White Island Tours
Reviews
Matthew Mutimer
Ranking: 10/10
A truely wonderful experience that any traveller to NZ should experience. A highly professional and informative crew who go above and beyond to ensure guest are looked after and given the best possible experience. Do not miss this one!
Julian Gury
Ranking: 8/10
Wonderful guided tour around the island but a bit too expensive for a backpacker.
White Island Tours responds:
Hi Julian,
We're pleased to hear that you enjoyed your visit to White Island with us, and thank you for taking the time to post your review.
Sylvain Chanton
Ranking: 10/10
You cannot walk on an active volcano every day!!
White Island Tours responds:
We share your sentiments exactly, Sylvain! :)
Amanda Walden
Ranking: 10/10
Absolutely fabulous a must see when visiting NZ. Everyone that worked at White Island Tours are very passionate and knowledgeable. Don't visit without doing this tour it truly is a trip of a lifetime.
White Island Tours responds:
Hi Amanda,
We're so happy to hear that you enjoyed your visit to White Island with us, and thank you for taking the time to write this review and share your experience. You're kind recommendation is very much appreciated also!
Monique Pos
Ranking: 9/10
Top good service. Good information
White Island Tours responds:
Hi Monique,
Thank you for your review - we're pleased to hear that you received "top service" during your visit to White Island. That is something we're most proud of!
Alison Egan-Jones
Ranking: 9/10
A very well organised tour with great care taken with respect to the safety aspects. A good close encounter with the type of volcano that doesn't spew lava - mainly sulphur and steam. Heaps of information from the Guides. Not for the faint hearted getting on and off the landing boats. An exciting day all round. Not to be missed.
White Island Tours responds:
Hi Alison,
Thank you for your comprehensive review. As you can imagine, lot of care and consideration goes into the safety aspect of our tours (we are on an active volcano afterall), so it was pleasing to hear that this did not go unappreciated! :)
Sylvain Schiber
Ranking: 9/10
Expensive but worth. Nice walk on the volcano with basic explanation. If you want to stay outside in the boat take a waterproof jacket. Lots of sick people. Stay outside in the middle of the boat!
White Island Tours responds:
Hi Sylvain,
Thank you for taking the time to post your review. We're happy to hear that you enjoyed your tour of White Island with us! Cheers!
R. Damen
Ranking: 9/10
Great tour! one of the highlights of our holiday. I could not hear the information from the skipper on the upper dek of the Peejay, the noice of the engines, the wind etc. was too loud and the volume too low. The bot, lunch and guides were perfect.
White Island Tours responds:
Hi R. Damen,
Thank you for taking the time to post your review! We're thrilled you had such a great time visiting White Island with us and that it was one of the highlights of your holiday!
Anais Roux
Ranking: 10/10
Amazing - another world! Magnificent colours.
White Island Tours responds:
Hi Anais Roux,
Thank you for taking the time to post your review. We agree, White Island truly does feel like another world!!
It was great to hear you enjoyed your tour with us - thank you kindly for the 10/10!
Michelle Smit
Ranking: 10/10
We had read about this trip before we left home. It got great reviews which we can only endorse. It was an incredible experience! How many people can say they have walked on an active volcano?!
The company was very professional and staff extremely friendly and helpful, allowing us to change our booking depending on the weather, rang us when they said to confirm the times, The lunch pack was generous and tasty.
The boat trip was great and the guided walk on the island was amazing!! Most importantly, our guide Hayden was excellent, knowledgeable, informative and personable.
It was the highlight of our trip to NZ.
White Island Tours responds:
Hi Michelle,
We're so pleased that you had such a great time visiting White Island with us. It was particularly pleasing to hear that you found our staff to be so helpful, accommodating and knowledgeable! Visiting White Island is a truly unique experience, one that we were so pleased we got to share with you.
Thank you for the kind review and recommendation - we hope you enjoyed the rest of your travels!
Luisa and Hannes
Ranking: 9/10
Awesome! Lots of dolphins on our 1.5 hour boat trip to White Island. Great experience to walk over an active volcano. Paradise to take photos! For $200 per person lunch should be better!
White Island Tours responds:
Hi Luisa and Hannes, it was great to hear that you had such an enjoyable time visiting White Island with us, taking in the abundant marine life along the way.
