Te Tarata Geyser

No, Te Tarata (the White Terrace) and the nearby Otukapuarangi (the Pink Terrace) were completely destroyed by the catastrophic eruption of Mount Tarawera on June 10, 1886. The eruption reshaped the entire Lake Rotomahana area, and the terraces are considered lost, though underwater remnants have been explored by researchers.

The Mount Tarawera eruption of June 10, 1886 was a violent basaltic eruption that ripped open a 17-kilometer fissure across the mountain. The explosion destroyed several Māori villages and killed an estimated 120 people, burying the famous silica terraces under ash and debris.

In recent years, researchers including GNS Science have conducted sonar and underwater surveys of Lake Rotomahana suggesting that parts of the terraces may survive on the lake floor. However, visibility and access remain challenging, and the extent of any surviving structure is still debated.

Te Tarata and Otukapuarangi were widely promoted as a natural wonder and sometimes called the 'Eighth Wonder of the World' by European tourists in the 19th century. They were among New Zealand's most famous tourist attractions, accessible by boat from Tauranga and visited by thousands before the 1886 eruption destroyed them.