White Island (Whakaari) lies 50 kilometres off Whakatane on New Zealand's beautiful east coast of the North Island. It is New Zealand's most active volcano and was named by Captain Cook who thought it apt for an island smothered in white clouds of steam. White Island is small - just over 300 hectares - and rises 321 metres out of the sea. It last erupted in 1981 and visitors report regular rumblings and active steam vents.