Mount Tarawera is the one of the most well-known features of Rotorua, although it is one of those places we often see simply as a backdrop to our lakeside adventures. There is a trail to the top of the mountain, but you are not able to hike this without joining a tour. At present the only way to access the 1,111meter peak (or peaks) is either by flying with Volcanic Air (they do a helicopter ride to the top where you can get out and explore as well as the float plane ride, which we were on) or with Kaitiaki Adventures, who own the rights to the land access and run 4x4 and hiking tours to the summit.
Tarawera, which in Maori translates to “burnt peaks” last erupted in 1886, killing over 120 people and burying the Pink and White Terraces beneath Lake Rotomahana. As we flew over the craters you can clearly see the fissure that runs for 17km, splitting the mountain in two, something you could only experience from the heights of a plane.
As most of us explore New Zealand by road, and often just the main road, we have no idea of the gems often just hidden behind a hill or in a secluded valley. From our vantage point we could see small settlements dotted around the countryside, as our pilot, Simon explained the significance of each of the landmarks. We flew over steaming geysers and lakes so vivid in colour you would think they had been painted, places we simply did not know existed.
We became humbly aware of how much of New Zealand is unoccupied, and those small communities that exist are unknown to most of us. Amongst the groomed dairy farms, and wild natural forests there are treasures just waiting to be discovered.
Denne historien er fra February - March 2021-utgaven av Adventure Magazine.
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Denne historien er fra February - March 2021-utgaven av Adventure Magazine.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Papua New Guinea
Four reasons to add Papua New Guinea to your bucket list
The benefits of being a Multi-Trick Pony
"A broad skill base and how you can draw from one platform to the next – women often pigeon hole themselves"
The RELUCTANT adventurer
An eighteen-year-old princess, who paints his (yes, his) nails and dyes his hair bleach blonde, embarking on an adventure trip with his family, sounds like a plot for a bad 80s movie.
The Meaning of Tramping
What does tramping mean to you?
Keala Kennelly owns Red Bull Magnitude
The North Shore season of 1957 is recognized in the surfing world as the start of an era. When Greg Noll, a young Mickey Munoz and company went out and rode Waimea for the first time, it was a glimpse of what could be in the world of big-wave surfing.
North West Circuit Stewart Island
I found myself in limbo during the winter of 2020, in between jobs in a strained covid economy. And so, I did what any outdoors person would do with a large amount of free time on their hands. It was time to pack up my belongings and hit the road. It was time to leave behind home comforts and go adventure-seeking.
Emilie's adventure to Angelus Hut
“I want to be the leader!” Miss Six announced, pushing past me in her determination to be in front. Momentarily off-balance with my heavy pack, I narrowly avoided twisting an ankle on the sharp rocks and silently swore while cracking a bright smile.
Nancy Jiang Breaking stereotypes
I recently watched a youtube movie entitled, “Her Way” (check it out on the Adventure Website) which introduced a woman who had an overwhelming passion for running. The preface at the bottom of the clip, read as follows:
Adversity at Altitude
The wind and snow is whipping at my face. I’ve readjusted the stiff frozen fleece buff around my neck and mouth, desperately trying to protect myself from the -20 degree bitter wind. Adrenaline is still pumping through my body but I know I’ll start to get cold soon.
Last Great Mountaineering Challenge
Ground-breaking mountaineer Nirmal ‘Nims’ Purja MBE has attained an incredible new world record by submitting K2 as part of a collaborative team in the depths of winter. Until now, it was a record that was believed to be impossible to accomplish and was famously known as the ‘last great mountaineering challenge’.
