Hot Water Country - Life and Leisure in NZ's Volcanic Wonderland

Few people have a more intimate knowledge of New Zealand?s volcanic wonderland than Ross Annabell, a veteran journalist who spent ?the best twelve years of my life? exploring the sights and frights of this turbulent and fascinating region, from White Island to the mountains of Tongariro National Park. In Hot Water Country he combines his rare gifts of shrewd observation and whimsical humour with the thoroughness of a journalist?s diligent research into factual background of what he has seen. The result is a book that is at once entertaining and instructive, reflective and prophetic.
As an enthusiastic tramper, skier, hunter and fisherman, and as a member of the Rotorua Search organisation for some years, Annabell is able to draw on an extensive fund of background material built up over the years. There are few features of New Zealand?s volcanic plateau which he has not explored at some time, often in the company of scientists, technicians, pilots, farmers, fishermen, hunters ? or just ordinary local residents.
He has been muttonbirding with Opotiki Maoris on White Island, deer stalking with the meat-hunting Tuhoe (Children of the Mist) in the Urewera, and fishing for rainbow trout with some of the best-known professional guides in the country; his experiences range from being deluged with hot ash on erupting White Island to ?taking the temperature? of volcanoes at Tongariro National Park hot-spots.
Hot Water Country will interest all New Zealanders who love the outdoors, and will be an excellent guide for the tourist who wants to know what to see and where to find it.

Published by Reed in 1977.