White Island Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
island volcano in New Zealand's Bay of Plenty
About White Island
Whakaari/White Island is the only active marine volcano near New Zealand's main islands. It is 48 kilometres off the east coast of the North Island, in the Bay of Plenty. The nearest mainland towns are Whakatane andTauranga. The island is roughly circular and about 2km in diameter. The volcano is around 100,000 to 200,000 years old and about two thirds of it is hidden below sea level. There are three distinct craters, only one of which is active, and it has a small crater lake. The full Maori name for the island is 'Te Puia o Whakaari' meaning literally 'The Dramatic Volcano'. Captain Cook named it White Island in 1769 as he saw a large white cloud, not realising that it was steam from volcanic activity. Sulphur was mined on Whakaari in the late 1800s and early 1900s, but mining was abando
White Island Travel Guide Sections
Our comprehensive guide covers 11 sections including: