Lake Tikitapu, The Blue Lake

Picture Perfect with a violent past.

Twenty minutes from Rotorua on the Tarawera road is picturesque Tikitapu. An undulating track meanders around the lake. It takes 1.5 hours to complete if you stop to admire the stunning views.

The scenery is 20,000 years in the making. Each hill and cliff face marks a significant volcanic event.

North Dome, a hill that looks like a cuddly neck collar used on a long haul flight, exploded into life 21000 years ago. The dome formed from molten rhyolite at around 800 degrees celsius.