White Island

White Island rises out of the Bay of Plenty to a height of 300 m, some 50km north of Whakatane. It is a highly active volcano, the continuation of a chain of volcanoes on the North Island that runs north from Ruapehu in the Tongariro National Park. In an eruption in 1914 the eastern flank of the hill was literally blown away and the crater lake was drained. The volcano still shows considerable thermal activity: long white plumes of steam rising into the sky (hence the name given to the island by Captain Cook), hissing fumaroles, boiling and bubbling pools of mud, emissions of foul-smelling sulfurous vapors. White Island can be reached by boat from Whakatane and Tauranga or on scenic flights by helicopter or light aircraft. Note: special permission is needed to land on White Island.