Whakaari/White Island Destination Information

White Island, also known in Maori as Whakaari, is an active volcano situated 49 km off the coast of New Zealand's Bay of Plenty region. White Island is easily accessible as tour operators run regular trips to the island from Whakatane, in fact it is one of the most accessible active marine volcanos in the world. Though the majority of White Island is underwater, some 321m of the cone sticks out of the ocean, forming a circular island. Tours of White Island include visiting the ruins of the sulphur factory abandoned in the 1930s, and getting up close to roaring steam vents, bubbling mud pits, hot volcanic streams, sulphur encrusted fumeroles and the amazing lake of steaming acid.