Showing posts with label New Zealand. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New Zealand. Show all posts

Thursday 29 January 2015

Tasman Glacier Terminal Lake is a Fascinating Glacial Encounter



Tasman Lake is a proglacial lake created by the current retreat of the Tasman Glacier in New Zealand's South Island. In the early 1970s, there were ample small melt water ponds on the Tasman Glacier. By the end of 1990, these ponds had merged into beautiful Tasman Lake. Tasman Lake has quickened the retreat of the Tasman Glacier. Initially it did so by undercutting the cliff at the end of the glacier, causing parts of the cliff to fall into the lake. Now, however, a 50to 60 m apron of submerged glacial ice projects out from the cliff and icebergs periodically break off the apron and float away down the lake. Because more of the glacier is now in contact with the water, its rate of retreat has increased. By 2008 the lake was seven km long, two km wide and 245m deep. It is anticipated to grow to a maximum length of about 16 km within the next one or two decades. 

Indeed New Zealand's Tasman Glacier terminal lake for a fascinating glacial encounter. Cruise the speedily growing terminal lake taking in remarkable mountain views and scenery.  Because Icebergs of every shape and size periodically tear away from the glacier allowing you to touch and taste the 300-500 year old glacial crystals. In fact Tasman Glacier Heli Hiking combines the enthusiasm of walking on the mighty Tasman Glacier along with two exciting helicopter flights. Flying onto the glacier permits you to experience the glacier's white ice and remarkable ice formations. Moreover during the winter months you can also ski the Tasman Glacier with Charlie Hobbs and his guides or the team at Ski the Tasman. You don't need to be a skilled skier to relish New Zealand's longest ski runs; the Tasman Glacier is ideal for intermediate and advanced skiers.

Tasman Lake, the glacier and the surrounding mountains are part of Mount Cook National Park. When you visit the place you can take a boat tour among the icebergs on the Tasman Lake is now a popular tourist spot. Like several other geographic places in both New Zealand and Australia, it is named after Dutch explorer Abel Janszoon Tasman. 

Sunday 14 September 2014

Purakaunui Falls New Zealand



The beautiful Purakaunui Falls are a cascading three-tiered waterfall on the Purakaunui River, located in The Catlins in the southern South Island of New Zealand. The Purakaunui is 20 meters/66 ft tall. It is one of very few South Island waterfalls away from the alpine region; it has long been a widespread destination. The waterfalls are an iconic image for The Catlins region and were featured on a New Zealand postage stamp in 1976. 

The Purakaunui falls is located 17 km to the southwest of the small town of Owaka and 5 kilometers from the river’s outflow into the Pacific Ocean. The falls can be accessed via a 10-minute bush walk from a car park on the Waikoato Valley Purakaunui Falls Road, a gravel side-road off the main Owaka-Invercargill road. Although Purakaunui Falls are not part of the Catlins Forest Park, they’re well surrounded by native bush be made of of podocarp and silver beech, in a picturesque reserve of five square kilometers. 

A trivial viewing platform nearby the top of the falls is reachable by wheelchair. Steps continue down to the main viewing platform at the base of the 20 metres three tiered cascade. There is a big car park at Purakaunui Falls Road with toilets and picnic tables. The Catlins is one of the must See places in New Zealand, due to attractive highway, plenteously of walks, memorable view of the Southern Ocean, exclusive animals and so one, make this part of New Zealand just the right place to visit, no matter whether you've been here before or not.  The Pūrākaunui Falls is one of Otago’s iconic, however in the area, make some efforts to go and visit Purakaunui Beach as well. Source: Charismatic Planet

Wednesday 13 August 2014

Waitomo Cave New Zealand

 Under the green hills of the Hamilton-Waikato region lies a labyrinth of caves, sinkholes and underground rivers recognized as Waitomo. The area's name comes from the Maori words wai (water) and tomo (hole). The Waitomo Caves is a beautiful village and solutional cave system forming a foremost tourist attraction in the northern King Country region of the North Island of New Zealand, 12 KM northwest of Te Kuiti. The cave is famous tourist attractions in New Zealand and renowned magnet for both local and overseas visitors. The Waitomo Glowworm Caves occupy a high placing in the New Zealand vacation wish-list. The caves were carved by underground streams pushing through soft limestone over thousands of years. Numerous have astonishing stalactites growing down from the ceiling and stalagmites growing up from the cave floor, pointy cones of layered rock formed over centuries by dripping water. The cave walls are also decorated with galaxies of native glow worms. Definitely! Glowworms are stunning. In 2005 we were delighted to host two separate BBC film crews at Spellbound, and they were really impressed and amazed by glowworms, one cameraman described the Spellbound Glowworm Cave as one of the top 10 natural spectacles he'd seen.

The glow worm, Arachnocampa luminosa, is unique to New Zealand. Thousands of these tiny creatures radiate their unmistakable luminescent light as our expert guides provide informative commentary on the Caves' historical and geological significance. Waitomo Glowworm Caves are a must see for any traveler. Enjoy the world famous boat ride under thousands of magical glowworms and become a part of over 120 years of cultural and natural history. Almost 30 million years ago, the legend of Waitomo Caves started with the creation of limestone at the bottom of the ocean. Nowadays limestone formations stand as one of New Zealand's most inspiring natural wonders and a must-see destination. The magical glowworms Waitomo cave is home to unforgettable sightseeing attractions.

Friday 1 August 2014

Champagne Pool New Zealand



Champagne Pool is New Zealand's most colorful geothermal attraction just a short drive from either Rotorua or Taupo. This is an area in which the landscape has been sculptured by geothermal activity and where exclusive volcanic features can be viewed from well-defined tracks. Champagne Pool is actually a hot spring and its name Champagne Pool is derived from the constant efflux of carbon dioxide gas, similar to a glass of bubbling champagne. 

The pool vivacious colors come from a rich deposition of minerals and silicate. The silicate structures around the edge of the pool are teeming with microbial life. The Champagne pool is the stunning place to spend your holidays, because the surrounding environment is really magnificent. The dazzling beauty is definitely an eye catching feature which is well-liked by everyone who comes here. The sparkling environment and the wonderful natural beauty is ought to take your heart away. The experience is surely the one that has not been experienced before.

The hot Champagne Pool spring was shaped approximately 900 years ago by a hydrothermal eruption, resulting in a crater 65 m in diameter and 62 m deep. The lively colored waters percolate up from underground full of carbon dioxide which forms bubbles near the surface where the water temperature is 74°C. Therefore; at the edges of the pools the silica is lined with lively orange from antimony rich deposits that solidify out of the cooler water. Mercury, thallium, gold and silver are also deposited in the rocks. Moreover; surplus water flow out of Champagne pool to feed another geothermal pool called Artist's Palette, which colored are yellow because of sulphur deposits where the water flows over silica mud flats to Primrose Sinister Terrace and down Primrose Terrace forming good-looking and delicate silica deposits. 

The visitors can choose one or all of three walks which take between 30 and 75 minutes due to its unique features include naturally colored springs, bubbling mud, steaming ground, expansive vistas, huge volcanic craters and sinter terrace formations. To location is 20 minutes’ drive south of Rotorua - 40 minutes’ drive north of Taupo on State Highway 5.

Champagne Pool is one of the natural wonders offering amazing views that one cannot forget the experience. A huge number of tourists come here from different parts of the world to see this nature’s wonderful attraction. It is highly regarded that no other place could be more colorful and vibrant than the Champagne pool. Because of the biological features many researchers want to bring out the facts related to this pool. It is rocking attraction to make your trip pleasant and surely will remains in your mind.