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Accessibility: MODERATE
WHAT'S HERE?
The thin lava flow with the fall at centre down to more lava below, D.Townsend / GNS Science
Lava that started at the northern crater of Ruapehu (the Summit Plateau) flowed down past the Mangatoetoenui glacier, filling the valley below, and shooting over a cliff of glacial moraine, where it still lies frozen in time today.
LEARN ABOUT IT
The lava cap top right is part of the same lava flow. Moraine in foreground. D.Townsend / GNS
This is lava erupted from the Summit Plateau crater several thousand years ago, that then flowed down the Mangatoetoenui valley for several kilometres. It is now preserved in thin patches. At this one key spot it shot over a cliff where it is frozen in time as a lava fall. The present day waterfall marks the location of the lava fall.
HAVE A LOOK!
Frozen lava scum line ('tide mark') half way up cliff above the fall. D.Townsend / GNS
As you arrive in the area identify the thin young lava flow. What is glacial moraine and what is lava? There is a very thick high ridge of older lava nearby, can you spot it? Can you visualise the pond of thin lava above the fall feeding into the frozen spout of lava? Can you see any joints in the top surface of the lava - what caused those? Have a close look at the lava. Can you see tiny 1-2mm sized white and black crystals brought up from the magma chamber and frozen within it? This is andesite lava, can you suggest what are the two types of crystal (these are essential to andesites)? Most of the lava is black glass, chilled magma that did not have time to form crystals because it cooled very quickly.
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Directions/Advisory
Access from the Desert Road to the Tukino Ski Area. Note there is a locked gate. Walk from there, or arrange access with the Tukino Ski clubs. 4WD needed to gate. In summer an experienced gravel road driver can get at least half way to the gate with a 2WD vehicle.
Gravel road. 4WD access, uneven loose slopes. Remote. Communication coverage is patchy.
This is an alpine environment with high cliffs and steep rubbly slopes. GPS and map needed to avoid getting lost in potential severe weather.
Google Directions
Accessibility:
MODERATE
About 1km NNE of Tukino ski area. Work out your cross country route over bouldery terrain. Walk around the very high bluffs in between - not over them!
Features
Sedimentary
Volcanic
Landform
Active Erosion
Geological Age
Around 5,000 years old, give or take. From argon-argon dating.
Zealandia Evolution Sequence
Pākihi Supergoup: 5 million years ago – present
Links