Waimangu Volcanic Valley and Te Pa Tu

Yesterday morning we toured waimangu volcanic valley. We had a tour guide who guided us through the valley and explained the history of the valley. The valley was once completely devastated by a volcanic explosion. We saw geothermal pools that bubbled due to carbon dioxide and had very high temperatures. I enjoyed hearing the history of the valley and was surprised that the land could recover from an explosion like that so quickly. I also found the plants that only grow near geothermal springs so interesting. In the evening, we toured the Te Pa Tu Māori village. This was a recreated Māori village where we walked to different sections to learn about different aspects of their culture. I found it so interesting that the one topic covered was plants that they use for natural remedies. We then ate dinner where many different types of food such as duck and lamb were prepared for us. Overall, I thought the experience was informative. Being that the Māori peoples faced repression for years, I find it great that now they are able to educate others about their culture while also embracing their cultural traditions.