White Island Helicopter Flight and Volcano Walking Tour
Rotorua, New Zealand
Trip Type: Helicopter Tours
Duration: 2.5-3 hours
Fly by helicopter to White Island, and slip past steaming volcanic vents and colorful sulfur formations on a guided walking tour. Soaring north from Rotorua over the Northern Lakes district, you’ll enjoy aerial views of the active crater before landing on its lunar-like landscape. Then get out to explore the abandoned mining ruins and fantastical geological features of White Island, the only permanently active offshore volcano in New Zealand.
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Fly by helicopter to White Island, and slip past steaming volcanic vents and colorful sulfur formations on a guided walking tour. Soaring north from Rotorua over the Northern Lakes district, you’ll enjoy aerial views of the active crater before landing on its lunar-like landscape. Then get out to explore the abandoned mining ruins and fantastical geological features of White Island, the only permanently active offshore volcano in New Zealand.
Take off from Rotorua aboard your helicopter with your experienced pilot-guide. As you soar above the Northern Lakes district, snap photos of the numerous lakes below including Lake Rotorua, Lake Rotoiti and over Hells Gate before crossing the coast.
Situated 31 miles (50 km) offshore from the North Island, White Island lies within the Taupo Volcanic Zone. Its main vent, located below sea level and protected by crater walls, is responsible for the activity in the island’s crater lake. Upon landing on the moon-like surface, start your 1- to 1.5-hour leisurely walking tour of the crater floor to see fumaroles (active steam vents), hot streams and ever-changing features like sulphur formations.
Walk through old mining ruins to view the weathered remains of a factory abandoned in 1933, and hear from your informative guide about the island's history, geology, wildlife and vegetation, such as gannet colonies and the remnants of a once-thriving pohutukawa forest.
On your return flight to Rotorua, take in aerial views of the Bay of Plenty.
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