Craters of the Moon
'karapiti'
Close to Taupo and accessible off SH1, Craters of the Moon is an active geothermal field. The terrain is filled with exposed steam vents and is constantly shifting, collapsing and reforming, giving an uninhabited appearance. Thermal mud pools bubble away and plants not normally native to our area, thrive in this hot and partly noxious environment.
Boardwalks and pathways have been created to lead spectators safely through the area, making sure the fumes and hot temperatures around the steam vents are no danger to the tourist in this well-visited spot.
As a result of utilising the underground thermal energy in the Wairakei Valley, the Craters of the Moon started to appear from 1950. This area used to contain light geothermal activity until the construction of Wairakei Geothermal Power Station, approximately 2000 metres north of the field. The power station lowered underground water levels and the fumaroles and mud pools became more active. There was less water to cool the magma and the ground cavity which was previously full of water is now full of high pressure sulphurous steam.
Craters of the Moon is a place you must visit, with its desolate moonscape and clouds of swirling steam. It is a forbidding volcanic example of the inner earths fiery inferno bursting forth.