Rangitoto Island

Around 600 years ago, Rangitoto Island erupted beneath the ocean in a flurry of hot ash, rising to claim its seat as an icon of Auckland. It has been a battlefield for opposing iwi (tribes), a burial ground for neighbouring Motutapu Island residents, a Victorian picnic spot, and a Second World War lookout. Today, it sits quietly, dominating the horizon with the promise of opportunity: see the city from the other side, explore lava caves, and wander the country’s largest pōhutukawa forest. 

A must-do for a day trip to Rangitoto is the Summit Track. Lace up a clean pair of walking boots and climb well-formed paths through lava fields and pōhutukawa forest, where you’ll likely spot saddleback/tieke, whitehead/popokatea, and NZ parakeet/kakariki. An hour later, stop for lunch overlooking panoramic views of Auckland and the Hauraki Gulf.  

Walk the rim of the crater, head 15-minutes away to the twisting tunnels of lava caves, or begin your descent. If you’re bubbling with excitement at the thought of lava caves, pack torches to get a good look – iron and sulphur stain the walls with fluorescent shades of yellow, orange and purple.  

For the beach dwellers, the two-and-a-half hour Lighthouse Walk winds along the coast to the sandy shores of Mackenzie Bay. Or, head to Islington Bay along a coastal path passing boatsheds and baches, old quarry sites and wartime storage bases. From here, cross the causeway to Motutapu Island and camp under the stars at Home Bay, bookable on the Department of Conservation website. 

Explore the underwater world where Rangitoto once lived. Take the Wreck Bay Track from Islington Bay road for an unforgettable diving or snorkelling experience. At least 13 shipwrecks hide here, now filled with resident marine life.