A trip to the volcanoes

By OBHS | Posted: Wednesday October 18, 2023

On Friday, 6 October a group of enthusiastic Earth and Space Science students headed to the North Island in search of volcanoes.

Day 1

The first day of our Earth Science trip to the North Island. After visiting Te Papa and exploring Te Taio we found out about NZ's geological history.

We then joined Malcolm Arnot from GNS who showed us how to make measurements of the Wellington fault to find out how fast and far it is moving. Finally, he took us to the NGMC where we watched NZ's volcanoes in real time and saw an earthquake that happened in the Kermadec Islands. What a busy day after an early start!

Day 2 and 3

We left Wellington on day 2 of the ESS Volcanoes tour and headed for Ruapehu, stopping to check out the Tangiwai disaster site on the way. On 24 December 1953 the railway bridge was washed out by a lahar from Ruapehu causing NZ's worst rail disaster. Then we stopped at the Whakapapa Visitor Centre and volcanic lava flows on the side of Ruapehu, which was only interrupted by a snowball fight.

After staying overnight at the National Park, we returned to the slopes of Ruapehu on day 3 and visited the silica rapids on a scenic walk, before heading to the Te Wairoa buried village via a brief stop at the Huka Falls. Te Wairoa village was obliterated by an eruption of Mt Tarawera in 1886.

Thankfully, Tawhirimatea held off the rain for long enough so that we could enjoy a few luge rides down the side of the Rotorua caldera. Next, we're off to the Polynesian hot pools to cap off a busy day.

Day 4

Today started with some geochemistry in the Rotorua's Kuirau Thermal Pools, learning about the different types of thermal pools and how they are formed. Then we took a walk down the the Waimangu Volcanic Valley and a boat trip on Lake Rotomahana. This was the site of the world famous pink and white terraces until the eruption of Mt Tarawera in 1886.

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