White Island

We were to arrive at the booking office by 10.15 in the morning so we had a leisurely start to the day. We boarded about 10.35 and chose seats at the back of the boat, downstairs and outside. We found out later that they were the best seats if you felt motion sickness and we had a few of those joining us during the trip. Our crossing over to the Island was 27 nautical miles and took around 1½ hours. We went very quick and fast and had a lot of spray from the front of the boat, but we did slow down a few times. The first was to see a few dolphins jumping over the waves then passing beside our boat. The next lot of dolphins I missed L. But I certainly saw the seal sleeping in the middle of the Bay of Plenty. Hopefully I will be able to post a few videos of our trip. If not then it will be still photos.

We went from our boat in a 16 man dingy over to the island, it only took a few minutes and according to the Skipper it was perfect landing conditions. The previous day it was apparently very difficult to land. We then had a 2 hour tour of the island. It wasn’t a very long walk but was still a bit tiring for us both. It was an unique and exhilarating experience considering it was an active Volcano and regularly has slight tremors. It consistently has steam coming from the multiply outlets which can we seen from the main land. Photos of which I have already posted. It is a mainly sulphur volcano which can we seen everywhere and there were lots of little small to medium bubble paddy puddles. The smell was awful and if we didn’t wear our masks we would have choked. There used to be a sulphur mine on the island but one day a sailor at sea noticed that the landscape of the island had changed. He quickly went back to the main land and raised the alarm and a rescue was organized. The volcano had erupted and buried all the miners. It took 8 days from when the disaster had happen until the rescue party arrived on the island and only one survivor was found. All that is left is the relicts lying around the mine. There is still seismic equipment on the island, powered by solar panels, measuring any activity, thankfully we did not feel any activities during our visit but were told to look at their website to see what really did happen!!!!!!! Before leaving we went around the island to see the Gannets nesting. There were hundreds and we saw few flying around catching fish from the sea.

 We travelled more slowly back to the main land and sadly didn’t see any sea life. What an adventure day we had. Family I hope you noticed that we did not pre warn you of our visit to the active Volcanic Island. Some of you would have worried others would have been counting our insurance money!

                                      PHOTOS AND VIDEO TO FOLLOW!