White
5
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Active marine volcano and private scenic reserve located 48km off the coast of New Zealand's Bay of Plenty.
Duration: < 1 hour
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5.0
172 reviews
Excellent
153
Very good
14
Average
4
Poor
1
Terrible
0
Peter B
Leuven, Belgium308 contributions
Where in the world can you walk in the crater of a living volcano, surrounded by bright yellow sulphur and steaming pits of boiling gasses?
We took the boat trip on organized by WhiteIsland.co.nz. This means leaving around 9 am on a yacht-like vessel and is it really feels like the start of a real adventure. During the trip you are briefed on several aspects of the pending volcano walk so you arrive better prepared. On the boat you can find several brochures and newspaper clippings with articles about White Island.
From the moment you can see the large white smoke plumes appearing to come out of a black dot in the distance, you understand that this is not going to be your average tourist experience.
It is only because the island is privately owned that visitors can ever be allowed to walk around on what is in fact a very explosive and volatile surface 50 km out in the sea.
The safety precautions are first class and took way most of our worries.
In short, this is something you should absolutely see when you are in New Zealand. I am not easily impressed and certainly not charmed by over-hiped sterile tourist traps, but believe me, this is truly different in any shape or form.
The price is very reasonable as this trip is a full day activity including a light lunch. Our trip ended around 4pm and we had little disk space left on our camera.
We took the boat trip on organized by WhiteIsland.co.nz. This means leaving around 9 am on a yacht-like vessel and is it really feels like the start of a real adventure. During the trip you are briefed on several aspects of the pending volcano walk so you arrive better prepared. On the boat you can find several brochures and newspaper clippings with articles about White Island.
From the moment you can see the large white smoke plumes appearing to come out of a black dot in the distance, you understand that this is not going to be your average tourist experience.
It is only because the island is privately owned that visitors can ever be allowed to walk around on what is in fact a very explosive and volatile surface 50 km out in the sea.
The safety precautions are first class and took way most of our worries.
In short, this is something you should absolutely see when you are in New Zealand. I am not easily impressed and certainly not charmed by over-hiped sterile tourist traps, but believe me, this is truly different in any shape or form.
The price is very reasonable as this trip is a full day activity including a light lunch. Our trip ended around 4pm and we had little disk space left on our camera.
Written 24 May 2008
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KaiserChiefs
Wakefield, UK33 contributions
We recently visited White Island on the Peejay boat with White Island Tours (www.whiteisland.co.nz). Everything from initial communication with the company to the day itself was exceptionally well organised.
Throughout the 80 minute boat trip, lots of information about White Island was provided, the crew were very friendly and couldn't do enough to help. As the boats are unable to dock on the island we were transported there by a short ride on an inflatable boat. This is all explained prior to arrival and is very well planned.
Once on the island we were split into three groups, each accompanied by two members of the crew who were very helpful and knowledgeable.
Visiting the island is simply amazing. Words and pictures can’t really describe the feeling of wandering inside an active volcano. White Island is one of the most incredible places I have ever visited and was certainly the highlight of our 4 week holiday.
Whilst the Bay of Plenty does have one of the best climates in New Zealand, weather can cause the tour to be cancelled. Therefore, I would strongly recommend allowing enough time in the Rotorua area in case the tour is unable to run. This is one trip you really don’t want to risk missing out on!!!
Throughout the 80 minute boat trip, lots of information about White Island was provided, the crew were very friendly and couldn't do enough to help. As the boats are unable to dock on the island we were transported there by a short ride on an inflatable boat. This is all explained prior to arrival and is very well planned.
Once on the island we were split into three groups, each accompanied by two members of the crew who were very helpful and knowledgeable.
Visiting the island is simply amazing. Words and pictures can’t really describe the feeling of wandering inside an active volcano. White Island is one of the most incredible places I have ever visited and was certainly the highlight of our 4 week holiday.
Whilst the Bay of Plenty does have one of the best climates in New Zealand, weather can cause the tour to be cancelled. Therefore, I would strongly recommend allowing enough time in the Rotorua area in case the tour is unable to run. This is one trip you really don’t want to risk missing out on!!!
Written 18 April 2009
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sg7677
Hobart, Australia66 contributions
Nov 2012 • Couples
We decided to pay the extra money, save some time and have a different experience and go via helicopter (Frontier Helicopters).
From booking, paying and the trip - it all went smoothly. We arrived just as a boat tour was leaving so we had the whole island to ourselves.
Would thoroughly recommend it!
From booking, paying and the trip - it all went smoothly. We arrived just as a boat tour was leaving so we had the whole island to ourselves.
Would thoroughly recommend it!
Written 17 December 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GoTravel215
Houston, TX1,008 contributions
July 2011
I agree with all the positive comments. It is like being on another planet but be prepared for the travel time. We drove 90 minutes from Rotorua, spent 30 minutes getting checked in, rode on the boat for 90 minutes, spent less than 90 minutes on the island and then come back. The boat ride is very rough and you will be surrounded by others getting sick. It is a long day!
That being said, I am glad we did it.
That being said, I am glad we did it.
Written 12 August 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AnnetteLouise
Pennsylvania141 contributions
White Island is NZ's only active marine volcano. Sulfur mining operations were carried out on the island in the early 1900s until closed down by a series of eruptions and other disasters. The island is a now a private nature reserve and the site of intense scientific study. It is located 26 nautical miles offshore from Whaketane, a small beach town a little over an hour drive from Rotorua. White Island can be reached by helicopter or by boat. We used Pee Jays White Island Tours and found it to be a top notch operation and a fantastic value. We left Whaketane at 9:30 a.m. After a 1 1/2 hour trip on the spacious and luxurious Pee Jay V , were were shuttled to shore on zodiac-like craft, outfitted with hard hats and gas masks and taken on a very interesting and informative 1 1/2 -2 hour tour. As you look up at the canyon walls all around you, you realize that you are within the crater of the volcano. On one side is an outlet to the sea, which is where the boats are able to dock. The volcano is active, last erupting in 2000. The ground is yellow with sulfur deposits, there are steaming fumaroles, pressure mounds, bubbling pits, fields of pink and yellow rock, and a lime-green crater lake. The corroded remains of the sulfur processing plant are also interesting to walk through. Back on the boat, we were served a pleasant lunch as the boat navigated around the island so we could see the gannet and seal colonies and the pohutukawa forest. We arrived back in Whaketane by 4pm. The staff and crew were all friendly, professional and knowledgable. Highly recommended and an excellent value. Take a dose of "Sea Legs" (meclizine) to avoid sea sickness.
The White Island trips are highly dependent on weather and sea conditions. Allow yourself some flexibility if at all possible. A final decision is usually made between 7-8 pm the night before the trip, but in our case, a final decision wasn't made until 7:30 am on the morning of the trip. We were staying in Rotorua, but that was still plenty of time to drive to Whaketane. There are also Pee Jay Shuttles from Rotorua. I'd recommend staying in Rotorua and being flexible as to the day you plan to do the White Island trip. If the trip is canceled one day, there are plenty of alternatives to keep you busy in Rotorua.
The White Island trips are highly dependent on weather and sea conditions. Allow yourself some flexibility if at all possible. A final decision is usually made between 7-8 pm the night before the trip, but in our case, a final decision wasn't made until 7:30 am on the morning of the trip. We were staying in Rotorua, but that was still plenty of time to drive to Whaketane. There are also Pee Jay Shuttles from Rotorua. I'd recommend staying in Rotorua and being flexible as to the day you plan to do the White Island trip. If the trip is canceled one day, there are plenty of alternatives to keep you busy in Rotorua.
Written 13 October 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kaye C
Auckland, New Zealand63 contributions
We flew to White Island by helicopter (Vulcan Helicopters). It is an amazing place to visit and well worth going to as it's not often you can get right inside the crater of a volcano. There was an ever present sense of possible danger, as the poisonous gas laden steam blasts out of crevices, there are pools of boiling mud, and the crater lake is so acidic it is off the scale. Safety gear including gas masks was supplied and hard hats are mandatory as there is a danger of falling debris thrown up by the volcano. I have visited the Bay of Plenty many times and the trip to White Island is one of the highlights not just of visits there, but of my whole life experience.
Robert, our pilot, was passionate about the island and extremely knowledgable about vulcanism in general, making the flight and the whole visit unforgettable.
www.vulcanheli.co.nz
Robert, our pilot, was passionate about the island and extremely knowledgable about vulcanism in general, making the flight and the whole visit unforgettable.
www.vulcanheli.co.nz
Written 8 March 2009
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Liverpool_UKLaura
Liverpool, UK13 contributions
This was brilliant, great value for money; our trip started at 12:30pm ish. We started with an 80min boat ride stopping to watch the whales then we climbed into a dingy and rode that to the island. You have to manoevre a few rocks to the island as well. And they supply you with a hard hat and mask.
The guides were great; letting you roam around and take photos, and before we left we were given a packed lunch and circled the island in the boat too. Some people went for a swim too, but there were jelly fish around. All in all i think it lasted about 6 hours so really good value, and some of the best photos ive ever taken. Thumbs up!
The guides were great; letting you roam around and take photos, and before we left we were given a packed lunch and circled the island in the boat too. Some people went for a swim too, but there were jelly fish around. All in all i think it lasted about 6 hours so really good value, and some of the best photos ive ever taken. Thumbs up!
Written 1 January 2009
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
fireman452
Tallahassee, FL1,486 contributions
Feb 2018 • Couples
Very strong smell of sulfur at this location but stunning views. Loved all of the colors and smoke rising from the Culdera. Sorry about the spelling.
There were several boats docked close to shore.
There were several boats docked close to shore.
Written 18 February 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shari L
14 contributions
Jan 2017 • Family
What more can I say, but an experience of a lifetime. Fabulous staff with alot of knowledge and friendly dispositions. Thankyou to Hayden and Amy our wonderful guides.They kept us informed and safe.A must see whilst travelling in Whakatane. If you do anything do this!
