Rare mud eruption at Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland south of Rotorua, New Zealand
A rare eruption of mud and steam took place around 12:30 local time on July 21, 2018, at Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland south of Rotorua in New Zealand. While such eruptions at Wai-O-Tapu are uncommon they are not unexpected, GNS volcanologist Brad Scott said.
The eruption lasted roughly 40 seconds and was recorded by Thomas Rodda who drives a shuttle from Rotorua to local sites.
According to NZ Herald, Rodda was taking passengers to Wai-O-Tapu when he saw the mud spurting into the air. "It took me a while to start filming. I was quite astonished to see it," he said.
Video copyright Thomas Rodda (used with permission)
Mud and steam eruption at Wai-O-Tapu, New Zealand. Credit: Thomas Rodda
GNS Volcano Information Specialist, Brad Scott, said the Wai-O-Tapu area was an area with steam and mud features. "It's not common behavior but it's not unlikely or unexpected. Occasionally we get reports of trees covered in mud and maybe something has happened overnight."
Scott said the eruption was not a geyser as geysers were hot water erupting and this was caused by steam.
The area where the eruption took place is the Department of Conservation land. It is a public area and people should be cautious when approaching.
"As far as I know it's never erupted before but it's awesome to hear," said Mericia Waqanimaravu, the general manager of Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland.
Featured image credit: NZ Herald, Thomas Rodda
If you value what we do here, create your ad-free account and support our journalism.
Your support makes a difference
Dear valued reader,
We hope that our website has been a valuable resource for you.
The reality is that it takes a lot of time, effort, and resources to maintain and grow this website. We rely on the support of readers like you to keep providing high-quality content.
If you have found our website to be helpful, please consider making a contribution to help us continue to bring you the information you need. Your support means the world to us and helps us to keep doing what we love.
Support us by choosing your support level – Silver, Gold or Platinum. Other support options include Patreon pledges and sending us a one-off payment using PayPal.
Thank you for your consideration. Your support is greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Teo Blašković
Commenting rules and guidelines
We value the thoughts and opinions of our readers and welcome healthy discussions on our website. In order to maintain a respectful and positive community, we ask that all commenters follow these rules:
We reserve the right to remove any comments that violate these rules. By commenting on our website, you agree to abide by these guidelines. Thank you for helping to create a positive and welcoming environment for all.