CHAMPAGNE POOL, ROTORUA


Located about 30 km southeast of Rotorua and about 50 km northeast of Taupo is the magestic Champagne Pool which provides the gateway to New Zealand’s most colorful natural volcanic environment. The name Champagne Pool is derived from the abundant efflux of carbon dioxide (CO₂), similar to a glass of bubbling champagne.

The hot spring was formed 900 years ago by a hydrothermal eruption. Its crater is around 65 m (210 ft) in diameter with a maximum depth of approximately 62 m (200 ft). The deep geothermal water below Champagne Pool is of the order of 260 °C (500 °F) but water temperature within the pool is maintained at 73 °C (163 °F) to 75 °C (167 °F) by losing heat to the atmosphere. Minerals contained in the water are gold, silver, mercury, sulphur, arsenic, thallium, antimony etc and are presently depositing in the surrounding sinter ledge.  The various sinter ledges have been associated with tilting of the pool as a consequence of earthquake activity.