New Zealand is home to an amazing set of landscapes, from snow-covered mountains and turquoise lakes to volcanic valleys and rugged coastlines.
Now a travel influencer has attracted attention to another extraordinary destination in the country a mysterious “lost volcano” whose otherworldly landscape appears to belong on another planet. It has caught the attention of travel enthusiasts who are fascinated by unusual natural formations and hidden destinations.
If we refer to this volcanic landscape as “lost volcano” it sounds remote, lonely and almost out of place with the usual nature of New Zealand’s landscapes. With its dramatic terrain, rocky formations and quiet environment the site has the feeling of a place that we can easily picture as being in a science fiction movie. Pictures and videos of this remarkable part of the country have helped to bring tourism experts back to this unique place.
New Zealand is situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire and is known for its powerful geological forces. Volcanic activity over millions of years has shaped many parts of the country, creating mountains, geothermal areas, crater lakes, lava formations and unusual rock landscapes.
Some of these are popular tourist attractions, and others are relatively unknown to international travellers. This geological diversity and remote wilderness is one reason why New Zealand continues to fascinate adventure seekers.
The landscape that the travel influencer describes is a particularly unusual one. Rather than the lush green landscape people associate with New Zealand, the area is starkly geological with mountainous terrain and rough terrain. Due to its seasons and weather conditions, the landscape can appear in very different shades and shadows, almost alien.
Social media have made such destinations popular in the last few years, where short videos and photos can bring little-known places to millions of people. A single aerial photo or cinematic travel footage can turn an obscure natural attraction into a viral destination. The “lost volcano” is a good example of how social media is changing the way travellers find places around the world.
But for geology lovers the appeal is far greater than the appearance. Volcanic landscapes have been a record for the geological processes which have shaped the Earth. Craters, volcanic rocks, ridges and layers of hardened lava can tell us a lot about what went on in past eruptions and what shaped the soil around them. New Zealand’s volcanoes are of particular interest because they are the first to shed light on the impact of geological activity on the country’s landscape.
But the extraterrestrial look of this site has also been compared to other worlds from space. Dry volcanic terrain and barren rock formations can be seen as an image of Mars and other planets. The comparison is mostly visual but it does explain why unusual volcanic locations are so popular in photography, filmmaking and adventure travel.
Travel influencers have helped to make these places more accessible to the public. Their posts are full of drone footage, walking tours and detailed landscape photography so that we can see places that are remote to people’s eyes. But increasingly hidden places are becoming popular with visitors and this is also a question of responsible tourism. The fragile geological formations and natural ecosystems suffer when there are many people coming and going in the same direction without proper knowledge of the natural world.
Travellers traveling to remote volcanic landscapes should therefore follow local regulations and stay on designated paths and avoid disturbing rocks, plants or other natural features. The conservation authorities need to take such restrictions to protect geological and ecological diversity from the environment for the future and protect it for future generations.
New Zealand’s attraction has always been very much the natural beauty that it features, and the viral “lost volcano” is just the latest reminder that it is still a country whose landscapes are so amazing that even the most experienced travellers can’t help but be taken by surprise.
If the travel influencer’s post continues to generate attention, future travelers may add the mysterious volcanic landscape to their New Zealand travel wish lists. Seen from a smartphone screen or experienced in person, it is a great reminder that some of the most amazing “alien” landscapes are not on distant planets— they can be found on Earth.
