White Island
- New Zealand's only marine volcano. i.e. an island, about 30 miles (50 km) off Whakatane on the eastern coast of the "mainland" of North Island. It's active, but has been safe enough to visit for many years.
You can take scenic flights over the volcano or, much better still, take a tour that lands there so you can walk around. Going by helicopter is the faster but more costly way (from ca. 450 to over 700 NZD), by boat it's more affordable (from 120 NZD), but takes longer. Bad weather (or unexpectedly high volcanic activity) can make trips impossible, so best be flexible. Accommodation is available on the mainland coast at what is aptly named "White Island Rendezvous".
On tours that explore the volcano on foot you'll be equipped with a hard hat and gas mask. This really is an active volcano after all! You can walk the inner crater, you'll see fumaroles, mud pools, a green sulphurous lake, sulphur deposits and the remains of a former sulphur mine. Adventure tourism with a darkish twist.
Location: off the northern coast of New Zealand's North Island, in the Bay of Plenty, 60 miles (95 km) east of Tuaranga, and ca. 140 miles (230 km) south-east of Auckland.