Describe your perfect day exploring VNP and its surrounding area

[cruisin'sz]

How would you describe your perfect day exploring VNP and it surrounding area? What's a miss or don't miss? Any areas you'd recommend taking a little extra hike around? All suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[BigGuy25]

While I'm not usually crazy about bus tours, the full day tour that we took to VNP in July was very good. It stopped at the Mauna Loa macadamia nut factory (great samples and ice cream), lunch at the historic Volcano House at the edge of the crater (GREAT views), a stop at the Thurston Lava Tube (must see!), a trip out to the cauldren, and a stop at the museum ... and our guide was very entertaining. We enjoyed the day!

[Spikesgirl]

We spent more time at VNP than its possible to calculate, but one of our 'never miss' things is to take the trail that runs down behinid Volcano House and loops past the crater and then onto the plain in front of the steam vents. It's about 1.7 round trip and takes about 30-45 minutes, depenidng upon how many photos you take. The entrance to behind VH. just take the trail to the right and you will descend into a rain forest and away from all the bustle. For a few minutes, you can imagine that it's just you and Nature there. Early mornings are particularly incredible! It's also a great place to pick ohelo berries (red, almost cranberry like) to toss into Halemaumau (these berries represent one form of Pele's favorite sister and they are often throw into to firepit for good luck)

 

We also love to hike the Kilauea Iki trail, but that's about seven miles round trip and there is some pretty strenuous climbing out of the crater before hiking the three miles back to VH. If you chose to do this, just follow the same path down behind VH, but follow the arrows that will driect you out onto the caldera floor. You will come out at Thuston lava tube.

 

I would reccomend checking out the Jagger Museum, just before Halemaumau, and also taking the time to stop and visit the ranger station across from VH. There is a film that will give you some history on the park as well as updates on Pu'u O'o.

 

The glorious part about the park is that it is self touring and you can really enjoy it just by stopping and reading the placards along the way.

 

Have fun and enjoy some of Pele's most famous handiwork.

 

Charlie

[CC Help Michell]

How would you describe your perfect day exploring VNP and it surrounding area? What's a miss or don't miss? Any areas you'd recommend taking a little extra hike around? All suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

Assuming you are doing this on your own via rental car, I can offer our experience -- we thought our entire day was perfect except for not having enough time to do everything we wanted to! We rented from Thrifty at the Hilo Airport. The Thrifty van wasn't there when we left the ship but the Dollar van was and he took us over because they are sister companies. We'd reserved a standard size car but they were out of them, so they upgraded us to a Lincoln Town Car. :)

 

We left the airport and headed directly for VNP, arriving about 9:00 AM (we brought snacks and things with us from the ship for a picnic during the day). We paid the $10 admission, and stopped first at the Visitor Center. We looked at all the exhibits, talked to the ranger about conditions that day, and viewed the 20 minute film. Then we stopped at Volcano House to see the view from the overlook at the back of the hotel (that was really the first time we could see the crater -- it was pretty breathtaking just to walk out that door and there it was). From there we took Crater Rim Drive counter-clockwise. We stopped by the Sulfur Banks, and then the Steam Vents (short hike here out to the edge of the crater).

 

Then we visited the Jagger Observatory and checked out all the exhibits there, and continued on to the Southwest Rift zone area. We did a little hiking here, then continued on to Halemaumau Crater. Another short hike was necessary here to go out to the overlook on the rim of the crater -- passing steam vents and such all along the way. After that we headed down Chain of Craters Road.

 

About halfway down Chain of Craters there is a picnic area with tables, and trash cans, offering the most amazing views both out toward the ocean and back up toward the volcano. From there we continued down Chain of Craters to where it ends, and hiked out to see the sea arch. Time was getting a bit short on us by then, and we wanted to see the Thurston Lava Tube, so we didn't hike out to the very end of the road where it's blocked by lava. We drove back up Chain of Craters and went to the Lava Tube; we'd brought flashlights and visited the dark side, too. We stopped briefly by the Kilauea Iki overlook -- and wished we had had enough time to do that hike.

 

Then we reluctantly left the park (it was 3:30 PM), stopped by Mauna Loa for mac nut ice cream, and returned the car to the airport. We were back onboard the ship by about 4:30.

 

You asked for miss or don't misses -- I wouldn't have missed anything we did, to be honest, but here's our ranking of our favorite stops in case this helps some:

 

1) drive down Chain of Craters Road

2) hike out to Halemaumau Crater

3) Volcano House view

4) Visitor's Center

5) Lava tube

6/7) Steam Vents/Jagger -- tie here

8) Various other quick stops

Bonus -- Watching the lava DVD we bought at the park that night on the ship!

 

Hope that helps -- have a wonderful day!

[Nancyquilts]

We rent a car. As we go into VNP we use our Golden Age Passport (for old people) and get in free. We go to the Visitor Center, and then across the street to Volcano House to enjoy the view. DH has a new friend from the ship who will walk across the crater with him from Volcano House, and I will pick them up on the other side. That gives me an excuse to go see the art works for sale near the Visitor Center, visit the Jaggar museum, and walk out to the crater on the far side. Then we go to Thurston lava tubes, and to the town of Volcano for lunch. Coming back we will probably stop to see the orchids, or maybe the macademia nut factory, and if we have time, we'll go to Rainbow Falls, on the outskirts of Hilo. Nancy

[whale-watcher]

... here's our ranking of our favorite stops in case this helps some:

 

1) drive down Chain of Craters Road

2) hike out to Halemaumau Crater

3) Volcano House view

4) Visitor's Center

5) Lava tube

6/7) Steam Vents/Jagger -- tie here

8) Various other quick stops

Bonus -- Watching the lava DVD we bought at the park that night on the ship!

 

Hope that helps -- have a wonderful day!

Thanks for the review...we were thinking of a helicopter tour in the am and a quick run through the park in the afternoon, but have decided to spend the entire day in the park instead and take the helicopter tour from kona (even if it is more expensive...)

[sunsetme]

is there time to do VNP and the Puna area if we don't dilly dally?

[beachchick]

is there time to do VNP and the Puna area if we don't dilly dally?

 

No, not really. Even if you just rush around, it's going to be pretty difficult because driving in VNP and in pretty much the whole Puna district is not fast driving. IMO, it's better to choose one and really experience it, really enjoy it, then try to cram it all in with a whirlwind of driving and quick "well, we've seen it; let's go" stops.

 

beachchick

[Spikesgirl]

thank you, Beachchick - absolutely, slow down and enjoy what you see at VNP - or indeed all of the islands. So many tourists try to cram so much into their schedules that they get home and have to remember what they've seen from photos.

 

Take your time, enjoy the park. If you like what you see, come back. Puna will still be there.

 

Do get out and walk. Don't just see the park from a car. Hear the crunk of lava under your feet, smell the air and listen to the wind. Don't just see the park, experience it.

 

Charlie