Foto: Arrival at the White Island (bron: Ronald van der Veer)
New Zealand - At quarter past seven, we check in for the boat trip to White Island volcano. The check-in is at the reception of our hotel, where we can also check out of our room immediately. At the dock lies the Pee Jay VI, the ship that will take us to the island. I estimate about forty tourists are already waiting by the boat. I take a seat on the aft deck. The skipper calmly steers the boat out of the harbor and then speeds up once out at sea. Over the loudspeaker, he announces the trip will take one hour and forty minutes and that the boat travels at 20 knots (about 35 km/h). It’s cloudy today. In the distance, there even appears to be a rain shower. Hopefully, the rain doesn’t reach the volcanic island. There’s little wind, and the sea is calm. Perhaps because of this, we get a visit halfway through the trip from a group of dolphins. The skipper slows down. They swim in front of, behind, and alongside the boat. All around us, the small dolphins surface. The skipper signals with his horn that he wants to continue and that everyone should leave the foredeck. The dolphins likely recognize this signal and immediately swim away. The boat continues toward White Island. The closer we get to the island, the better the weather becomes. On the open sea, the sun shines brightly. I don’t mind this at all. At the volcanic island, groups of travelers are brought ashore by rubber motorboats. This is where the tour begins. Amy, the guide, tells us about the island, the last eruption in 2000, and explains where we can and definitely cannot walk. The volcano is still active, she says. Small earthquakes and eruptions occur regularly. The volcanic activity is continuously monitored. Currently, the volcano is relatively calm, but caution is still necessary. Around me, I feel heat rising from the ground and smell sulfur. If the sulfur cloud becomes too intense, I can put on a gas mask. I’m also wearing a helmet in case of eruptions. It’s wonderful to be able to walk here. Amy invites everyone to taste the iron-rich water. It tastes awful and somewhat like blood. After walking through the volcanic crater for an hour and a half, we return to the boat. The return trip to Whakatane takes just over an hour and a half.
Abel Tasman National Park
New Zealand - At eight o’clock, we drive onto the grounds of Abel Tasman Kayaks. We have booked a kayak tour in Abel Tasman National Park. We are immediately introduced to Balwi. Our guide for today is of Indian origin. He has been living in New Zealand for four ...
Cape Reinga
New Zealand - Several buses are running today. The second one to arrive is ours. Marvin is the driver and welcomes us onboard. Since multiple buses are operating, Marvin first drives all the way to Cape Reinga and then returns via the beach. This does mean we’ll ...
Cathedral Cove
New Zealand - Around half past one, we approach Hahei on the peninsula. At the edge of the town, there is a large parking area for cars. We decide not to use the shuttle bus but to walk to Hahei beach. Hahei beach is often called the most beautiful beach in New Zealand. ...
Jetboat and Funyak at the Dart River
New Zealand - Today, we’re going on a boat trip on the Dart River. First, we need to drive to Glenorchy, about an hour away. Upon arrival, we’re given a wetsuit, wet shoes, a fleece, a rain jacket, and a life vest. In the changing room, I switch into the gear. ...
Milford Sound Fjord
New Zealand - Outside, it is still dark when the alarm goes off. It’s 5:30 a.m. We shower and have breakfast in our cabin. Just before 6:30, we head out. At 9:00 a.m., the boat departs in Milford Sound. The distance to Milford Sound is still 120 kilometers, and it’s ...
Otago Peninsula
New Zealand - In the afternoon, we booked a wildlife tour to the Otago Peninsula. Since the tour lasts until the evening, we decide to eat now at one of the small restaurants in the center. At half past three, Tony picks us up at the hotel. Together with eight other ...
Queenstown
New Zealand - Queenstown is a town with over 10,000 inhabitants, located on the South Island of New Zealand. It lies on the northeastern shore of Lake Wakatipu, with The Remarkables mountain range in the background. We’re halfway along the route to Queenstown. ...
The Glaciers around Mount Cook N.P.
New Zealand - A thrilling day today. Would the glacier tour go ahead? When we wake up, it is cloudy. Yesterday, the weather forecast seemed better. We can call at nine o’clock to find out if the helicopter trip will take place. To be safe, we decide not to do a mountain ...
Thermal Wonderland Wai-O-Tapu
New Zealand - Just about half an hour’s drive below Rotorua lies the Thermal Wonderland park, Wai-O-Tapu. Besides the geothermal pools, the Lady Knox geyser is also located here. Every day at quarter past ten, the geyser shoots water into the air. We leave early ...
Tongoriro Alpine Crossing
New Zealand - At exactly 7:30, we drive onto the grassy field. Several people are already waiting for the 8:00 a.m. bus. It's another 25 minutes by road to the starting point. On the way, the driver tells us that it’s cloudy today and that wind gusts of up to 100 ...