28th March 2016 – Helicopter Trip to White Island Volcano (Private Scenic Reserve), with Frontier Helicopters.
I had sprained my Ankle the weekend before. The doctors at Greenlane Ascot A & E had directed me that hiking was off the table this Easter long weekend. While my effective walking range was limited I was still able to walk short distances. Decided at complete whim on Easter Sunday to grab the car keys and head down to Bay of Plenty to take a helicopter ride to White Island. (Have to admit, I was very reluctant to let this Easter Weekend go to waste and am very glad that I actually bit the bullet and did this trip.)
Thanks to both Richard and Clare for a great afternoon. Richard was both the Pilot and the Guide for the Trip with Clare looking after the Administration of the tour that day. Definitely a trip to remember.
Photos along with trip details / experiences (included as captions) below…
![Frontier's R44 Helicopter](https://young.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/P3280032-660x495.jpg)
Frontier’s R44 Helicopter
![Walking out to the Helicopter. Airbus / Eurocopter AS350](https://young.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/P3280034-327x246.jpg)
Walking out to the Helicopter. Airbus / Eurocopter AS350
![Aboard the Helicopter shortly before take off.](https://young.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/P3280036-327x245.jpg)
Aboard the Helicopter shortly before take off.
![Leaving the Mainland, towards the direction of While Island (Whale Island, which we fly over is directly ahead)](https://young.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/P3280039-328x246.jpg)
Leaving the Mainland, towards the direction of While Island (Whale Island, which we fly over is directly ahead)
![Approaching White Island](https://young.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/P3280053-328x246.jpg)
Approaching White Island
![On approach to White Island](https://young.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/P3280057-327x246.jpg)
On approach to White Island
![Circling White Island](https://young.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/P3280059-327x246.jpg)
Circling White Island
![Circling White Island](https://young.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/P3280060-327x245.jpg)
Circling White Island
![Circling White Island](https://young.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/P3280063-660x495.jpg)
Circling White Island
![Circling White Island](https://young.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/P3280067-328x246.jpg)
Circling White Island
![Touching down on the Island](https://young.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/P3280076-328x246.jpg)
Touching down on the Island
![Looking out at Right hand side passenger Window](https://young.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/P3280080-327x246.jpg)
Looking out at Right hand side passenger Window
![Looking towards the main crater, Crater this time was a lot more "gassy"](https://young.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/P3280084-494x370.jpg)
Looking towards the main crater, Crater this time was a lot more “gassy”
![Shot with crater in background (taken by our Pilot, Richard)](https://young.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/P3280198-622x829.jpg)
Shot with crater in background (taken by our Pilot, Richard)
![Looking towards the main crater](https://young.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/P3280081-365x274.jpg)
Looking towards the main crater
![Walking towards the crater](https://young.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/P3280093-365x274.jpg)
Walking towards the crater
![Sulphur field with several fumaroles](https://young.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/P3280098-365x273.jpg)
Sulphur field with several fumaroles
![One of the Many mud pools](https://young.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/P3280147-463x348.jpg)
One of the Many mud pools
![Mud pool](https://young.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/P3280100-463x347.jpg)
Mud pool
![View of the main crater](https://young.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/P3280124-524x699.jpg)
View of the main crater
![View of the main crater](https://young.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/P3280125-660x495.jpg)
View of the main crater
![View of the main crater, Photo taken by Richard (Pilot)](https://young.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/P3280117-327x246.jpg)
View of the main crater, Photo taken by Richard (Pilot)
![Demonstration on how corrosive the gasses are here. Coins, some only a week old have almost completely oxidised](https://young.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/P3280110-315x236.jpg)
Demonstration on how corrosive the gasses are here. Coins, some only a week old have almost completely oxidised
![Close up shot of Sulphur](https://young.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/P3280141-354x236.jpg)
Close up shot of Sulphur
![Steam billowing out from a fumarole](https://young.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/P3280088-314x236.jpg)
Steam billowing out from a fumarole
![Helicopter from another company taking off.](https://young.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/P3280091-494x370.jpg)
Helicopter from another company taking off.
![Looking back out to the sea.](https://young.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/P3280095-493x370.jpg)
Looking back out to the sea.
![Richard, our pilot and tour guide.](https://young.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/P3280096-328x246.jpg)
Richard, our pilot and tour guide.
![Sulphur field](https://young.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/P3280097-328x246.jpg)
Sulphur field
![Looking back out to the sea.](https://young.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/P3280131-327x246.jpg)
Looking back out to the sea.
![Mound of Sulphur Deposits we got to taste](https://young.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/P3280136-494x658.jpg)
Mound of Sulphur Deposits we got to taste
![Sulphur field, Photo taken by Richard (Pilot)](https://young.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/P3280137-493x658.jpg)
Sulphur field, Photo taken by Richard (Pilot)
![Sulphur field.](https://young.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/P3280146-660x495.jpg)
Sulphur field.
![Sulphur field](https://young.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/P3280144-327x246.jpg)
Sulphur field
![Digging a tiny ditch, Steam (Not clear in the photo)](https://young.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/P3280160-327x245.jpg)
Digging a tiny ditch, Steam (Not clear in the photo)
![Feeling the steam coming out from the sand ditch, Photo taken by Richard (Pilot)](https://young.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/P3280165-463x348.jpg)
Feeling the steam coming out from the sand ditch, Photo taken by Richard (Pilot)
![Abandoned Sulphur mine](https://young.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/P3280180-463x347.jpg)
Abandoned Sulphur mine
![Old Anchor belonging to a supply ship](https://young.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/P3280172-524x699.jpg)
Old Anchor belonging to a supply ship
![Abandoned Sulphur mine](https://young.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/P3280170-328x246.jpg)
Abandoned Sulphur mine
![Abandoned Sulphur mine](https://young.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/P3280168-328x246.jpg)
Abandoned Sulphur mine
![Abandoned Sulphur mine](https://young.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/P3280178-327x246.jpg)
Abandoned Sulphur mine
![Abandoned Sulphur mine](https://young.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/P3280181-494x370.jpg)
Abandoned Sulphur mine
![Abandoned Sulphur mine](https://young.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/P3280179-493x370.jpg)
Abandoned Sulphur mine
![Abandoned Sulphur mine](https://young.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/P3280176-494x370.jpg)
Abandoned Sulphur mine
![Pohutukawa seedling attempting to grow.](https://young.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/P3280188-493x370.jpg)
Pohutukawa seedling attempting to grow.
![Aboard the Helicopter, (flying out), View from the front passenger seat.](https://young.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/P3280203-365x274.jpg)
Aboard the Helicopter, (flying out), View from the front passenger seat.
![Flying over Whale Island on the way back](https://young.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/P3280211-365x274.jpg)
Flying over Whale Island on the way back
![Zoomed in view of the western end of Whale Island](https://young.kiwi/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/P3280212-365x273.jpg)
Zoomed in view of the western end of Whale Island