New Zealand Volcanic North Island Offers Natural Beauty
The beautiful landscape and unusual wildlife of New Zealand is frequently shown on the National Geographic Channel or used as a backdrop for otherworldly movies. From the rugged mountains and fjords of the South Island to the volcanic springs and grazing lands of the North Island, this sparsely populated nation of 4.5 million people offers natural beauty and the outdoor lifestyle that Kiwis treasure.
An increasing number of Australian, American and Chinese tourists have been visiting New Zealand on vacations or cruises. Many of them flock to the modern city of Auckland on the North Island, where people enjoy a vibrant economy, diverse cultural opportunities and an active waterfront district. We limited our New Zealand trip to the North Island but were able to savor the experience because of the pleasant assistance of Alistair Tod of Taupo Private Transfers.
Some of the most interesting things to do on the North Island are the following:
Volcanoes Everywhere: When you talk about volcanoes, many people think of Indonesia, Iceland, Italy or Central America. If you want to experience the power and beauty of volcanoes up close and personal, New Zealand is the place to go. Three of the ten largest volcanic explosions of the past 25,000 years took place in New Zealand, and several of them changed the world’s weather. Popular Lake Taupo in the middle of the North Island is 30 miles wide and over 600 feet deep. It is the caldera of a volcano that last blew up in 186 A.D. with a force 64 times greater than Mount St. Helens.
Today, the White Island volcano located offshore at Whakatane in the Bay of Plenty continues to smolder and erupt, and in early 2020 a surprise eruption there killed and wounded dozen of visitors on a cruise ship excursion. Several of the other volcanoes in the region located in the Tongariro National Park act up from time to time. Even Auckland, which is built on or around 48 volcanoes, features the prominent extinct volcanoes of Mt. Eden and One Tree Hill within the city limits.
Most visitors tour the area around Rotorua which is located over a large caldera. Rotorua has attracted tourists since the 19th century to bathe in hot springs or view geothermal spas. We visited the Waimangu Volcanic Valley outside of Rotorua, where you walk downhill into a volcanic valley for several hours and view the steaming waters of Frying Pan Creak and the Inferno Crater, along with some hot mud springs, steaming cliffs, small geysers and fumaroles. At the bottom, a boat cruise takes you past Mt. Tarawera, which erupted in 1886 and buried the world famous pink and white limestone terraces located there. The scarred landscape visible through the foliage and around the lake is a vivid reminder of nature’s superiority.
Glowworm Caves: The North Island is the home to New Zealand’s agricultural industry. The country exports wool and lamb from the nation’s 30 million sheep, as well as numerous dairy products. Beneath the rolling farmlands of the North Island are miles of limestone caves that have become attractions for spelunkers, rafters and visitors to the famous glowworm caves of the Waitomo region. Glowworms are clusters of worm larvae that attach themselves to the roofs of the caves and produce a light or glow, which makes the caves look like the stars of the sky. Several cave operators provide tours of the caves to the busloads of tourists that visit the area or offer private excursions. The Spellbound Cave tour company offers a three-hour small group excursion that includes glowworm tours of two different caves by raft and by dry walkways.
Maori Village: No visit to New Zealand would be complete without learning about the history and culture of the Maori people who first settled the islands in the 14th century and now comprise about 20% of the population. Maori traditions incorporate their people’s Pacific Island roots and a reverence for natural resources, and they remain an integral part of the New Zealand nation. Most places in the country retain their Maori names, and even the country’s renowned rugby team uses a Maori war chant or haka before each match.
There are several places in the North Island where Maori tribes offer shows or performances displaying their customs and traditions. One of the most popular ones is the Tamaki Maori Village outside Rotorua. Guests enter a replica of a pre-European Maori village, attend several workshops about traditional life there, and enjoy a hangi feast prepared by slow cooking meats, vegetables and potatoes in an earthen oven. For a more comprehensive education about Maori heritage, the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington offers interactive exhibits and a huge collection of traditional Maori experiences.
Huka Falls: Huka Falls is one of New Zealand’s premier attractions because of the intense flow of the Waikato River, which funnels through a half mile of rock cliffs and rapids near Taupo, and then plunges over a bluff. Like a natural spillway, a huge volume of water churns over the falls. Visitors can view the falls from a nearby cliff or walk over them on a bridge which makes for some great pictures. Some people also enjoy viewing the falls from jet boats or a paddle wheeler.