Just a disclaimer. We were going to pass this place by if it weren’t for the request of my friend, coworker, and fellow blogger (theblogandthebeautiful.com if you haven’t already check it out) Nichole LuMaye. We were wet from the NZ Riverjet, cold, and it was raining.

I’m so glad she suggested it because it was amazing. Truly the “thermal wonderland” we were not expecting.

This place is huge. It covers 18 sq. Km and has the largest area of surface thermal activity of any hydrothermal system in the Taupo Volcanic Zone.

The colors of the vents, pools, and craters were incredible. And stinky. That steam is a whole lotta hydrogen sulfide. And it totally wraps completely around you and you kinda smell like sulfur too by the end of it.

While we were making our way back, the was a bride and groom taking photos sitting on the edge of…