White Island Volcano Rotorua

After leaving Auckland, we drove 5.5 hours to The Bay of Plenty on the east side of the island - and to a place called Ohope Beach, a small town a 10 minute drive from Whakatene (pronounced Fakatayknee)...

On the way we stopped off at a mining town to look at an active mine and historical artefacts from 100 years ago when mining first …

This afternoon we went on a drive up to Whakatane and walked along the mouth of the Whakatane River which empties in to the Bay of Plenty. In the distance was White Island - the only active marine volcano in the area - smoking away in the distance. On a rock at the entrance to Whakatane Harbour is an elegant statue of Lady Wairaka. When the Maori …

We had to get up really early to go to the volcano, because it was pretty far away, but we were excited so it was ok. We arrived in Whakatane around 8:30am, and checked in for the boat. After our disastrous ferry ride from Wellington, we weren't thrilled with the idea of an hour and a half on a boat, but we really wanted to see the volcano. There …

We drove on to Whakatane with no instructions for our hotel as we'd forgotten to print them off – fortunately it was on the main road into town and easily found. Again we had a two unit bedroom which was basic but big and clean. We took the motel owners advice and went to Babinka for tea – curry for Fran and I, steak for Ken and …

For Walter and Paul, today is fully dedicated to the helicopter flight to White Island. Paul and Pete are parting ways, and Pete gives the last rites to Paul, because it may very well be the last time they see each other. A helicopter may easily crash and burn, or be captured by a stray bunch of Libyans. Furthermore, an active volcano is obviously …

... all the geothermal activity. On the drive to Rotorua Matt and me thought it must be us smelling after spending the morning in the white island volcano. We kept on opening the car windows to get rid of the smell only for it to get worse and for us to ...