This canoe ferried visitors to the park until the 1970s.
We were ferried across Lake Ohakuri to Orakei Korako and was greeted by the Emerald Terrace. It is the largest silca terrace in New Zealand and varies in thickness from 20mm-20meters and 35 meters under the lake.
This is the beginning of the trail.
This is the Rainbow and Cascade Terrace which was formed by an earthquake in 131 A.D. The hot water algae grows in the temperatures which reach up to 60C.
Danger signs were posted every step of the way! The crust is very thin in some areas and the water is usually boiling. Best to stick to the path!
The following are of the Artist's Palette
The Artist's Palette "Kei Runga Ite Mania" is the most unpredictable and dangerous spots in the park. the silca is as thin as 20mm, and hot water can be discharged from the springs at any time.
The Ruatapu Cave was the next place we visited. It was nearly impossible to take a photo from above looking into the cave due to all the vegetation surrounding the mouth of the cave. Once I was inside I was able to take a shot looking out.
Due to the low light and lack of tripod, i was only able to take these 2 photos while inside the cave. At the bottom was "Waiwhakaata" (pool of mirrors). The acidity and chemical composition gives it the ability to clean jewellery!
The Ruatapu Cave "Hiwa Nga Ana" (Hill of Caves) is one of two geothermally situated caves in the world. The other known cave is in Southern Italy.
"Kohua Pohuaru" (mud pools) form in places where the thermal fluids have chemically decomposed surface rocks to form clay. The clay is heated by the underground energy source and boiling mud pools are created.
This was my favourite part of the bush walk we encountered. In the middle of the photo you can see a fern-like tree, known as the Ponga. We tried to find a silver fern, but were unsuccessful.
steam rising in the valley of ponga trees.
The walk took about an hour, and was well worth the trip!
(information taken from Orekei Korako guide map)
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