Opotiki NZ (north island)

We really didnt expect the east coast to be so different, its like the forgotton world, its more or less untouched...lovely!!! Arrived at yet again another great place, we had the backpackers to ourselves, got a room that overlooked the beach and spent the afternoon out on the balcony relaxing and soaking up much needed sun. Was really peaceful the only noise to be heard was the sea!
Yesterday we went to White Island, its the only active marine volcano in NZ! We took a 90min boat trip across with a small group! We could see the smoke billowing out from a distance and when we finally arrived the smell was unbearable, we all got given hard hats and gas masks!! It was the sulphur that smelt, it was like rotten eggs!! We was able to walk around in the crater, we really didnt expect to get so close..it was warm and bits of the ground was bubbling and smoking!! There was a smaller crater that was filled with hot ash and it was bubbling and spluttering all over! There was also a lake, it was hard to see it properly as the smoke was everywhere, but you could feel the heat!! Walking around in the crater felt really eerie, it was like nothing we have seen before! Quite a while ago, some people tried to mine on the volcano but unfortunatly didnt survive a landslide, some of the machinery and part of the building is still there! On the outersides of the volcano there is a Gannet colony and some bush life, but nothing atall on the inside, no life!
On the way to Rotorua, we stopped in Whakatane for a look around, busy little place...very touristy, lots of shops and people hurrying around, no christmas decs anywhere to be seen though, also no carols or cheesy christmas songs??? Feels weird!!