NZ thermal areas vs Yellowstone & Iceland

<p>Hello</p>

<p>I'll be in New Zealand for about three weeks in March/April 2016. I'm planning routes and structuring the trip now. It's clear that I'll have to make decisions to leave some things out that in all probability I'll never get another chance to see. Photography is the primary objective rather than straightforward tourism. Unless I change my mind in the meantime, I expect to spend 75% of the time on South Island. </p>

<p>Specifically I'm wondering whether to include or exclude the primary thermal areas of Rotorua/Wai-O-Tapu etc. I've spent quite a bit of time in Yellowstone NP and in Iceland photographing thermal pools, run-offs and dramatic volcanic landscapes around Kerlingarfjoll. From the photographs I've seen, the equivalent in NZ is simply not as dramatic, or colourful as the areas I've seen, and is either more commercialised or requires some serious walking. </p>

<p>Is there anyone who has been to NZ thermal areas and maybe Yellowstone who can pass a view on whether the NZ version is as compelling? You can see some Yellowstone work on <a href="http://www.photography001.com">www.photography001.com</a>, in the "thermal" gallery. My point is that if I can't get at least that quality of opportunity in N Island New Zealand, there are plenty of other things I'd like to do in my limited time there. </p>

<p>Thanks</p>

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<p>I have been to Yellowstone twice, way back in 1978 and then in 1993. I went to New Zealand also twice, in November 2013 and then over Christmas/New Year in 2014-2015.</p>

<p>My 2013 New Zealand trip was a South Island bus + hiking tour, where the landscape is wonderful. The late 2014 trip was mostly a sub-Antarctic island cruise. After the cruise, I decided to tour around the North Island a bit since we spent most of the time on the South Island the year before.</p>

<p>The geo-thermal area on the New Zealand North Island is of a much smaller scale compared to Yellowstone, and we need to pay separate entrance fee for the different areas. Since our last trip to Yellowstone was 20 years prior, it was worth a look for me, but IMO Yellowstone is far better place to photograph such subjects. The geo-thermal area is about a 3-hour bus ride from Auckland. The area is very touristy so that it is difficult to make nature photographs.</p>

<p>If you are already familiar with Yellowstone, I would suggest that you focus on the South Island. In particular, the Milford Sound cruise near Queenstown is wonderful. Do not take those noon time cruises where the light is poor. There is an overnight cruise where you board the boat in the afternoon and get off the next morning. Additionally, from Queenstown to Milford Sound is about a 5, 6-hour drive. Taking the bus round trip and do the cruise in the middle of the day makes it a very long day and some uncomfortably long bus rides (especially on the way back to Queenstown). You are better off splitting the bus ride into two days.</p>

<p>I've been to both too. In New Zealand our hotel actually had one in the back door. The cool thing was it was variously lite at night, pretty haunting. I admit though we didn't spend a lot of time at the NZ thermals, there was too much else for us to see. We were only two weeks in NZ (10 days South Island, 4 days north), far too short IMHO. I was mostly after wildlife and saw most of what I wanted to see, thermals weren't a high priority for us. PS. things in NZ tend to be very expensive, especially tours.</p>

<p>I spent 3 weeks touring NZ over 20 years ago and split my time in about the same proportion as you indicated between the N and S islands. We went to Rotorua for about 2 days. I've been to Yellowstone quite a few times and just returned from a visit that included Mammoth Hot Springs. If I had it to do over, I would skip Rotorua and spend more time on the S Island with a dedicated 3-4 days on a track. So I would agree with Shun.</p>

<p>I've been to both as well, I've been to NZ about 7 times for vacation, only did Rotorua once. My recommendation is to get to the South Island, rent a car and drive the circumference. </p>

<p>I wouldn't recommend a bus, you'll find yourself wishing the bus would stop so you can take pics about every 15 min.</p>

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<p>I'm gonna visit Norway in summer</p>