Volcano sights in Pacific
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Yasur Volcano
This active volcano is one of the world's most accessible. In fact, 4WD vehicles can get to within 150m of the crater rim. Mt Yasur's ash-laden smoke has smothered the vegetation, reducing the landscape to an alien prehistoric desert, with the gaunt shapes of surviving pandanus palms adding to the surrealistic view.
The level of activity within Yasur fluctuates between dangerous and relatively calm, but when it's hot it's hot. Along the path to the crater rim, there are whiffs of sulphur and whooshing, roaring noises. Ahead is a silhouette of people on the rim, golden fireworks behind them. Then you're looking into a dark central crater where three vents take it in turns…
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Mt Lamington
The 1585m peak of Mt Lamington is clearly visible from Popondetta. The mountain still shakes and puffs a little and local residents paid no attention to a slight increase in activity in 1951. However when the mountainside suddenly blew out and a cloud of super-heated gases rushed down, about 3000 people died and 8000 were left homeless. It is estimated the temperature stood near 200°C for about 90 seconds, and the gas cloud rolled down at over 300km/h.
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Mt Eden (Maungawhau)
From the top of Auckland’s highest volcanic cone (196m) the entire isthmus and both harbours are laid bare. The symmetrical crater (50m deep) is known as Te Ipu Kai a Mataaho (the Food Bowl of Mataaho, the god of things hidden in the ground) and is highly tapu (sacred); do not enter it, but feel free to explore the remainder of the mountain. The remains of pa terraces and storage pits are clearly visible.
You can drive to the very top or you can join the legions of fitness freaks jogging or trudging up. Tour buses are banned from the summit, but shuttles will transport infirm passengers to the top from the car park on the lower slopes.
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Mt Taranaki/Egmont
The massive cone of 2518m (8310ft) Taranaki, a dormant volcano that resembles Japan's Mt Fuji, dominates the surrounding region. Geologically, it is the youngest of three large volcanoes, including Kaitake and Pouakai, on the same fault line. Its last eruption was 350 years ago, though experts predict another one soon.
Mt Taranaki was supremely sacred to the Maoris, both as a burial site for chiefs and as a hide-out in times of danger.
According to legend, Taranaki was once a part of the tribe of volcanoes at Tongariro, until he left hurriedly after Tongariro caught him with the beautiful Pihanga, the volcano near Lake Taupo who was Tongariro's lover. The defeated…
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Mt Lamanai
Fergusson is the largest island in the group and the highest peak is 2073m, with two other lower ranges from which the island's many rivers and streams flow. It is notable for its hot springs, bubbling mud pools, spouting geysers and extinct volcanoes. The hike from Warluma to the caldera of Mt Lamanai takes about 1½ hours and affords fantastic views over an immense crater. Take a local guide (ask around to arrange for one).
Particularly active thermal springs can be found at Deidei, opposite the main town of Salamo.
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Talasea
Talasea is an active volcanic region set in a dramatic landscape. Lake Dakataua, at the tip, was formed in a colossal eruption in 1884. It's definitely worth seeing two WWII plane wrecks that lie partially disintegrated in the jungle near Talasea. There's a Mitchell B-25 Bomber and a Lockheed Vega Ventura - an impressive sight. As public transport is virtually non-existent, your best bet to visit Talasea and the Willaumez Peninsula is to arrange a tour through the Walindi Plantation Resort.
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Kolombangara
A perfect cone-shaped volcano that rises to 1770m, Kolombangara looms majestically on the horizon, due east of Ghizo island. It's a two-day hike to the top and back. It rises from a 1km-wide coastal plain through flat-topped ridges and increasingly steep escarpments to the rugged crater rim of Mt Veve. Logging has been a major activity, with Ringgi being the main settlement, on the south coast.
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Mt Balbi
A good base, Wakunai is where you can arrange a three-day trek to Mt Balbi (2685m), or follow the Nooma Nooma track that crosses the island to Torokina, on the west coast (count on a three-day minimum). From Mt Balbi, you can see the active Mt Bagana (1730m). In Wakunai, your best source of information is Suzie Akoitai.
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Karkar Volcano
The Karkar Volcano erupted violently in 1974 and again in 1979, killing two vulcanologists. It takes 12 hours return to climb the crater (1831m); bring plenty of sunscreen to combat the heat that bounces off the bare basalt and seek permission from the villagers as the crater has religious significance.
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North Head
North Head was a Maori pa and is still a fortress of sorts, with the navy maintaining a presence. It's riddled with tunnels; started at the end of the 19th century in response to the Russian threat and they were extended during WWI and WWII.
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Manam Island
In 2004 the Manam Island volcano erupted displacing 6000 people who fled to the safety of the mainland. Only 2000 or so have returned. It is possible to visit the still-smoking island and explore the carnage. Anua Negu Lodge can arrange a speed boat to run you there and back.
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Mt Victoria
Mt Victoria was a Maori pa and is still a fortress of sorts, with the navy maintaining a presence.
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Hoskins
The picturesquely located 'major' airport of WNB is 40km east of Kimbe. There are a number of forested volcanoes surrounding town, including the active Mt Pago. Located a short distance inland, at Koimumu, there's an active geyser field.
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Simbo island
Definitely worth a visit is Simbo island for its megapode hatcheries and its volcano that can easily be climbed. There's also a sulphur-covered crater lake.
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Mt Victoria & North Head
Mt Victoria and North Head were Maori pa and they remain fortresses of sorts, with the navy maintaining a presence. Both have gun embankments and North Head is riddled with tunnels, dug at the end of the 19th century in response to the Russian threat, and extended during WWI and WWII. The gates are locked at night, but that’s never stopped teenagers from jumping the fence and terrifying themselves on subterranean explorations. Between the two, Cambria Reserve stands on the remains of a third volcanic cone that was largely quarried away.
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Mt Tongariro
The Red Crater of Mt Tongariro (1968m) last erupted in 1926. This ancient but still active volcano has coloured lakes dotting its uneven summit. The Tongariro Alpine Crossing, a magnificent walk, passes beside the lakes, right through several craters, and down through lush native forest.
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Mt Ruapehu
The multipeaked summit of Ruapehu (2797m) is the highest and most active of the park’s volcanoes, and the centrepiece of the national park, with Whakapapa Village (pronounced ‘fa-ka-pa-pa’), numerous walking tracks and three ski fields on its slopes.
The name means 'pit of sound', a reference to its regular eruptions. It began erupting over 250,000 years ago and remains active today, with major eruptions roughly every 50 years. During the spectacular 1995 eruptions, Ruapehu spurted volcanic rock and cloaked the area in clouds of ash and steam. From June to September the following year the mountain rumbled, groaned and thrust ash clouds high into the sky,…
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Mt Ngauruhoe
Much younger than the other two volcanoes, it is estimated that Ngauruhoe (2287m) formed in the last 2500 years. In contrast to the others, which have multiple vents, Ngauruhoe is a conical, single-vent volcano with perfectly symmetrical slopes – which is the reason that it was chosen to star as Mt Doom in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings. It can be climbed in summer, but in winter (under snow) this steep climb is only for experienced mountaineers.
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Mt Fox
In the Girringun National Park is the dormant volcanic peak of Mt Fox, with its well-formed crater. A short scramble will allow you to peer over the edge; the 160m-long path is neither marked nor maintained, and so is reserved only for fit and experienced walkers (allow an hour). Access is via unsealed roads and a 4WD is recommended in the wet season.
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