New Zealand’s long lost ‘eighth wonder’ is back

One of New Zealand’s long-vanished natural wonders is being brought back to life with some help from augmented reality (AR).

The Pink and White Terraces, geological formations that were wiped out by the devastating Mount Tarawera eruption of 1886, can now be enjoyed again through an app developed by Waimangu Volcanic Valley, an ecotourism experience.

Vintage paintings, old reference photos and recorded work by early explorers and scientists have been used to recreate the terraces, which were formed over thousands of years as silica-rich water emerging from springs and boiling geysers crystallized into giant tiered staircases.

Dubbed the “eighth wonder of the world became New Zealand’s premier attraction and kicked off the country’s flourishing tourism industry.