Skip to main content

The legend of Lake Kuirau




Back when we lived in the Tauranga there was a day we made a trip out to Rotorua with my daughter. We wanted to show her the hot pools as the whole region is full of geothermal activity. One of the walks was at Kuirau Park where the ground and water wasn't just hot but we could see the sulphur which turns a yellow/orange colour.



Here is the story behind it:

Lake Kuirau use to be cool enough to bathe in. According to Maori legend a beautiful young lady named Kuirau use to swim here, however a large Taniwha use to live in the lake.

The Taniwha would watch the girl swim until one morning he rose up and seized her. Maori believe that either she died of fright or he was taken back to the Taniwha's lair but whatever happened she was never seen again. The Gods were so angry that they made the lake boil to get rid of it. From that day on the Lake was named Lake Kuirau in memory of the lady who use to swim in the water.

Every now and again we read news stories about people who accidentally fall in (there's usually not much left of them after) or those who try to cook their food in the pools but usually there are warning signs up everywhere to stick to the paths and steer clear.

Linking up with Weekend Reflections and The Weekend Roundup.

Labels:

Comments

Yogi♪♪♪ said…
Beautiful but deadly pools. I love the story. My sister is a Park Ranger at Yellowstone and she tells about one particular very hot and very acidic pool where oftentimes the only thing left of a tourists that fall in is a wedding ring.

Wishing you a great 2021!!
2 January 2021 at 06:05
NatureFootstep said…
this is a place I really would love to go back to. I was there once about 30 years ago and never forgot about it. First time I saw and heard a lake popping like a soda bottle. :)
Happy New Year.

Monica / NatureFootstep
2 January 2021 at 06:43
Sharon said…
What an interesting legend. I've been near places like this where you can actually feel the heat coming up from the pools. The last place I remember seeing this sort of thing was in Costa Rica.
2 January 2021 at 06:45
At Home In New Zealand said…
Geothermal activity is fascinating. Love the story, I've not heard it before.
2 January 2021 at 08:13
Klara said…
fascinating.
2 January 2021 at 10:45
Susan Heather said…
Many years since I was in Rotorua. Not sure if I have been to this lake, somehow I don't think so.
2 January 2021 at 13:36
Tigger's Mum said…
Grusome and fascinating together. I grew up in the deep south but started my working life in Rotorua - my first encounter with sulphur springs. Beautiful and awesome.
2 January 2021 at 19:33
Tom said…
...geothermal areas are fascinating, we don't have them in this area. What a an interesting legend. Happy new Year to you Amy.
3 January 2021 at 02:54
local alien said…
Shudder. 'fall in?'. What a horrid way to go.
I live Rotorua, it's smell and all the thermal activity. Wouldn't ever get close to those boiling springs though
3 January 2021 at 05:06
Bill said…
We used to live in a town that had geothermal underneath their walkways. When it snowed it melted right away making it safe for people to walk. This was in southern Oregon in the US.
4 January 2021 at 09:59
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Auckland Metropolis Museum

In amongt the modern new highrise buildings in Auckland City is this smaller vintage building that is currently for sale (I'd buy it if I had the money).   My research found that:  "It was designed by English-born architect Charles Towle and erected in the early 1930s as the Church of Christ, Scientist, the building's Graeco-Roman facade has towering columns that frame its impressive entranceway, with three ornate timber doors decorated with leadlight inserts providing access to the expansive foyer. Arched ceilings dominate the former congregational high stud space beyond the foyer and numerous picturesque windows provide a light, airy feel and an ambience many office buildings lack. The building housed congregational and Sunday school services for 70 years until it was sold and converted into office space in 2003. A significant refurbishment was also carried out with care taken to ensure that the building's distinctive character remained intact. Special architectural ...
16 comments
Read more

Grace Brothers

  We have 2 new chickens, both black ladies. If any of you are familiar with British comedy tv shows you will recognize the names we have given them. This one is named Miss Brahms. And this one is named Mrs Slocombe. At the moment we have them in a temporary shelter next to the Special Patrol Group that we've had for the last 9 months just so they can get to know each other before we intigrate the black ones in with the brown ones. These ones give us a white coloured egg whereas the brown shavers give us brown coloured eggs. Linking up with  Tuesday Treasures ,  Happy Tuesdays  and   Wordless Wednesday .
15 comments
Read more

Vondel

  I nthe heart of Devonport in Auckland is this little block of businesses. In my younger days I worked in this suburb as a legal typist for lawyers and to see it now as it is, it's made many changes over the years. This building is surrounded by older style buildings in the main street with businesses such as shoe shops, clothing shops, professionals, cafes, bars, restaurants etc. It's a very upmarket suburb with quite expensive houses along the waterfront. Vondel in the above photo is a restaurant but upon looking up their website, there wasn't alot of information about who they are. Linking up with  Weekend Reflections   and the  Weekend Roundup .
7 comments
Read more