Rangitoto Island
New Zealand's youngest volcano, risen from the sea six hundred years ago, thirty minutes by ferry.
Duration
5 hrs – 7 hrs
Difficulty
●●○○○
Best time
First ferry of the day
Open
Every day
Entry price
To confirm
Rangitoto rose from the sea around six hundred years ago, making it New Zealand's youngest volcano: Māori living on neighbouring Motutapu saw the eruption, and their footprints have been found in the ash.
Its surface is raw lava field where almost nothing grows, except pōhutukawa rooting straight into the rock — the largest forest of that species in the world. The summit is an hour's climb, and the view covers the whole Hauraki Gulf.
Getting there
Ferry from the Downtown Auckland terminal, twenty-five minutes. The last boat back is final, and there is nothing on the island.
What the price covers
the island is a free public park; only the ferry costs money
What to bring
- 1.5 L of water
- Board
Rules on site
No shops, no drinking water and no accommodation on the island: bring everything, including two litres of water. The island is a predator-free reserve — shoes and bags are checked before boarding to keep seeds and rodents out.
