Auckland, North Island – We made it!
Must. Avoid. Jetlag. So we headed for Rangitoto and Motutapu Islands, a short scenic ferry ride from Auckland. Rangitoto is the youngest volcanic island in New Zealand’s Hauraki Gulf; it’s distinctive cone can be seen from downtown Auckland.
There are 2 ways to explore the island: you can a book a 4WD road-train tour which lasts about 4 hours or you can do a self-guided hiking tour. As we both love to wander, we chose the latter. I absolutely recommend hiking to the summit which takes about an hour at a pretty leisurely pace. When you reach the top, you get a spectacular 360 view of the Auckland skyline and harbor along with the surrounding volcanic islands (unfortunately it was a little foggy and overcast the day we went).
We stopped and did a quick loop through the lava caves as well which were definitely worth the detour. After several hours exploring Rangitoto and the neighboring island Motutapu, it was back to Auckland for some grub and a good night’s sleep. Overall, for a cheap and fun half or full day trip from Auckland, Rangitoto Island should make the top of your list. With no permanent inhabitants, it provides a stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of the city – just rugged lava fields, over 200 species of native flora and fauna, beautiful sandy coves, and you.
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