14th Australia & New Zealand YGP Conference Field Trip Guide

The purposes of this excursion are to illustrate:

• The complexity of the interactions between tectonic and volcanic processes in the northern Taupo Volcanic Zone (TVZ),
• The association of geothermal surface features to Rotorua Caldera,
• The large volumes of extruded lava in the Okataina Volcanic Centre, diversity of eruption sizes and styles,
• The extent of extensional faulting south of the Okataina Volcanic Centre,
• The development of the geothermal resources,
• The dependence of our awareness of volcanic hazards on the information available in the geological record

These notes are intended to be a brief guide to the localities of geological interest that are visited during this field trip to the Rotorua area. The notes are not all-encompassing, but I have referenced some topics as a starting point for further reading that you might like to pursue. The field trip will visit localities associated with the Rotorua and Okataina Volcanic Centres. It will not pass through the Taupo Fault Belt south of Rotorua, but notes are included. The bias of the trip is to the broad geomorphic structures in this area – at best a small snapshot of this interesting area.