On the way from Lake Taupo to Roturua are many sulfate areas. The whole area is known for the volcanic active ground. There are many famous places where you can stop, but to be honest you will be one of the many tourists on the same time admiring one of those attractions, like the Geyser or the Polynesian Hot Spa or the mud pool. Unfortunately the prices are also very high and therefore as a backpacker you have to chose, what is worth your money and what do you want to see. So because we where in a hurry to be on time for our Christmas destination, we decided to just drive through the area and admire the scenery for free. But one sign stroke our attention: “Craters of the Moon”, along the way. We decided to stop there and just have a look…
A couple of years ago we went to Tenerife, where we drove around the Vulcano and that was magnificent!! Movies like Starwars have been filmed there, and the landscape really looks like a moonscape due to my opinion (I’ve never been to the moon yet). So that was the reason to stop, because we thought it could be like the same…
Well “Craters of the Moon” where different, but phenomenal as well. First of all the entrance was more like a charity fee, because it was almost nothing comparing it with all the other attractions. So we said to each other that it would probably be a disappointment, but let’s check it out...
Well I can say it was beautiful!! Steam coming out of the ground everywhere, the bubbling mud pool, the sizzling sounds that’s coming out of the craters, the view you had from a high point. Sometimes the smell of sulfate reaching your nose was quite an experience. It was like walking in another world, despite of the tourist walk you had to stick on (otherwise it’s to ‘dangerous’) we where walking alone together with just a few other tourists. Which is still better then hundreds.
A couple of years ago we went to Tenerife, where we drove around the Vulcano and that was magnificent!! Movies like Starwars have been filmed there, and the landscape really looks like a moonscape due to my opinion (I’ve never been to the moon yet). So that was the reason to stop, because we thought it could be like the same…Well “Craters of the Moon” where different, but phenomenal as well. First of all the entrance was more like a charity fee, because it was almost nothing comparing it with all the other attractions. So we said to each other that it would probably be a disappointment, but let’s check it out...
Well I can say it was beautiful!! Steam coming out of the ground everywhere, the bubbling mud pool, the sizzling sounds that’s coming out of the craters, the view you had from a high point. Sometimes the smell of sulfate reaching your nose was quite an experience. It was like walking in another world, despite of the tourist walk you had to stick on (otherwise it’s to ‘dangerous’) we where walking alone together with just a few other tourists. Which is still better then hundreds.
So might you ever be in the region, stop for the “Craters of the Moon”, it only takes you an hour to see everything. And admire the photo’s, I’m sorry you can’t hear or smell the Craters…but the look is Fantastic!!
