smrtypnts Posted October 31, 2007 #1 Share Posted October 31, 2007 On the day we dock in Hilo I want to go to VNP. But I also want to do a heli or plane ride over the volcano and then head to the black sand beach. So my question is: On the day we dock in Kona can we rent a car, drive across the island and do the heli ride and then veg on the beach or is it too far of a drive to do that and I'm being totally unreasonable? And, if it is not smart, would you choose VNP or the heli ride and the beach, assuming you don't mind the heli ride? Thanks, as always! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
claudiamcf Posted October 31, 2007 #2 Share Posted October 31, 2007 I recently queried about seeing Volcano National Park by driving from kona and got responses in this thread. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=642825 It seems doable if you leave early. If you go after all the construction on Saddleback is done, it will probably be a lot faster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RSWBADGER Posted October 31, 2007 #3 Share Posted October 31, 2007 On the day we dock in Hilo I want to go to VNP. But I also want to do a heli or plane ride over the volcano and then head to the black sand beach. So my question is: On the day we dock in Kona can we rent a car, drive across the island and do the heli ride and then veg on the beach or is it too far of a drive to do that and I'm being totally unreasonable? And, if it is not smart, would you choose VNP or the heli ride and the beach, assuming you don't mind the heli ride? Thanks, as always! A 25 minute drive on the Kohala Coast, enjoy the beaches at the Marriott Waikloa Beach afterwards. http://www.bluehawaiian.com/bigisland/tours/big_island_spectacular/ http://www.bluehawaiian.com/getFile.php?i=161 Located at the corner of Highway 19 & Waikoloa Road. Leaving Kona Airport, turn left onto Highway 19. After you pass the entrance to Waikoloa Beach Resort on your left, take the next right onto Waikoloa Road, then immediately right onto the access road. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spleenstomper Posted October 31, 2007 #4 Share Posted October 31, 2007 As an aside, I really regret not going to the seahorse farm, which I believe is near Kona. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
princessebird Posted October 31, 2007 #5 Share Posted October 31, 2007 We did a 10am heli out of Hilo and then did a relatively fast self-driving tour of VNP. We had plenty of time for that, but I am not sure we would have had time to go to a beach also. As a side note, Blue Hawaiian helicopters also do volcano tours out of Kona. They are twice as expensive as the ones out of Hilo, but they are also more than twice as long. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smrtypnts Posted October 31, 2007 Author #6 Share Posted October 31, 2007 We did a 10am heli out of Hilo and then did a relatively fast self-driving tour of VNP. We had plenty of time for that, but I am not sure we would have had time to go to a beach also. As a side note, Blue Hawaiian helicopters also do volcano tours out of Kona. They are twice as expensive as the ones out of Hilo, but they are also more than twice as long. Yeah, the twice as expensive is definitely part of the problem. Plus, I don't really want to be rushed through VNP. Thanks to everyone who's replied so far.:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rubinstein2r Posted November 1, 2007 #7 Share Posted November 1, 2007 We're on PoAm 12/15 and have a res for an 11 am heli with Blue Hawaiian. (The 10am is booked with NCL tour people and we save bucks by booking our own at 11.) We plan to then drive to VNP for an on-our-own drive through. I'm planning to bring a picnic lunch and it seems to me we'll have enough time not to see everything but to see enough while also having the thrill (and lava view) from the heli. --My_AZ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whale-watcher Posted November 1, 2007 #8 Share Posted November 1, 2007 We opted for a full day in VNP, and the heli ride out of Kona....I initially thought we would try to do both out of Hilo, but I really don't want to short change our ground time at VNP, and would rather cut into our kona time.... More expensive, but this might be a once in a lifetime experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachchick Posted November 1, 2007 #9 Share Posted November 1, 2007 If you don't want to be rushed at VNP, you must plan to skip Punalu'u black sand beach. We'd skip the helicopter too simply because you can easily spend the full day at VNP and still not see everything. If you do the helicopter, do it first thing and then head straight to VNP. As always, JMO. beachchick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smrtypnts Posted November 1, 2007 Author #10 Share Posted November 1, 2007 I don't want to be rushed. That's why I was hoping for the heli tour and Beach the day we dock in Kona. I haven't decided how I'm going to proceed forward on this one. :rolleyes: :confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whale-watcher Posted November 1, 2007 #11 Share Posted November 1, 2007 I don't want to be rushed. That's why I was hoping for the heli tour and Beach the day we dock in Kona. I haven't decided how I'm going to proceed forward on this one. :rolleyes: :confused:It was a tough decision for us as well. We really wanted to do a lava flyover, but did not want to limit our time in VNP with SO much to do and see. It is much more expensive to do the heli from kona, but this will allow us to have the best of both worlds. Some one did post photos from a big island spectacular heli trip from Kona, and the extra time in the air includes some spectacular coastal flyovers with waterfalls...so it should be a great trip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whale-watcher Posted November 2, 2007 #12 Share Posted November 2, 2007 I found the thread that has the pictures taken from a blue hawaiian helicopter tour out of kona: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=373020&highlight=helicopter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smrtypnts Posted November 2, 2007 Author #13 Share Posted November 2, 2007 I found the thread that has the pictures taken from a blue hawaiian helicopter tour out of kona: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=373020&highlight=helicopter Thank you!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.