Geoconservation and tourism at geothermal sites – lessons learnt from the Taupo Volcanic Zone, New Zealand

Geothermal sites are specific and fragile components of geoheritage, of considerable value to tourism, which require special conservation measures if their activity is to be sustained. In this paper opportunities, threats and challenges associated with geoconservation and geotourism at such sites are discussed using examples from the North Island of New Zealand, which is the cradle of modern geothermal tourism on the global scale, dating back to the mid-19th century. Five locations with geothermal phenomena, situated between Rotorua and Taupo, are subject to detailed analysis: Te Puia Whakarewarewa, Waimangu, Wai-O-Tapu, Orakei Korako and Craters of the Moon. Geothermal sites from Taupo to Rotorua area provide examples of good practice in the development for tourism in terms of physical facilities, with safety and control measures not being too intrusive and not interfering with the scenic qualities of the sites. Direct threats from tourism industry are rather minor and kept to minimum. Negative influences of groundwater pumping and energy production pose more hazard to the future of geothermal fields, although Rotorua is also an example of successful recovery of geothermal features after limitations on overexploitation of hydrothermal resources were enforced in the 1980s.