It is a steady four hour drive from Auckland to Rotorua and the last part of the journey is on The Thermal Explorer Highway. That gives you some idea of the wonders that are in store in what is a city with geothermal activity at its core. Rather uncomplimentary is the name sulphur city due to the pervading aroma of hydrogen sulphide in certain areas. The rotten egg smell does take a little getting used to but it is not something that should put off the visitor.
Rotorua lies on the western edge of Lake Rotorua, the lake is volcanic in origin, formed when the magma chamber of a volcano collapsed and filled with water thousands of years ago. Today the south east corner of the lake is geothermically active and is known as sulphur bay. As you would expect the rotten egg smell is quite strong here. The water looks cloudy, on closer examination you can see a very feint yellow colour due to the sulphur that is suspended in the water. The water here is a very hostile environment, the dissolved oxygen is very low and the water is highly acidic with a pH of around 3.5. Very little can survive in such waters.
Despite such inhospitable conditions the area is a wildlife sanctuary and home to over 50 species of bird, including some that are nationally endangered. Birds enjoy the warm water but the acidity can destroy the webs on their feet. Thats a big price to pay for being warm! As there is little life in the lake here the birds must find food in the surrounding areas.
The rocks around the edge of bay have an almost moonlike appearance, they are grey with yellow deposits of sulphur, and there’s that smell again! Once out of the bay the waters clear and the lake takes on the appearance that you would expect. A unique place and well worth a visit