We thank you for your feedback on the lunches. We realise that everyone has different tastes in food and have developed a packed lunch that is suitable (and hopefully enjoyed) by the majority. You may have noticed that it is fully vegetarian and also contains a number of components so that people are able to pick and choose the bits that they like from it. Unfortunately, the logistics of serving lunch 49km out to sea at an active volcano do limit us a little. For those that do want to add to their food options, we have a great selection of food in our café that can be purchased before the tour and taken aboard. Thanks again for visiting us and we hope to see you again in the future.
Chloe Guerillot
Ranking: 9/10
Really nice experience, can walk close to the crater. Really impressive.
White Island Tours responds:
Hi Chloe,
Thank you for taking the time to leave your review. It was great to hear that you found the tour to White Island to be so impressive. We hope you enjoyed the rest of your visit to Whakatane and travels.
Signe Broedbaek
Ranking: 7/10
White Island was beautiful and the trip out there was too. We stopped two times to watch dolphins.
White Island Tours responds:
Thank you for your review - we're glad you enjoyed your visit to White Island.
Anna Jungclaus
Ranking: 9/10
We had a good (was a bit seasick) time on the boat, while watching dolphins and on the island itself. The crew was very friendly and helpful and also the guide was pretty nice.
White Island Tours responds:
Hi Anna, thank you for taking the time to review your tour with us. Sorry to hear that you were a little seasick but happy that you enjoyed your day with us!
Florian Bisault
Ranking: 7/10
Amazing volcano in the middle of the ocean. The way in might be hard if the waves are big, but totally worth it. Guides are going fast but take time to enjoy.
White Island Tours responds:
Hi Florian, thank you for visiting White Island with us and thank you for taking the time to leave a review.
Luca Staudt
Ranking: 8/10
Kinda expensive, which is the only down point to it. You definitely get a big package for the money. Walking the island felt pretty surreal, so cool! The team took good care and was really fun and you get a lunch package.
White Island Tours responds:
Hi Luca, thank you for leaving a review. We're glad you agree that the tour is good value for money despite the cost.
Gesa Roemer
Ranking: 8/10
Nice thing to do but quite expensive. Boat trip is really long but great chance to see dolphins (sometimes even whales).
elena salimzhanova
Ranking: 10/10
It's was unforgettable experience and you will never forget it
Petra Fragner
Ranking: 10/10
Standing in the crater of an active volcano - a once in a lifetime experience!
Niclas Ullno
Ranking: 8/10
Feels like you are on another planet.
Tamara
Ranking: 7/10
Amazing nature with a nice little boat trip, but it was really expensive and our guide was talking in a bored way.
Malina
Ranking: 10/10
A good camera is a must have when doing this tour.
Koehler Ute
Ranking: 10/10
Expressive! Awesome, cool Tour, best ever ! Dort Miss it.
Jakub Trojanek
Ranking: 8/10
Nice trip to a natural volcanic island. From Whakatane reached by boat (3 hours return), approximately 2 hours spent walking on the island with a guide. Pretty bad smell mostly, worth it.
Emilie Normand
Ranking: 7/10
It was nice discovering the island but the company said the tour included the dolphins to watch but we only saw two dolphins in the distance. So it was expensive just to see the island.
Emma Keegan
Ranking: 7/10
Had a good time, a little pricey though.
I have to admit I thought I was going to see burning hot lava :) haha shows how much I know about marine volcanoes lol
An enjoyable boat ride there and information provided was interesting.
A nice walk around island and talk by guides.
Very smelly due to sulphur (stirred up my asthma quite a bit)
A good experience though.
Christopher Buch Madsen
Ranking: 8/10
It was awesome, we were sailed to and guided on White Island, the guides were amazing but I feel like they could have shown us more.
Phil Bromby
Ranking: 9/10
Good informative guides, excellent venue. Very different lunch provided plus sick bags and flannels!
Alex
Ranking: 8/10
Only marked down because it's very expensive and there are definitely times to avoid doing this trip. If you get the right day, then even at the high price this rates as one of the best day trips you can have in this part of the country. Don't go after (or during) windy days or rough seas as the long boat ride becomes a misery with your fellow seasick companions. Best time to go is on a calm sunny day in December through Jan and early Feb following days of settled weather. At this time of year you'll be unlucky not to see flying fish, dolphin, schooling fish, have a swim off the boat at the island, and of course White Island is at its best. If you're lucky you'll also see pilot whales, orca, bottlenose dolphin, and be exhausted (don't plan to travel far afterwards) after a day in the sun and salt air.
