compared with the rest of our park. Many Australians have asked where Tasmania is and although invited to make a suitable hole the offer has yet to be taken up.

↓ Sodom and Gomarrah

Have temperatures in excess of 100 degrees with water erupting out of the pools at times up to 2 metres in height. Name given by George Bernard Shaw who although an atheist, had good knowledge of the bible.

↓ Steaming Fumeroles

Surrounding the inferno pools and down to the entrance way can be seen large areas of steaming fumaroles that emit sulphur laden steam. The sulphur on condensing forms stalactites and stalagmites that can eventually join together. This takes about 2 yrs, In many of the entrances to the fumeroles can be seen very fine crystal formations with their needle like shapes.

Complete the walk around 2.30pm and we proceed to the spa area. We were give a big box to put our items. We were told that we were allowed in mud spa for only 20mins.

After 20 mins, we washed off the mud and soak in Sulphur spa.

What are the benefit of mud spa and sulphur spa??

We finished and went off around 4pm. A bit rush and we didn't even get chance to look at the mud product.