Tarawera Falls Track. The Tarawera River plunges 65 metres down a sheer cliff face before tumbling down bush-lined rapids.

The green sulphur pool in the main crater is drying up. Rusting machinery a testament to an abandoned sulphur factory.

White Island, like landing on another planet. The acidic sulphur steam spewed from yellow fumaroles making a gas mask necessary when we were nearby.

We took a boat tour to White Island, one of New Zealand's two active volcanoes.

Below is a website that shows aerial photos. I will post the ones I took on our tour of the island.

Images for white island

The official website for Hobbiton showing the film location of Hobbiton...a must see for Lord of the Rings fans.

We are not allowed to show you any of the photos we took at the official location of the upcoming movie, The Hobbit, but if you watch the blog at the bottom right of this website, you will get the explanation that we received as well as see the actors and film crew walking about the location. Very interesting!

http://www.hobbitontours.com/

Papamoa Scenic Park - The hills at the summit are old Maori Pa sites.