Rangitoto Island

Rangitoto is a volcanic island in the Hauraki Gulf, a short ferry ride from downtown Auckland, and climbing it is one of the most rewarding half-day trips from the city. It is the youngest and largest of the roughly 50 volcanoes in the Auckland volcanic field, formed in eruptions around 1450 and 1500 CE, only about 600 years ago. The summit stands at 260 metres, and the island covers more than 2,300 hectares.

Fullers360 runs regular passenger ferries from the downtown ferry terminal to Rangitoto Wharf. From the wharf, the most direct route to the summit is 2.4 kilometres, about an hour's walk, crossing raw black lava fields and then climbing through forest before a final boardwalk of around 300 steps. The views from the top take in the city, the harbour and the Hauraki Gulf. A land train, timed to meet the ferries, offers a less strenuous way to get close to the summit.

Two lava tubes lie about 200 metres from the summit on the eastern side; the longest known is around 120 metres, so bring a torch if you want to explore. The island also has what is described as the largest pōhutukawa forest in the world, along with many northern rātā, more than 200 species of trees and flowering plants and more than 40 kinds of fern. A causeway built during the Second World War links Rangitoto to neighbouring Motutapu Island.

Preparation matters. There are no shops and no rubbish bins, so bring your own food and water and take your rubbish home. Wear sturdy shoes for the rough lava surfaces and take sunscreen and a hat, as the black rock radiates heat on sunny days. Wasps are more common in the warmer months. There is a total fire ban, camping is not allowed and dogs are not permitted. Above all, do not miss the last ferry back, as alternative transport to the mainland is expensive.

The island is a Department of Conservation reserve managed in partnership with Ngāi Tai and Ngāti Paoa, and Rangitoto and Motutapu were declared pest-free in 2011. Around 30 of the holiday baches built in the 1920s and 1930s survive, and three historic baches can be rented overnight. Allow four to five hours for a return trip including the summit walk, and check the ferry timetable before you set out.