The Thermal Explorer Highway leads from Auckland above Hamilton to Napier.
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The route starts in Auckland and leads from Hamilton through the most geothermally active regions of the North Island. This happens in two ways, the eastern branch leads over Rotorua, the western over the volcanic region of the Tongariro National Park. Both routes meet again in Taupo, the highway ends in Napier.
preparation
getting there
Drive / let's go / ...
Auckland - Hamilton (126 km)
The town Auckland lies in a region that is characterized by four dozen volcanic hills, on its slopes the Maori once built their defensive villages. This is still clearly visible on One Tree Hill and on Mount Eden, where the former crater can also be seen as a 50 m deep hollow. Signs of the former volcanoes can also be found in the vicinity. The island lies in the Hauraki Gulf in front of Auckland Rangitoto, it was formed about 700 years ago during a volcanic eruption.
From Auckland drive south on SH 1. After about 50 km you reach the Bombay Hills, a range of hills of volcanic origin. Soon after leaving SH 1 you will reach Pukekohe, the capital of Franklin District.
Now you get to the region Waikato. After another 50 km you come to the town Taupiri, it's at the foot of the Taupiri Mountain, a sacred mountain of the Maori. In the neighboring Ngaruawahia is this Turangawaewae Marae, it was the residence of the Maori king. About 20 km further on you can reach it Hamilton. The diverse Hamilton Gardens are definitely worth a visit, im Waikato Museum shows in Exsite Science Center an earthquake house the danger of the forces from the earth's interior.
If you have the time, you can make a detour to the coast from Hamilton, the city Raglan is the motto surf, surf, surf. South of Raglan is the volcanic cone of Mt. Kariori, and the waterfalls are a popular destination Bridal Veil Falls.
Eastern route
The Thermal Explorer Highway remains on the eastern route and goes over the volcanic plateau around Taupo.
Hamilton - Rotorua (103 km)
You leave Hamilton on SH 1 in a south-easterly direction. After approx. 25 km you will reach the city Cambridge, the City of Trees is known for breeding horses. Not far from there is the Waikato River pent up to Lake Karapiro, on this from 29.10. The rowing world championships were held until November 7, 2010.
About 55 km from Hamilton one reaches Tirau. In the town you can see two huge animals, a dog and a sheep, they are made of corrugated iron and point to the toy museum located here. At this traffic junction you leave the SH 1 and drive through the SH 5 Mamaku Ranges further to Rotorua, about 50 km away.
Rotorua - Taupo (73 km)
In Rotorua volcanism and geothermal energy cannot be denied. If you can't see steam rising from a bubbling pool of mud, you can smell it. Everywhere in the city there is a smell of hydrogen sulfide, to put it simply, of rotten eggs. Apparently you get used to it. How long you have to stay is not revealed. Worth seeing that Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley with the largest geyser in New Zealand, more attractions under the article Rotorua.
Further on the SH 5 one arrives at first Waiotapu, a place sacred to the Maoris with the thermal wonderland, later you arrive Wairakei past. Here it is worth visiting the showrooms of the large geothermal power plant. Then the waterfalls are soon Hookah Falls and Taupo reached.
Western route
A second route is the Volcanic Loop Highway, from Hamilton he goes a long way around the Tongariro National Park towards the volcanic area Taupo.
Hamilton - Waitomo Caves (74 km)
Leave Hamilton on SH 3 in a southbound direction. After 30 km you will reach the Rose cityTe Awamutu. In the west is the extinct volcano Mount Pirongia to see. Another 30 km further is in Otorohanga Bird House. Here you have a real chance of seeing a kiwi, but photography is prohibited. In the next place Hangatiki signs point to the Waitomo Valley with the Waitomo Caves down.
Waitomo Caves - Taumarunui (97 km)
From the Waitomo Caves it goes back to the SH 3 Te Kuiti. From Eight Mile Junction continue on the SH 4 in a southbound direction Taumarunui
Taumarunui - Ohakune (77 km)
It continues in a southerly direction Owhango to the National Park Village. The village lives from tourism to Tongariro National Park, one of the starts here Great walks, the Tongariro Northern Circuit. Also the view of the three volcanoes Mount Tongariro, Mount Ngauruhoe and Mount Ruapehu is overwhelming when the sky is clear. It continues on SH 4 bis Tohunga Junction then you change to the SH 49 Ohakune. An attractive alternative would also be to initially up Raetihi stay on SH 4 and then turn towards Ohakune.
Ohakune - Taupo (125 km)
In Ohakune At the southern end of the Tongariro National Park, an oversized replica of a carrot indicates that agriculture is also an economic factor here. From here you can get to the ski area Turoa at the [Mount Ruapehu]. You stay on the SH 49 bis Waiouruwhose main industry is the nearby military camp. Here you meet the SH 1 and follow it in a northerly direction.
Significantly, the following 35 km of SH 1 are called Desert Road, they lead through a barren and sparsely populated area. At Turangi one reaches the shores of Lake Taupo.
Taupo - Napier (144 km)
The route leads on the SH 5 through sparsely populated area of the Waikato region. Then you see an alternative to generating energy from geothermal energy: on the peaks of the Ahimanawa Ranges the rotors of two wind farms turn. Finally, on the Pacific coast, one arrives at SH 2 Napier. The city was the victim of a devastating earthquake in 1931, as can be seen from the exhibits in the Hawke's Bay Museum and the facades of the Art Deco buildings erected in the following years.
security
trips
From Napier the Pacific Coast Highway To drive in the opposite direction to Auckland, another option is to Classic New Zealand Wine Trail towards the south to Wellington and on to the South Island.
