Story: Volcanic Plateau places

The Pink Terraces (1st of 2)

The Pink Terraces

The Pink Terraces at Lake Rotomahana were one of 19th-century New Zealand’s most celebrated scenic wonders. Along with the neighbouring white terraces, they disappeared during the 1886 eruption of Mt Tarawera. Charles Blomfield had visited and painted the terraces more than once before that event – he completed this painting in 1890, four years after their loss. The terraces were thought to have been completely destroyed, but in 2011 scientists located remnants of both sets of terraces on the lake floor of Rotomahana.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: G-667
Watercolour by Charles Blomfield

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Malcolm McKinnon, 'Volcanic Plateau places - Lake Tarawera district', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/artwork/15042/the-pink-terraces (accessed 24 April 2024)

Story by Malcolm McKinnon, updated 25 May 2015