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Tobias Thull
Ranking: 7/10
Really nice views, perfect weather, awesome experience. Price is definitely too high.
Daryl
Ranking: 8/10
White Island is a very interesting active volcano. I enjoyed seeing it. The boat ride is long. You spend more time on the boat than on the island. I would have enjoyed more time in the island, not the tour company's fault though.
Mathias Butterlin
Ranking: 8/10
Nice trip in and around White Island. We've seen dolphins and sharks on the sea. A little bit expensive but awesome!!
Nelle Dutilleur
Ranking: 10/10
Just amazing! I'm really happy that i did this trip. The walk on the volcano was very interesting.
Bert Pubeg
Ranking: 9/10
all fine, impressive scenery. a bit to expensive. saw dolphins, pilot whales, sharks. felt like very small creatures on the volcano island.
Henzen
Ranking: 9/10
Expensive.
Lucie
Ranking: 9/10
Very nice trip. Tour on the island itself very interesting. Enough time on the island. Good lunch provided.
Ralf Glaser
Ranking: 7/10
One day tour by boat to White Island. Interesting, lunch and cold drinks, a lot of information, nice boat. Too expensive.
Roy Barton
Ranking: 9/10
Trip to While Island Volcano - incredible experience. Transfer to White Island from boat by rubber dinghy. Dolphins/flying fish in the bay.
Brian Livesey
Ranking: 9/10
Very well organised tour of one of natures weirdest places; excellent equipment and attentive staff, lots of sweets to suck to beat the fumes.
Merlyn
Ranking: 8/10
Well organised, very special, lunch included but too small, very bumpy boat trip.
Suzanne van Kol
Ranking: 8/10
Nice tour with good explanations of White Island. Lunch included.
kiwifrenchy
Ranking: 10/10
When you wanna see the best of the country, you have to get off the beaten track ! White Island is not for everyone and that's why it's awesome ! Such an impressive volcano and so much activity going on ! Never seen so bright yellow sulfur chimney ! Would highly recommend it !
Sarah and Soren
Ranking: 10/10
Awesome tour to the volcanic island. Very interesting to see it all so close up!
C
Ranking: 10/10
Amazing, Got to do it. This is one of those adventures that you are part of. The boat trip over is lovely. But walking around an active volcano is like being on the moon. I loved the colours, the smells, the sights. Tour leader very good. MUST DO
_mel_
Ranking: 9/10
although the trip is pretty expensive, its recommendable! it is a unique experience to walk on an active volcano and we've been well guided; peejay-staff did a good job! and as bonus, we also saw dolfins during the boat-trip :-)
Franzi & Tobi
Ranking: 10/10
Fantastic trip, interesting. Nice tour guides and dolphin watching and eating and drinking.
R Tearle
Ranking: 10/10
Brilliant. Value for money. Staff brilliant. Great day out and great cafe and coffee!
GenH
Ranking: 10/10
1 word, AWESOME
tip: We used the pick-up service from Rotorua (NZD 50 pp)
Nathalie
Ranking: 10/10
Expensive but unique experience on an active volcano island! (Only one company goes).
Ven
Ranking: 9/10
Good service, beautiful scenery, expensive.
Birgette Weiner
Ranking: 9/10
Good guidance, good history.
Sarah Luijckx
Ranking: 1/10
We wanted to do a trip to the Island nearby Whakatane. When we arrived at the office they told us it was cancelled because of the weather. They should have phoned us earlier, so we wouldn't have come all the way from Opotiki.
White Island Tours responds:
Due to the weather dependency of our tours we have a process whereby all passengers are contacted the night before their tour to confirm whether the tour is going ahead or not. On some occasions our skippers are unable to make a decision until the morning of departure in which case we contact all passengers from 8am onwards to advise if the trip is proceeding or has been cancelled. Unfortunately it appears that on this occasion the call was not received and for this we offer our sincere apologies.
Alan Jeffery
Ranking: 7/10
Adventurous trip. The guided tour on White Island was good. Lunch on the boat could have been improved.
Bottcher
Ranking: 10/10
We have also seeing so much dolphins.
Karen Phillips
Ranking: 9/10
Day trip out to White Island which is a volcanic Island. Very very interesting. We walked around out there, the guide was a cracker. Got to see dolphins as a bonus.
John Simpson
Ranking: 9/10
Good day trip with informative guides and time for lunch and a quick swim before coming back.
