Capeview Cottage is a purpose built two bedroom cottage situated amongst the orchard of kiwi fruit and facing the beautiful East Cape. Brian and Kathleen built the cottages with one goal in mind, to offer visitors to Opitiki luxury, peace and tranquillity. They have definitely achieved this.
The cottage has been built and furnished mostly from New Zealand products and workmanship to provide a feeling of natural beauty and a relaxed stay. The cottage screams luxurious as you tread across the wool carpet, spread out in the super king sized beds, and cook up a feast in the fully equipped and spacious kitchen.
There is an outside wooden hot tub, in which you can relax in and soak up the magnificent views down to the beach of East Cape. The remote and private cottage gives off no light pollution, so the hot tub is the perfect place for star gazing.
For more information on the cottage and prices please visit Capeview's website at: www.capeview.co.nz
White Island Tours
White Island is a large submarine volcano that is over 150 000 years old and New Zealand's most active volcano. Lying 49km north of Whakatane in the Bay of Plenty, it is possible to visit this magnificent island as a tourist and witness its remarkable features first hand. In 1914 the western rim of the volcano's crater collapsed, unleashing a volcanic landslide, which killed 10 men who were working on the island as sulphur miners. Since 1967 scientists have closely monitored activity on the island. The last eruption occurred 10 years ago in the year 2000.
Today it is possible to visit White Island as a tourist with White Island Tours and witness its remarkable features first hand. Our voyage started with a powerful cruiser, which crossed the 50 kms of open sea to White Island in a mere 80 minutes. At a cruising speed of 19 knots, Whakatane's picturesque cliff backdrop and river mouth swiftly recede into the distance. Soon we were passing Whale Island, and then the first sightings of White Island were made, glowering low on the horizon.
The staff were fantastic, the briefing on board the craft covered everything I needed to know about safety once on the Island and the ecosystem we were about to enter into. Equipped with a hard hat and gas mask we clambered ashore via the vessel's large inflatable. Our expert guide, Isaac provided a safety briefing and ground rules, and then it was time to get up-close-and-personal with an active volcano.
The landscape which unfolds is nothing short of amazing. Standing amid the plumes of ash and steam being released by a volcano that could erupt at any minute makes you feel as though you are on another planet. I almost expected to see an alien.
Sticking strictly to the worn track, we would our way between giant mounds of ash and rock. Isaac's knowledge of the island's history and ecosystem was very abundant and well delivered. Smaller 'pressure mounds' were carefully avoided because their brittle crusts hide potentially scalding water or mud. Above, multi-hued crater walls tower high into the sky and around, magma heated water boils and mud pools bubble.
After a steady climb, we reached the island's active crater and gazed down into the fearsome seeting acid lake some 25 metres below.
Our tour concluded with one of the highlights of the day- the decaying remains of the last ill-fated sulphur mining venture on the island, which folded in 1933. Being guided through the ruins of the plant, while receiving an explanation of its workings and demise of the mining operations was mind blowing.
Once back on board the vessel an excellent lunch and refreshments was served. The boat was silenced while everyone enjoyed their lunch with White Island in the background. Before lunch some of the Europeans braved the cold and dived into the pristine water surrounding White Island (obviously the water is much colder where they come from unlike Queensland's waters!).
If you thought the day couldn't get much better think again. On the way back we encountered a pod of about 100 or more bottle nose dolphins, amongst which were a few false killer whales. The captain brought the vessel to a halt to allow a close up observation of these playful dolphins as they plunged themselves high into the air. This was definitely a highlight of the day. I have never seen so many dolphins together at one time, it really was incredible.
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