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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Auckland Provincial District]

Waiotapu

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Waiotapu.

Waiotapu is one of the attractive spots in the Hot Lakes district. It is twenty-one miles from Rotorua on the new road, via Wairakei to Taupo. Such prominent mountains as Paeroa, Kakaramea, Maungaongaonga, and Waiotapu surround this weird spot. The principal sights of the place are under Maori management, and comprise the Primrose Fall, with beautiful terrace formations; the Mustard Pot, a cold green lake, nine acres in extent and said to be sixty fathoms deep; the Devil's Porridge Pot, and the Hot Sulphur Pool, constantly boiling up; a remarkable rock named the Queen's Seat, approached by the Queen's Walk; a cold alum pool; a sulphur blowhole; an explosive crater, where a big slip occurred at the time of the eruption; a sulphur cave; a paddle-wheel blowhole; Champagne Pool; numerous boiling lakes and holes; various pools, some coloured black, some sulphur coloured, some cream, and some white; and there is a pretty blue lake of eight acres in extent, surrounded by high alum cliffs, with cold and hot springs bubbling up in various parts; and numerous other marvels. The Government holds an area of about 4000 acres in the immediate neighbourhood of the hotel, and is developing the place by making footpaths and other conveniences for tourists. Mud geysers and volcanoes, sulphur pools and caves, boiling porridge pots and the usual thermal springs and hot lakes are found on the property. The district is a very remarkable one, and has come into notice since the destruction of the wondrous terraces at Rotomahana. About a mile before arriving at Waiotapu, a detour in the road leads to a large mud volcano standing about ten or twelve feet in height.

Alum Cliffs, Waiotapu.

Alum Cliffs, Waiotapu.

Waiotapu Hotel (John Falloona, proprietor), Waiotapu. This comfortable hotel was opened in 1897. It occupies an elevated position, whence visitors obtain excellent views of the surrounding country. The building is of wood and iron with a large verandah, and contains fifteen rooms, including a dining room with seats for about thirty persons.

Mr. John Falloona, the Proprietor, was born in 1851 at Belfast, Ireland, and is a draper by trade. He came to Tauranga in 1880 by the ship “Lady Jocelyn,” and was for some time engaged as a storekeeper at Te Puke, and subsequently as a hotelkeeper at Tahake. Later on he was storekeeping at Rotorua, and then took the management of a hotel at Maketu. In 1884 Mr. Falloona took the management of a store at Wairoa, where he remained till the place was desolated by the eruption. For six years afterwards he had charge of a hotel in Rotorua, and subsequently bought the Rotorua Hotel from Mr. George Crosby. Mr. Falloona started a line of coaches to run between Rotorua and Waiotapu and Tikitere. He afterwards ran them between Tauranga and Taupo and is still the proprietor of a coaching plant and stables at Rotorua. Mr. Falloona was married, in 1891, to a daughter of the late Mr. A. J. Thomson, of Auckland.

Hanna, photo.Mr. J. Falloona.

Hanna, photo.
Mr. J. Falloona.