Te Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley
Where Gods Breathed Fire
Every day in the Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley an awe-inspiring drama unfolds as geysers erupt, mud pools bubble, steam hisses and warm water rains down. Over 500 pools and 65 geyser vents, each with their own name, are found in the valley. Many magnificent geysers - of which the most famous is Pohutu, meaning big splash or explosion - are active in the valley. Pohutu can erupt up to 30 metres high, depending on her mood.
According to local Māori, the Whakarewarewa Valley was one of the sites where Te Pupu and Te Hoata, the Goddesses of Fire, emerged from the earth’s core while trying to find their brother Ngatoroirangi, who was stranded on Mount Tongariro. As they rose to the surface looking for their brother, they left part of the fire they carried, creating geysers, hot springs and mud pools – leaving the Whakarewarewa Valley with the geothermal activity that remains today.
Ancient stronghold
It is within this valley where the Te Puia pā (fortress) once stood, a stronghold never taken in battle. The first occupants of the valley, who lived here early in the fourteenth century, were a people known as the ‘dragon slayers’. Today, descendants of the original inhabitants still live here, guiding visitors through a landscape over 40,000 years old. Some guides can recite their whakapapa (genealogy) back over 25 generations to those original inhabitants.
A caring environment
Tracks in the valley are checked daily for signs of new geothermal activity and not a hairline crack goes unnoticed. While safety is paramount, so is conservation. Native birds are an important part of life in the valley, and more than 500 different varieties of flora support the ecological system. The earlier inhabitants knew how to use native flora for survival. For example, bracken is thought of by many as a weed, but if you hold some bracken by the stem and place it upside down in the stream, it can trap a feast of crayfish in its branches.
Guided by stories
Since before the beginning of the 20th century the enjoyment of the wonders of the Whakarewarewa Geothermal Valley have been heightened by the activities of a remarkable group of women. These were the official guides who have conducted millions of visitors through the valley. Affection for these women carried to every corner of the globe. Their renowned knowledge and immaculate presentation of their culture was a result of a long apprenticeship under the guidance of the older and more experienced women, and was followed by an arduous test before a panel of experts.
Incredibly, this amazing geothermal area was the home of these guides. In most cases they had been born in the Whakarewarewa village and had grown up playing amongst the boiling pools. Their legacy carries on today, with many of today’s guides at Te Puia descending directly from these world-renowned figures. Guided tours at Te Puia leave on the hour and are approximately 90 minutes long.
