My Favourite Walk: Walking on the Moon
My partner delighted in telling us how once upon a time his friend was piloting a helicopter over Craters of the Moon - geothermal park - near Taupo.
Fransje was doing a low-level pass when there was a sudden burst of volcanic activity and one of the vents exploded. Mud splattered his windscreen and he propelled off, out of trouble.
Today’s family venture wasn’t quite as dramatic as that day, but it was still full of mystery, awe and adventure.
Jase, myself, Will (4) and Holly (2) embarked on an early morning stroll through this relatively unknown geothermal wonderland.
I had lived in Taupo for a year and a half and had surprisingly never set foot on this land. I wasn’t expecting much as I’d rarely heard of it, but I was very pleasantly surprised. The sun shone hazily through pockets of steam, rising over hindered shrublands.
Boardwalks circumnavigated the park, making great running platforms for my walking-adverse youngsters. Peach and pink-hued rocks edged curving tracks. Tuis, magpies and skylarks warbled amongst the hiss, bubble and roar of the activity around us.
The early morning hour meant we had the park and its 60 minute track predominantly to ourselves. “It’s beautiful smelling”, suggested Will.
Holly was just content to stroll
around singing about kingfishers and penguins. There were approximately six main vents, and many smaller puffs of steam.
The last mentioned eruption was in 2002 when the paths were laden with ash, mud and pumice to a depth of 5cm.
The kids were enjoying themselves so much that we easily convinced them to hike up the upper track, through bush to enjoy stupendous views over the moonlike landscape.
Having lived in Rotorua, previously, I’ve been to a fair few geothermal hot spots in my life, but I was impressed with Craters. Perhaps it was the open setting shrouded by Mount Tauhara in the background, the mystical day we received, the nice leisurely walk in new surrounds, the lack of tourists, the wellstocked gift shop with its classy kiwiana treasures and the $8 entrance fee that made my day.
The kids were definitely blown away with the biggest mud puddle they’d ever seen, and it was the perfect spot for hunting dragons and ‘farty-pants guts-gobblers grumbling out there’ as Holly larked.
It was a great day out and I would definitely recommend it.
Maybe next time I head back I’ll linger a little longer at the informative signs to read about the Taupo Volcanic Zone, the mechanics of geothermal activity, and intricate ferns, mosses and shrubs that hug for life to the warmth of such an unusual environment.