There are only a few places in the Pacific - not to say the world - where you can don your pack and tramping boots and get really, thrillingly up close and personal with an active volcano, and New Zealand's North Island is one of them. Glenys Robertson's guide book tells you all you need to know about getting out and about among nature's explosive landscapes, whether you're after an easy family stroll beside a volcanic lake, a kayak voyage through geothermally heated waters, a multi-day tramp through a lava-strewn landscape or a heart-hammering alpine scramble to a conical peak with a 360-degree view. Contact numbers and addresses of visitor centres and tour operators are included, along with track times, maps and other essential details.