The Putangirua Pinnacles, New Zealand

The Putangirua Pinnacles are also known colloquially simply as The Pinnacles, which are a geological formation, consists of massive number of earth pillars or hoodoos located at the head of a valley in the Aorangi Ranges in Wairarapa region in New Zealand.  The Putangirua Pinnacles are large crumbly rock stalagmite type structures rising tens of metres into the air, left behind as the surrounding area erodes. Well, this hasn’t confirmed how long the pinnacles have been forming, but researchers believed it would be probably less than 125,000 years old with major erosion probably start 7000 years ago and go faster in the last 1000 years with the deforestation of the area. 

The Putangirua Pinnacles are one of New Zealand's best examples of badlands erosion. The Aorangi ranges were an island somewhere 7 to 9 million years old, when the sea levels were much higher with landmass was eroded as the time passes, large alluvial fans formed on its southern shores. The Island was submerged when the sea level rose again, but after the Ice ages, the sea level go back and old alluvial fans have been unprotected to the erosive forces of wind and water have weathered away the conglomerate. The shapes of the hoodoos gives the sense of the canyon that walked through it certainly gives this area other-worldly feel.  

However at several places, the conglomerate is secure from erosion above by a cap of cemented silt or rock, resulting in the formation of amazing Pinnacles. There are number of prominent fluting caused by rainwater running down their sides during massive storms. This area has been featured in many Hollywood movies. Moreover, there are two tracks here; one goes up the valley at the base of the pinnacles and climbs up in between them.  The hikers can hike up the valley follows a rocky stream bed, and is not the easiest path to see, but as long as you keep going up the valley you’ll be fine.

The Spellbinding Ruakuri Cave in the Waitomo Area

The Spellbinding photographs of glow worms illuminating the darkness in the streaks of turquoise lights inside Ruakuri Cave in the Waitomo area. This is ethereal New Zealand cave is lit up by thousands of glow worms. The Auckland based 26 years photographer Shaun Jeffers spent almost a year to capture glittering displays, proving that the country is just as beautiful below ground as it is above. In the first look, you’ll realize myriads stars are shinning at the cave roof.  The creative photographer originally belongs to Liverpool United Kingdom said; it seems a different plant and really out of the world. 

 I my entire life, I’ve never experienced such event like it, and to be very honest, it is extremely difficult to the feeling into words. The glow worm is out of world, when you standing alone in complete darkness looking up at these little glowing creatures are just so fantastic. It looks like a real life Pandora, from James Cameron’s Avatar.  I’ve heard from different sources, that glow worms are notoriously difficult to capture. In 2013, I decided to move in New Zealand to take this challenge and submerge himself to his tripod in cold water for up to eight hours a day. 

The most famous New Zealand place attracts lot of photographers to try their luck to capture stunning luminous glow worm’s phenomenon, which is called Arachnocampa luminosa. Only very few of them able to capture luminous glow worms. I am so lucky to be part of unique cave and emit a phosphorescent glow in order to catch prey and entice mates. 

Frying Pan Lake New Zealand

Frying Pan Lake is the largest hot spring in the world, located in the Echo Crater of the Waimangu Volcanic Rift Valley New Zealand. In 1886, the most destructive volcanic eruption of Mount Tarawera results in formation of Echo Crater and nearly killed more than one hundred people. The crater’s partly filled with rainwater and heated groundwater, and its acidic water maintains a temperature of about 50–60 °C. Frying Pan Lake is also called Waimangu Cauldron till 1960’s, however not widely used. In 1917, another massive eruption in Echo Crater resulting bigger part of hot springs to reach its current size. The Frying Pan Lake water is naturally steaming and can appear to be boiling due to carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide gas bubbling to the surface, however, the lake's average temperature is 55 °C. The Frying Pan Lake is recognized to be as the youngest geothermal system in the world, as it occupies 38,000 square meters as a part of a volcanic crater with a flat floor that is six meters deep and vents that could go deep up to 20 meters.

The last eruption in Echo Crater taken place in 1973, which is badly, damaged the Trinity Terrace area, which was extremely colorful sinter terrace. However, these terraces are still visible on the western shore of Lake. The lake and its outflow, have an average pH level of 3.8, although some of the boiling hot springs and vents on the lake's bed feed it with alkaline water of pH 8.2 to 8.7. Monolithic Cathedral Rocks are bounded on the north side of Lake, made of rhyolitic lava at least 60,000 years old. The massive eruption of 1917 has completely changed the shape of Echo Crater, also disappeared fumarole known Devil’s Blowhole in that event. In Photos, the steam looks like low hanging fog in the early morning hours of autumn day. The Frying Pan Lake has special flair, showing the appearance of a large boiling cauldron. 

The various gradients of blue, green algae Mastigocladus Laminosus, eukaryotic algae Cyanidium Caldarium are present in the lake. The site of the extinct Waimangu Geyser is located not far from its north-eastern shore. Besides the steam and gases coming off, you will also easily notice the natural chimney at the side of the lake. The outflow water volume is Frying Pan Lake has varied. The unique cyclic nature of the hydrothermal system interconnecting Frying Pan Lake and the adjacent Inferno Crater Lake water levels and overflow volumes follow a complicated rhythm that repeats itself roughly every 38 days. When the water level and temperature of Inferno Crater Lake increase, the water level and outflow of Frying Pan Lake drop. Frying Pan Lake is one of the first major attractions encountered along the wheelchair-friendly main Waimangu walking track. Frying Pan Lake is a fantastic spot in Waimangu, where you can enjoy self-guided nature walks, amazing landscape, geysers, lakes, volcanic craters, bird life, plants and breathtaking adventure. 

The Split Apple Rock Formation

The stunning Split Apple Rock is actually a geological rock formation in the Tasman Bay off the northern coast of the South Island of New Zealand. The Split Apple Rock is also known as Tokangawha, made of granite strange shape of an apple which has been cut in half.  The name Split Apple Rock was made official in 1988, and was officially altered to Tokangawhā - Split Apple Rock in August 2014.

This is most famous tourist attraction in the waters of Tasman Sea. It is located somewhere 50 meters off the coast between Kaiteriteri and Marahau.  The rock is accessible by wading as it sits in shallow water. Therefore, several tourist boats and pleasure craft operate along the shores of the Abel Tasman National Park. It is also a point of interest that cleft to produce two sides of “Apple” was a natural occurrence. 

There are number of stories exist for the occurrence of Split Apple Rock, however one is Maori legend fighting over the possession of a larger boulder, and matter was resolved by cutting him into two pieces. Moreover another story tells by geologists, that water seeped into rock during ice age and froze, ultimately shaped splitting the rock by stone. In the first look, you’d be amazed for sure due to its unique rock formation. Split Apple Rock range is clearly visible from the beautiful sandy beach. It’s an excellent place to visit throughout the year due to its mild climate.