Lake Rotomahana - Pink and White Terraces

Somewhere under Lake Rotomahana (or maybe on the shores under regenerating bush) are the remains of the famed and fabled Pink and White Terraces. Scientists are busily trying to work out exactly where the remains of the 'Eighth wonder of the world' lie, following the destructive 1886 eruption of Lake Tarawera.

Before the eruption, Te Otukapuarangi (the Pink Terrace), Te Tarata (the White Terrace) and the lesser known Te Ngawha a Te Tuhi (Black Terrace), were an international tourist attraction, kicking off Rotorua's career in the tourist trade, which survives without it's crown jewel.

A comprehensive display about the eruption and the buried village of Te Wairoa is at nearby Lake Tarawera. Here you may learn about Guide Sophia, who introduced thousands of visitors to the terraces, and then saved at least 60 from the eruption by sheltering them in her whare. The meeting house of Rotomahana, Hinemihi, also sheltered dozens, but strangely has ended up on the other side of the world, read on at NZPlaces to find out more about that....

Rotomahana Lake was small before the eruption, requiring visitors to take a short canoe ride from Te Wairoa to the Terraces. The original lake disappeared completely during the eruption and the two lakes that re-emerged combined into one which is now is 200 times it's initial size, with volcanic gas plumes, and guysers and fumaroles on the shoreline. The surrounding area is now known Waimangu Volcanic Valley and is a scenic reserve and wildlife refuge but fishing is allowed with a permit and the lake has good stocks of rainbow trout and brown trout.

Hot water cups White Terrace - Charles Spencer

VOLCANIC VALLEY SELF GUIDED WALKING AT WAIMANGU

MOUNT TARAWERA VOLCANIC GUIDED HIKE EXPERIENCE

Image Credit: Charles Blomfield, Eruption of Tarawera 1886.