Craters of the Moon manager Pip Dixon wants locals to come back for another look. Photo: Dan Hutchinson

The new manager at Craters of the Moon is encouraging locals to come back for another look at the geothermal park in Wairakei.

By Dan Hutchinson

It’s fitting that Pip Dixon has a background in emergency response management, tourism management and regional council work in Hawkes Bay.

The 52-hectare geothermal reserve has its fair share of hazards but it’s that unique blend of native bush, boardwalks and steamy otherworldliness that makes it special.

Pip has been there for three months now and her focus is on reconnecting residents with a place many haven't visited in decades.

"I came on board and I was like, okay, what can I do to really bring Taupō residents back to Craters of the Moon who haven't been here in 30, 40 years? Fall in love with the place again and understand why it's nationally significant, why it's a treasured area, why it's so beautiful."

She is planning a series of events over the coming months, beginning with Geothermal Week next week.

Entry is usually a nominal $5 for locals but will be free next week. There will be bird feeding sessions, and guided walks led by an ecologist.

Weekend kids' fun zones have already sold out — something Dixon says caught her off guard.

"I can't believe they sold out so quick. We'll have to try and do something bigger and better next year."

Following Geothermal Week, the focus shifts to seniors, with half-price entry including a free soup lunch.

Pip says the idea is to give older residents a reason to get out, get some exercise, and reconnect with the park in a relaxed setting.

Summer months see swarms of international and domestic tourists streaming through the gates, but winter is not so busy.

Therefore, each month over winter, the park will trial a different avenue — testing what resonates with different parts of the community.

School groups from Taupō already visit free of charge, and Kids Greening Taupō runs scavenger hunts for visiting students.

The park is run by a charitable trust and admission fees are fed back into community initiatives through grants to a wide variety of community organisations.

"I know there's a lot of really good organisations that are really struggling and we can do that. They may have shelved a project that could change people's lives. But there's no money. Well, hello — bring that project to us."

The park itself is undergoing improvements with a replanting programme underway near the entrance.

New fencing has been installed to replace barriers in dangerous areas, which is no mean feat in the unusual environment.

Ground temperatures can reach extreme levels, causing timber to split and crack, and steel bollards concreted into the ground have been pulled out boiling hot.

The park operates entirely off grid with no mains power or reticulated water.

All water is collected in tanks, which Dixon says is no small feat when close to 100,000 people pass through each year.

Solar panels generate enough power for the shop and coffee cart, but a major upgrade is planned to increase battery capacity and future-proof the operation.

Pip says the steam fields change daily, with various vents active on different days. Visibility shifts with the weather, and frosty mornings produce dramatic steam effects.