|
|  |
Aerius Helicopters - Tuhua - Mayor Island
|
| Air Tour
-
Mount Maunganui
|
More Information and Bookings
|
Take this scenic flight to perhaps New Zealands most unusual volcanoes. This Shield Volcano has well marked walking tracks that lead to the lakes and hot spring through the impressive pohutukawa forest. A wildlife refuge that is home to many native birds including the elusive Kiwi- nectar-feeding bellbirds and tui, wood pigeons, morepork, fantail, kaka (brown parrot), grey warbler, waxeye, kingfisher and, soaring on the thermals, the harrier hawk.
The island is considered special by Maori the indigenous people of Aotearoa (New Zealand) partly because of the presence of black obsidian
A volcanic glass created by the rapid cooling of silica-rich lava, obsidian was prized by early Maori for cutting and scraping tools and weapons and has been found at Maori occupation sites as far afield as Tiwai Pt in the south to the Kermadec islands in the north. The obsidian was called Tuhua by Maori who called the island by the same name.
The name Tuhua has a double significance: it applies to the locality itself and also to its glassy black obsidian. Tuhua was the ancient name for Me'etia Island in the traditional homeland of Hawaiki, which was also a source of obsidian.
Sampling on Tuhua is prohibited since the island is tribal land and hence privately owned. In addition, the obsidian is sacred to the Maoris.
The most striking feature of Tuhua’s volcanic history is the diversity of eruption types. Virtually every known style of volcanic eruption is known from this small volcano. These eruptions have included: Hawaiian fire-fountaining, Strombolian explosions, and Plinian falls and ignimbrite.
The most recent lava flows have been dated at between 500 and 1,000 years old and has erupted on average at least once every 3000 years for the last 130 000 years.
It is the responsibility of every visitor to follow the quarantine restrictions to help keep Tuhua pest-free.
The only permitted landing site is South East Bay.
Minimum of 2 people
Departs Mt Manuganui
More Information
• Date to: 31/12/08
• Children are welcome
• Children's age is under 12 years old
• Infants up to 4 months not catered for
|
Address
900 State Highway 2,
R D 6.
Te Puke.
New Zealand
|
Click Here for More Information and Bookings
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Sebel Trinity Wharf Tauranga - Hotel - City.
Brilliantly positioned in the sunny Bay of Plenty, the Sebel Trinity Wharf Tauranga hotel offers the very best in...
WM Body Therapy Clinic - Health and Beauty - Mt Maunganui.
Our Bali style house nestled in the relaxed village style atmosphere of Mount Maunganui, is the perfect location to...
