White Island

New Zealand's only active marine volcano, White Island is a must see. We spent the night in Whakatane (pronounced Fuk-a-taanie) and jumped on a boat the next morning for a half day excursion to the island. Walking around the constantly changing lunar landscape with hard-hats and gasmasks, we were told during our short safety briefing that we should take cover if 'she erupts'.

It really is an amazing place with bubbling water and mudpools, hissing steam, crater lakes and yellow sulphur crystals and the thought that at any time you could witness an eruption.