In Hot Water

Despite New Zealand’s growing prosperity, the country’s natural beauty has been preserved says Hindustan Times travel writer Vir Sanghvi, who describes his seven-day adventure from Rotorua, by chopper to White Island and then across Lake Tarawera on a 50ft catamaran. “The high spot of the cruise for me is when we came to one of the edges of Lake Tarawera. Presumably there is some volcanic activity below the water because the sand at this edge is hot. The captain makes me put my hand in the water. It is ice-cold. He takes the boat a foot away and asks me to put my hand in again. Now the water is scalding hot! A few feet further, there is actually steam rising from the lake. That’s a first for me!”