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Hells Gate Geothermal Reserve and Wai Ora Spa provides a unique interactive educational encounter for students of all ages and learning abilities. Rotorua’s unique mix of rich culture and strong earth forces have provided the basis for the development of curriculum based activities covering a spectrum of subjects. Areas of study include science, geography, social studies, and tourism studies.
The geothermal features of the thermal park are unique within New Zealand and provide the opportunity for students to understand the various processes that have formed the landscape seen today, observe the mechanisms first-hand of what drives a geothermal field, and at the same time provide hands-on interactive experiences that are not available elsewhere in New Zealand.
Programmes available include the overview of the Hells Gate Geothermal Reserve, in terms of world and New Zealand volcanology. The visit begins with a power point presentation followed by a guided tour of the geothermal reserve, which highlights the requirements of the appropriate curriculum level and as an addition, further interaction by way of water and gas testing can be undertaken.
Hells Gate Geothermal Reserve is the most active thermal park in New Zealand, and is home to the only accessible mud volcano in a reserve (a living example of composite cones), land coral (cell generation and growth), the largest hot waterfall in the Southern Hemisphere, flora, fauna and lichen (symbiosis), bubbling mud pools, white mud (hydroscopic muds), prehistoric hail stone pits, boiling pools in excess of 100 degrees centigrade and much, much more.
Bryan Hughes - Education Supervisor, holds qualifications at Masters and Post Graduate levels in Business Administration, Environmental Engineering, Resource Management, Environmental Sciences, Management and Applied Science (earth science). He has significant teaching experience at primary, secondary and tertiary levels both locally and internationally. Bryan Hughes also has vast experience in dealing with major resource management issues, environmental management issues and town planning and geography issues. Bryan’s personal philosophy on education is to provide and deliver programmes, which are interactive, fun and motivates students to want to learn more.
> Secondary School
> Tertiary
> International
> Sustainabilty |