Tim Van Nispen
Ranking: 9/10
Excellent tour to the White Island by boat. I would recommend this to anyone!! Great knowledgable staff and overall a fantastic day.
Michelle Booty
Ranking: 8/10
Had a great day, the 2 guides were very knowledgable and we even saw dolphins whilst travelling to the Island, which was a bonus.
Jerven and Kim
Ranking: 10/10
Very good, organised, good lunch, spent some time with dolphins. Just a perfect day.
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Sue & Graham Mullin
Ranking: 10/10
Very professional boat tour. Unforgettable experience. Quality lunch provided. Informative commentary - unique in the world.
Nadia Husain
Ranking: 7/10
Wonderful experience! Epic active marine volcano with boat ride included. Knowledgable crew and guide. The price was a bit steep for what it was, but we would still recommend it.
Yvonne German
Ranking: 9/10
Good guides - boat trip with possibility of dolphins and seals highly - unique island.
Gerry Donoghue
Ranking: 10/10
Fantastic day out to White Island.
Matt Roper
Ranking: 10/10
Fantastic, unique experience to visit New Zealand's most active marine volcano. Not cheap but well worth the experience and guided tour is highly informative.
Dietmar Gans
Ranking: 10/10
Best tour ever, forget all the other thermal and volcanic stuff around Roturua
Chris Glasg
Ranking: 10/10
Amazing day out on the volcano with informative commentary from the guides. Boat chased by dolphins both ways, outstanding!
X Otte
Ranking: 10/10
Fantastic.
Jamie Hallifax
Ranking: 9/10
Although quite expensive, its a pretty inique experience. The guides were great and the tour around the volcanoes really interesting and impressive. Also saw dolphins and gannet colonieson the boat trip.
Paul Ritchie
Ranking: 10/10
Boat trip and guided tour of the island worth every cent. Excellent staff on boat.
Susann Koschmeider
Ranking: 10/10
Excellent tour on White Island - very knowledgable staff very good service - friendly and welcoming staff - lunch included it is well worth it! this was an unforgetable experience.
Tim Beuzeval
Ranking: 9/10
If you're remotely interested in volcanoes this is a well managed and guided tour to a fascinating world!! Guides extremely knowledgeable and friendly. Get scarily close to volcanic activity. Think we were lucky with a relatively smooth crossing.
Solveig Mosinski
Ranking: 10/10
-Good organisation.
-2 guides per group (small groups!)
-Interesting conducted tour
Wim Put
Ranking: 9/10
Don't leave NZ without making this tour. Magnificient!
Val and Barnie Weir
Ranking: 10/10
Did White Island Trip
mj111
Ranking: 10/10
What an awesome day! This is the best thing I have done so far in NZ. The PeeJay crew were super helpful and kept us feeling safe even while walking in the crater of an active volcano (WOW!). Beautiful boat, great lunch, can't fault the trip. Plus to top it off we got to see heaps of dolphins on the way back.
DebbieM
Ranking: 5/10
While I enjoyed the trip to White Island I was disappointed at this tours lack of even an attempt to try to cater for my partner and I.
We are both vegan, and were told to bring our own lunch even though we still had to pay the same price as everybody else.
How hard is it to make a lettuce/tomato/hummous sandwich?
I would have appreciated even a $10 discount since we had to go to the supermarket and buy our own food.
This trip isn't cheap and I expected better.
There are a lot of vegans around these days, it's perhaps time to look into catering for everybody - and not discriminating against those of us who don't eat animal products.
Phillip Reade
Ranking: 10/10
I had the privilige of taking a school group to the Island. What a life changing experience. The Island was amazing. The children have not stopped talking about their experience there. The boat was very professional and clean. The service exceeded our expectations. A big thankyou to Paul, Issac and Nick for taking good care of us and providing us with a opportunity like no other. These children will never forget this trip. Well worth every second.!!!!
discerner
Ranking: 10/10
I still cant get over that place
great tour!!!!
Ralph Boese
Ranking: 7/10
Good trip but bad information in case of delay departing from harbour in the morning. We had to wait 1hr before starting without clear information of the problem.
White Island Tours responds:
Hi Ralph,
Many thanks for your review, good to hear you enjoyed the trip, disappointing our communication about delays to departure let us down. If you could email through the date you came with us I can investigate further.....cheers, Tanya and the PJ Crew
martinat
Ranking: 10/10
Boat trip, it's only possible if the weather conditions are well. If not, then the trip will be canceled.
