I had booked a trip to White Island which is an active volcano which has formed an island in the Bay of Plenty. I had to get up early and drive for nearly two hours to Whakane on the coast of the B of P. It was a very scenic drive over steep hills and past fantastic lakes. I got there for 8.45. The next part was a one and a half hour boat trip out to the island. We saw some dolphins on the way but more exciting was the flying fish. Finally we got to the island and then the next hazardous bit was getting from the boat onto a rubber dingy to be transported to a jetty where we landed on the island. After that we walked for about 30 mins and ended up by a fumerole. (have the sound on when you play the video clip below).
This was a vent in the side of the volcano which gave off steam at a
tremendous rate. It was like standing right next to the chimney of a huge steam engine. After that was more walking up to the rim of the crater. We had to be very careful where we put our feet and make sure we walked in the footsteps of our group leader as if you stood in the wrong place the ground could collapse below you and you would disappear into a boiling cauldron! When we got to the rim it was stupendous. We overlooked a huge green crate lake composed of acid water formed from the condensed steam coming up from the
ground below. We were there for about 15 mins. Then we made our descent back to the jetty. On the way we came across the remains of the old sulphur factory. It was now half buried in the ash of the last eruption in 2000!
