CURRENT WEATHER

Craters of the Moon lies within the Taupō Volcanic Zone, one of New Zealand’s most active geothermal regions, stretching from Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe and Tongariro in the south to White Island (Whakaari) in the Bay of Plenty. The dramatic geothermal landscape seen today has been evolving for more than 700 years, with underground activity appearing at the surface as steam vents, mud pools, hot springs and fumaroles.

 

For nearly 200 years the most famous feature was the Karapiti Blowhole, a powerful steam vent whose plume rose high above the landscape. Māori navigators once used the towering steam column as a landmark while travelling across Lake Taupō.

 

Major changes occurred in the 1950s with the development of the Wairakei geothermal power station, which altered underground pressures and increased geothermal activity in the area. New craters formed and steam vents intensified, creating the unusual terrain that inspired the name “Craters of the Moon.”

 

Public access began in the 1980s with the construction of boardwalks for safe viewing. Today the site is managed by the Craters of the Moon Trust, under permit from the landowners Ngāti Tūwharetoa, offering visitors a unique opportunity to experience this remarkable geothermal landscape.