Written 30 January 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
OutThere-Kiwi
Auckland Central, New Zealand81 contributions
Dec 2015 • Couples
We were fortunate enough to explore White Island as part of a weekend dive charter with New Zealand Diving and Cascade Charters who operate out of Whakatane. And yes, if you’re a scuba diver, diving off White Island is incredible, with an abundance of sea life and a rather unique experience involving bubbles ;-)
We joined one of the Pee Jay tour groups as access to the island is only permitted with an authorised tourism operator. There’s also the fact that they provide gas masks, and no, the masks are not just a precaution. You really will need them once you get up close to the steaming sulphur vents. Our tour guide was friendly and extremely patient as we couldn’t help stopping and taking photos every few seconds. There’s a desolate beauty to this island that’s hard to describe and with so many colours it’s a real feast for the eyes. The island also has a rich and tragic past which your guide will explain as you explore the crater lake and the remains of the old sulphur processing plant.
Definitely a unique experience that’s not to be missed. For that added bit of adventure, instead of making the trip by boat, consider flying in with Frontier Helicopters who operate out of Whakatane.
We joined one of the Pee Jay tour groups as access to the island is only permitted with an authorised tourism operator. There’s also the fact that they provide gas masks, and no, the masks are not just a precaution. You really will need them once you get up close to the steaming sulphur vents. Our tour guide was friendly and extremely patient as we couldn’t help stopping and taking photos every few seconds. There’s a desolate beauty to this island that’s hard to describe and with so many colours it’s a real feast for the eyes. The island also has a rich and tragic past which your guide will explain as you explore the crater lake and the remains of the old sulphur processing plant.
Definitely a unique experience that’s not to be missed. For that added bit of adventure, instead of making the trip by boat, consider flying in with Frontier Helicopters who operate out of Whakatane.
Written 18 November 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is the boat trip to the Island calm in early February? How difficult is the walk on the island?
Written 5 January 2017
Hi Marcelles - it's hard to predict the conditions in advance and it really depends on the swell. When we went in December there was a large swell running thanks to storms north of New Zealand the week before. That made our trip out there a little 'interesting' ;-) however on the way back it was a lot calmer. If you're worried about getting seasick then get yourself some Sea-Legs tablets - they work for us.
As far as the walk is concerned, it's flat and easy but you'll want to wear some decent closed shoes.
M&D
Written 5 January 2017
Hi. Enjoyed reading your review. You mentioned wearing old clothes. Is this due to the sulphur and the smell that will remain on your clothing? My family is planning to do this Volcano tour to white island the day before we are scheduled to depart internationally. Probably wearing same shoes and pants.
If the smell is bad, I would surely purchase or bring "disposable" clothes for us. Do you recommend this
Written 8 September 2015
Hi,
My apologies it you have already visited our island volcano!
Anyway it is unlikely you will have any sulphur smell in your clothes and disposable clothes are not necessary.
As to wearing the same pants and shoes it is more a factor of how long you are in them prior to departing NZ.
Have a great trip if you are still to go and hope you have enjoyed your time in NZ.
regards Andrew
Written 14 September 2015
We are planning a trip to New Zealand during July 17 - 24, 2015 (probably the coldest time in NZ) and are thinking of taking the White Island trip on the 22nd of July from Rotorua. Would like to know if the trip itself would be feasible at that time and what are the conditions and clothing we should anticipate and plan for.
Thanks
Venkat
Written 10 July 2015
Hi Venkat,
Yes it is the coolest time here now but also the most beautiful. If you get it right weatherwise you can get extremely calm and clear conditions. But it is NZ and the weather varies sometimes even in one day, so at this time be be prepared for the cold with warm jackets, hats and gloves especially if there is a wind. Be prepared for a truly memorable experience and hope the weather behaves so you can firstly go to the Island and secondly experience it in its best light.
Have a wonderful time in NZ.
Andrew
Written 10 July 2015
what is the cost for two adults return boat ride to White Island
Written 9 July 2015
The advertised fare for boat ride from Whakatane and tour on the Island is $199 per adult with White Island Tours. You can google them or find them through my website.
All the best
Andrew
Written 9 July 2015
Hi,
To go direct from Auckland, Inflite Helicopters depart from Mechanics Bay.
Contact them for a quote
09 887 4835
Other options are to fly or drive to Whakatane for travel by boat or helicopter, or fly or drive to the other main departure point in Rotorua.
Sorry links aren't allowed but a search will provide operators there.
regards Andrew
Written 22 June 2015
Hi there,
Getting into Winter here in NZ the conditions for going to the Island can be the best there are with often calm conditions and wonderful visibility. Also it is not as hot in the crater area as it can be in summer.
That said like NZ however it is a maritime environment and there are days the boats and even the helicopters do not go due to weather extremes. NZ has regular high pressure systems with fronts (worse weather) in between passing the country but there is no definite schedule to them If you can allow a weather window of at least 3 days Day time temperatures then about 13° celsius.
Written 10 March 2015
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