Rangitoto Island
Ferry departs from Auckland Ferry Terminal, 99 Quay Street
About
Rangitoto is Auckland's youngest volcano, roughly 600 years old, and its symmetrical cone is the shape on the horizon from most of the city's east-facing beaches. Ferries run from downtown and the crossing takes about twenty-five minutes. The summit walk is around an hour each way over rough lava rock, with a boardwalk section and a detour through lava caves if you bring a torch. The view from the top takes in the whole gulf and the city skyline. Two things to plan for. There is no shop, no cafe and no drinking water on the island, so carry everything you need, and the ferry timetable is the hard constraint on your day. Wear proper shoes, the lava is sharp and uneven. The island is predator-free, so leave no food waste behind.