Author(s): craig potton

NZ Pictorial

The extraordinary plateau in the centre of the North Island around Rotorua, Taupo and Tongariro National Park, a region defined by volcanic explosion and geothermal activity, has always captured the imagination of its many visitors. In Tongariro National Park, the sweeping landscape is dominated by the dramatic volcanic cones of Ruapehu, Tongariro and Ngauruhoe, while Rotorua is known for its exotic geothermal areas with hot springs, geysers, mud pools and steaming craters. And at the heart of this region is Lake Taupo, New Zealand's biggest lake and a recreational mecca for fishers and lovers of watersports. The photographs in "Volcanic Heartland" range through the entire region, and form a memento of this special area of New Zealand.