At this time of great sadness, the team at Volcanic Air extend their condolences to all affected by this horrific tragedy.
We appreciate your patience while we provide support to our pilot and passengers who were caught in the eruption, and to our pilots who assisted in the rescue of people from the island immediately after the eruption. We wish to extend our gratitude for the overwhelming support we have received from industry, local operators and the wider community. Volcanic Air has resumed normal flight operations, with the exception of Whakaari/White island, as the New Zealand Police have imposed a ‘No Fly’ zone over this area. Flights to Whakaari/White Island have been suspended. For those who have tours booked to the island, we can accommodate with alternative itineraries. As an alternative to the White Island tours, we have reintroduced our popular Thermal Explorer by Helicopter, which is our most popular Floatplane tour.
For more information, please contact us at info@volcanicair.co.nz or call +64 7 348 9984.
Based on the shores of Lake Rotorua, Volcanic Air offers the most comprehensive range of scenic flights and air tours in the region. Established in 1992, we have carried over 100,000 satisfied customers to experience our local volcanoes, geothermal reserves and lakes district and from both the air and the ground. Volcanic Air operate a mixed fleet of both helicopters and Rotorua’s only floatplanes. The versatility of these aircraft allows us to visit remote destinations that are hard to reach by other means. Our region is unique, and the diversity of its landscape is quite remarkable. We combine spectacular scenery with informative and interesting commentaries about an area that is considered as the cultural heart of New Zealand.
Our key destinations include New Zealand’s only permanently active volcano, White Island, where we hold one of the few concessions to explore this marvel of nature. Closer to home, Mount Tarawera is the site of the largest eruption in New Zealand’s living memory. Standing on Mount Tarawera offers a privileged view of spectacular craters and domes formed by the eruption. Further south, we land at the hidden valley of Orakei Korako, to experience stunning scenery and fascinating geothermal activity. Key highlights also include aerial views of Rotorua’s vibrant geothermal reserves like Waimangu and Wai-O-Tapu, as well as the area’s lakes district.
We did the White Island Helicopter trip with guided island tour and it was amazing. The pilot was very knowledgeable (and personable which makes it all the more enjoyable); he... read more talked about the country and various lakes we flew over, Including the kiwi fruit farms,...More
Susan R
We had a ‘once in a lifetime’ experience on Saturday 7 December. The crew of Ryan and Sam provided us with a day we will never forget. The entire experience... read more was professional and personal and the pilots were amazing. It was with some shock that...More
Me and my partner went on the float plane named otter, it was our first time ever in a plane we've never been in any kind of aircraft! I am... read more super glad that our first plane ride was with Volcanic Air!! We got to see...More
We had a fantastic time stepping into an active volcano this Easter, what an awesome experience! The smell of sulphur can be uncomfortable, we were given masks and helmets to... read more use. We can see bubbling from the ground. It was such a beautiful day and...More
lcho2015
For my husband's birthday, I booked a helicopter ride to White Island on Volcanic Air. They made booking super easy, setting expectations up front regarding what to bring. When we... read more arrived, the staff took great care of us making sure we were prepared for our...More
ChanLite
A very unique experience! Sarah and the team were extremely helpful and accomodating in helping us to reschedule our trip due to bad weather. Well worth the wait and the... read more experience. Matt our guide was very knowledgeable and very helpful at taking photos of us...More
Our aircraft are maintained to the highest standard and are flown by experienced pilots. All of our pilots also have an intimate knowledge of the local area. Volcanic Air is approved by the New Zealand Civil Aviation authority and independently accessed via a stringent Quality Assurance Program. We are also Qualmark Gold accredited.