One day, while Judy rested, Bob checked out the “Craters of the Moon” just outside Lake Taupo. This was another geothermal area to explore.

Over acres, a wooden walkway takes you around steaming vents from the earth.

Some of the sulfur-crusted areas “fall away” and create deep pockets in the land.

Crusty brown lichens.Small vent hole in ground. Dead tree stump rotting.Small fern plants trying to stay alive.

This deep sink hole had lots of steam coming from vents below. When the steam dies out, the new plant life thrives.

This was the best area in the park—a large hillside that had a boiling mud pot cauldron below it.

A gooey, muddy cauldron formed at the base of the hill— three shots on the right of sections of the muddy pool.

Nice evergreens on the hillside, just beyond the steaming “Craters of the Moon” park. Looking down into a fallen area, the steam subsides as vents close up and quit being active.

The park was a hot walk—and not as exciting as I had hoped. However, it was interesting. Signs around the area provided some history. Much of New Zealand (especially the North Island) is populated by volcanic activity. There were some “better” parks with geysers and spewing mud pools, but they were expensive—this was a very cheap way to enjoy an afternoon.