MichaelS1
Ranking: 9/10
Very good guided tours of volcanic activety. Very exciting but not dangerous.
Becky Fairweather
Ranking: 10/10
Great trip, Excellent crew! Looked after me so well when I got sea sick, and I was only one of about 60 passengers! Tour was great, Guide was very knowledgeable! Definately worth taking a day to do this tour!
ReneeA
Ranking: 9/10
Be on a live volcano is a special experience. I really loved it.
David
Ranking: 10/10
Very nice trip ! Good explanations and the scenery is just amazing ! Worth the money !
Mike
Ranking: 9/10
White Island tour from Whakatane. Very professional guides on Island and on boat.
StefanieGermany
Ranking: 9/10
Patient staff with the seasick passengers. Groups up to 5 people with 2 guides. Alot of background knowledge. Good lunch. Unfortantly, not hot drinks, maybe due to the rough sea at this day.
Veronika
Ranking: 9/10
Amazing trip. Nice & thoroughly staff.
Lorna
Ranking: 8/10
If only weather was a bit less windy, would have been able to stay out on deck. Memorable exchanges from boat in inflatable craft to island!!
Bruce
Ranking: 10/10
Excellent tour, very good crew. Exciting trip, good, well equipped boat.
Congratulations White Island Tours
Top Ranked NZ Awards 2016 Volcanic & Geothermal Attractions Winner
Sandra
Ranking: 10/10
Amazing tour and nice people.
Heidi
Ranking: 7/10
Tour on the island itself was a bit too long; expensive but very exciting.
Philipp
Ranking: 9/10
White Island is very impressive. Guides did great - gave lots of info. You really look on an active volcano, surrounded by boiling mud & sulphur clouds & steam.
Simon
Ranking: 9/10
Very good, explanantion excellent.
Kathryn
Ranking: 8/10
Friendly & knowledgeable. Boat in good condition. Filling lunch. White Island is well worth a look.
Barbara
Ranking: 9/10
Absolutely amazing day on live volcano - definitely worth the money.
Joachim
Ranking: 10/10
Everything's very good, spend 1/2 hour more.
Ans
Ranking: 7/10
Very expensive! Safe, good lunch & soup.
Minder
Ranking: 10/10
White Island Tour. Excellent support and explanation.
Evi
Ranking: 7/10
Luxurious trip. Soup and lunch are simple but very good and tasty. Safe trips. The only reason for the lower ranking is the price which is difficult for backpackers like us to pay.
Ann Maree
Ranking: 9/10
Awesome trip. Staff were excellent in really trying weather conditions and ensured safety and comfort of all. White island was most interesting and the guides really knew their stuff. Well done guys.
Trine
Ranking: 9/10
Absolutely fantastic day - with a very good guide.
Carina Korn
Ranking: 10/10
Great experience and cool guides.
Christian
Ranking: 7/10
A nice walk around the White Island Volcano
Nick
Ranking: 10/10
Awesome trip, great staff, really interesting and different experience - It's not every day that you have to wear a gas mask!
Alan Bellerby
Ranking: 10/10
Excellent - well organised, especially as they picked us up from Rotorua. Slick operation.
Robert
Ranking: 4/10
Nice walk but the boat ride was just too long.
Elise
Ranking: 10/10
Professional and friendly guides. Remember to bring appropriate footwear!
Fung
Ranking: 8/10
What a lovely day out.
Peter Aston
Ranking: 9/10
Very professional and well organised operation. Super safety conscious and their product knowledge was second to none.
Tony Wicks
Ranking: 8/10
Quite expensive but well worth the money. Boat ride a bit rocky but really good.
Sue
Ranking: 8/10
An interesting and enjoyable day.
Carla
Ranking: 9/10
Worth every cent!
Melissa Steedman
Ranking: 9/10
Really good! Except we got a bit sea sick.
Tim
Ranking: 9/10
Good value for money. Long day, unlike anything I've ever seen. Bonus good weather.
Mary
Ranking: 10/10
Beautiful. Sen lots of dolphins. Really clean boat, friendly staff and a good lunch
Agnes
Ranking: 9/10
Good lunches, drinks etc. You get really close to the volcano - saw dolphins!!
Cohen
Ranking: 9/10
Got seasick but staff were really friendly. Great service. $150 but worth it. White Island itself is awesome.
John
Ranking: 8/10
Magical experience.
Frauke
Ranking: 7/10
Good lunch, Good Guide. Expensive.