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"Mount Tarawera" a Lake Tarawera Travel Page by kiwi

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"Mount Tarawera" a Lake Tarawera Travel Page by kiwi

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kiwi    
The Moon is up over One Tree Hill - U2 on NZ


Real Name: Pam
Lives In: New Zealand
Member Since: Jun 24, 1999
VT Rank: 136

 

Page Views: 2,021            Last Visit to Lake Tarawera: -      

Mount Tarawera

by kiwi - last update: Sep 8, 2002

A volcano reveals it's heart.

Crater
Back in 1886 Mt Tarawera erupted causing all sorts of devastation in the Rotorua area. Now it is possible to visit the crater, even jumping into it! Catch a local tour or drive yourself to the bottom of the mountain and walk up. Either way, you must have a permit to do this. Only 4WD vehicles can drive up the mountain, so catching an organised tour is usually your best option.
The whole trip is possible in one day, just a few hours if by helicopter!
Some people are happy to trek to the edge of the crater and just look into it, but by far the most fun thing to do is walk around the edge to the point where you can jump over the side and “run” down the scree sloped into the heart of the crater.
Scree jump

JUMP!

If this was solid ground you could never run down here. But it is soft, small pebbles that your feet sink into whereby it "holds" you up and allows you to remain upright. This is a very lot of fun and lots of screams! If you want to stop, you have to lie down.
Gone!

Going Down>>>>>!!

It is very steep, but once you get going and have faith in what you are doing, then you just boogey on down.
It's a long way down!
Look way down the bottom of the crater and see my little daughter who took off!!!!
Crater's edge.

At the Top Looking over the edge!

It can be pretty spooky looking over the edge, but this is a very popular trip for New Zealand school groups like this one.

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In A Nutshell:"Climb a volcano and visit the Lake, Same day."
kiwi's Lake Tarawera Travel Tips

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Comments for kiwi about Lake Tarawera
angiebabe Sun Jan 27, 2008 10:33 UTC
 Stunning photos Pam, yes youre one intrepid traveller!
asturnut Wed Jan 12, 2005 09:46 UTC
 No waaaaaaay would I jump into a volcanic crater that has had activity in recent memory. You ARE a brave women for sure!
Monique_T Sat May 10, 2003 12:51 UTC
 Great pictures, would love to visit one day.
craic Sun Apr 20, 2003 16:31 UTC
 Oh oh oh oh oh. May have to pause and have a glass of wine. Getting homesick!

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