Whakaari / White Island

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Whakaari / White Island

Whakaari / White Island is an active andesite stratovolcano, situated 48 km (30 mi) from the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand, in the Bay of Plenty. It is New Zealand's most active cone volcano, and has been built up by continuous volcanic activity over the past 150,000 years.

The nearest mainland towns are Whakatane and Tauranga. White Island has been in a nearly continuous stage of releasing volcanic gas at least since it was discovered by James Cook in 1769.

The island is roughly circular, about 2 km (1.2 mi) in diameter, and rises to a height of 321 m (1,053 ft) above sea level. It covers an area of approximately 325 ha (800 acres). The exposed island is only the peak of a much larger submarine mountain, which rises up to 1,600 m (5,249 ft) above the nearby seafloor.

Sulphur mining was attempted but was abandoned in 1914 after a lahar killed all of the site's workers. The main activities on the island now are guided tours and scientific research.

The waters surrounding White Island are well known for their fishing. Yellowtail kingfish abound all year round, and there is deep water fishing for hapuka and bluenose (a type of warehou) in the winter and blue, black and striped marlin and yellowfin tuna in the summer.

Getting There

White Island is privately owned. It was declared a private scenic reserve, in 1953, and is subject to the provision of the Reserves Act 1977. Visitors cannot land without permission. However, it is easily accessible by authorised tourist operators.

A small charter fleet offering day trips and overnight or longer trips operates from the nearby port at Whakatane.