This is the most continuously active of New Zealand's volcanoes. The continuous volcanic activity on the island includes boiling springs, mud pools, and steam and gas release. This is puncuated by periods of small to medium eruptions, as in 1998 when ash was received as far as Rotorua. Several tourism companies operate helicopters and launches from Rotorua and Whakatane. White Island is an active volcano.
Hazards exist at all times.
Do not venture on or close to the island without appropriately experienced and qualified guides. Tongariro National Park Tongariro Tongariro National park was created to protect the land encompassed by the three great volcanoes Tongariro, Ngaruhoe and Ruapehu. On Tongariro current volcanic activity is limited to geothermal features such as warm ground, steam and gas emissions, and hot springs. The steam plume is usually easily visible from quite a long way, highways 46 and 47 in particular. However visitors are asked to maintain the springs' tapu, or sacredness, by not visiting them.