A Canoe in the Mist by Elsie Locke

Set in 1886, Lillian lives with her mother on the shores of Lake Rotomahana. She becomes friends with eleven old English tourist, Mattie and accompanies her on a boat to visit the famed Pink and White Terraces. They see a mysterious waka through the mist as they cross Lake Tarawera and begin to feel uneasy after hearing an elderly tohunga predict doom and disaster. That day they marvelled at the breath taking sights, little realizing that a night of fear and utter destruction would follow with the eruption of Mt Tarawera. I thoroughly enjoyed this read having being told of the beauty of this tourist attraction as a child by my grandparents. Remember thinking then as I still do, how marvellous it would have been to see them.
Elsie Locke's story is based on historical fact and the people in her story - the hotelkeepers, storekeepers, schoolmaster, Guide Sophia and Maori chiefs -were real people.