Helicopter trip to White Island (Whakaari)
Today I decided to complete my list of methods of travel and took a helicopter ride to White Island off the coast of the Bay of Plenty. White Island is essentially an island the is comprised of an active volcanoe. It is privately owned and can be only accessed by a tour operator. I had the great fortune to share my ride with a woman from Rotorua who's great uncle was in fact the man who bought the island in 1936, for what I found out was only 150 pounds! There were some interesting details I got to learn on the trip, that I likely wouldn't have without her on the ride. It was in fact her first time ever on the island. The ride from Rotorura to White Island was 45 minutes each way and we spent about anouther couple of hours wandering around the island itself. One day a glacier the next a volcanoe. This country is brilliant!
