A Trip from Rotorua to Waimunga.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXX, Issue XV, 11 April 1903, Page 1017

A Trip from Rotorua to Waimunga.

OVER LAKES TARAWERA AND ROTOMAHANA.

One of the most delightful of all the trips through the Hot Lakes district is that from Rotorua over Lakes Tarawera and Rotomahana to Waimunga. Leaving Rotorua, as the writer did, shortly after 7 a.m. on New Year’s Day, and one of a party of Wellington ladies and gentlemen, and favoured with the company of the Hon. Sir J. G. Ward, the Minister in charge of the tourist and health resorts of the colony, the sights to be seen were viewed under the most favourable auspices. We coached the first seven or eight miles until we reached tne site of the old vi.lage of Wairoa, near Lake Tarawera. The trip to this place is very exciting, as one can see Mount Tarawera in the distance, rising in all his massiveness, while around you stretches the native bush which, together with two small lakes simmering in the sun. makes the scene a very impressive as well as a very picturesque one. At the site of the old village of Wairoa, we alighted, and for half an hour or so listened enthral ed to the stirring stories told us by Mr Warbrick, our guide—stories relating to that terrible night in June, 1886, when Tarawera belched forth fire and ashes. The fact that the buildings there are still in a state of preservation

attaches a certain amount of romance to the place, and one can, in a sense, realise the awfulness of that weird night, never to be forgotten by those who lived in close proximity to Tarawera. After a call made at the refreshment rooms, erected here for the convenience of tourists, and feeling somewhat revived from the "cup which cheers but does not inebriate,” we wended our way down to the shores of Lake Tarawera. where we boarded the Government canoe. which was manned by stalwart

Maoris, and made a very quick passage across the lake. The trip across was a most interesting one—on our right we passed the spot where the old native village of Peariki lies hidden from view, embedded in lava; on our left, rising most majestically right from the very lake itself, scarred and dented from summit to base, is Tarawera, withgreat cavities here and there, having the appearance of some huge monster with mouth wide open ready to devour all and sundry. The walk across the narrow isthmus between Lakes Tara wera and Rotomahana is full of historic interest. Two of the photos appearing herein were taken at this part of the

trip. At Lake Rotomahana we again joined the boat, and were rowed oyer towards and slowly passed the buried terraces. Thin lake is a perfect won der. It is practically alive with thermal action, and jets play all around you. some ascending skywards, and others falling horizontally. Crossing one portion of the lake, if you di> your hands in the water you find it intensely cold, while the next minute perhaps your boat will have glided into water at boiling point, and the lapping of the heated water against the sides of the boat makes a very uncanny sound. The photographs produced here, of several geysers, and cl ills, were taken from the boat as we travelled along. As Sir Joseph Ward’s trip was an official one. several of the geysers on this visit were named by him, and have been placed on official record for the information of tourists when making thir partif*ulad trip. Upon leaving the boat at the Waimunga side of this lake, one finds there is a walk of some two miles t » Waimunga itself. On this particular occasion the party were not fortunate enough to see the volcano here in eruption, but as most of them had had the pleasure of witnessing it in action some few days before, they bore their disappointment philosophically. The trip over both lakes, with ad the history attached to them, and the wonders the! a seen on one day alone, should satisfy even the most inordinate craving of any tourist. After lunch at Waimunga (sent out to us by coach from Rotorua)

we drove back to Rotorua, not only impressed but awed at the sight of the results of those mighty convulsions of nature which took place so many years

The photographs accompanying this article were taken by Mr W. Prouse, of Wellington.