To Māori and local Iwi (tribe) Ngāti Awa, Whakaari is a treasured ancestor and features in many stories and legends of the region. Information on this tour can be found via the separate TripAdvisor page: Moutohora Island Sanctuary (Whale Island) - Day Tour. Whakaari/White Island is an active marine volcano that has attracted visitors from around the world for decades. In December of 2019 a volcanic eruption occurred at Whakaari/White Island.

Whakaari / White Island ([faˈkaːɾi]; also known as just 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.The island covers an area of approximately 325 ha (800 acres), which is only the peak of a much larger submarine volcano.

The privately-owned White Island, or Whakaari, is a popular destination for day tours and scenic flights. White Island Tours is back in business five weeks after the fatal volcanic eruption on Whakaari White Island. We spent an awesome day visiting White Island (off the coast of Whakatane) recently. All tours to Whakaari / White Island have been cancelled. In a country bursting with natural wonders, Whakaari/White Island … To ensure the safety of locals and visitors there are currently no tours or flights to the island. The highest peak on the island reaches 321 metres. We boarded our boat at Whakatane and set off on the 49 … The company suspended all tours in the wake of … Whakaari/White Island is one of New Zealand’s most active volcanos, situated 48km off the coast of Whakatane in the North Island. Glimpses from the shore and in the air offer breath-taking views of this geothermal wonder.Estimated to be between 150,000 and 200,000

The island is the summit of a large submarine volcano - 70% of the cone is underwater. The White Island Tours website has been taken down, but just before it was the company explained the risks on its booking page saying: "Whakaari/White Island is currently on Alert Level 2.

Moutohora / Whale Island tours have resumed.

WhiteIslandTours, Manager at White Island Tours, responded to this review Responded 11 March 2016 Hi Melro, we're happy to hear that you had a great day out with us. Seeing dolphins and whales is an awesome bonus to the trip, we're so lucky to have these animals regularly passing through the Bay of …