New Zealand Waiotapu

This is well into New Zealand’s most geothermal area. Minerals in the water are responsible for the colour of the precipitations. There are mud pools there but they’re not the most spectacular in the area. The water is certainly hot; the champagne pool (65 metres across and almost as deep) is 74 degrees Celsius and bubbling with CO2. Not sure what temperature mud boils at but it’s a lot hotter. There is a main circuit and several additional ones that offer unusual photo opportunities.

Take whatever lens you have but be prepared for condensation foggy up your view – the area is definitely steamy. There are a lot of other geothermal spectacles in the area.

There are coaches but I don’t know where from. Its sign-posted of State Highway 5 between Rotorua and North of Taupo if you're driving.