Rangitoto Island Things to Do

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If you have a half day on Rangitoto, you must do the summit climb. It takes anywhere from 35 minutes (me) to an hour or more (most people) to get from the ferry terminal to the top. Once there, you will find benches on which to rest and eat your snack or lunch, and from where to admire the 360 degree views all around.

Fullers Ferries also operate a tractor 'train' ride to the summit, if you're unable to walk to summit or just too damn lazy. Ask at the Fullers Ferries office at the ferry quay for details.

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There are a number of lava caves on Rangitoto, which you will come across during your walk (I think you will miss them entirely if you take the tractor-train). The caves are not deep - some are simply shallow caverns in the lava, while others are natural tunnels formed by the lava flows. The tunnels are very dark! I was only persuaded to continue through one in pitch darkness by the friendly encouragement of some other walkers who had established that after a bit there was in fact daylight at the other end. You do need to take care in the tunnels, because it would be so easy to twist an ankle on the rocky lava floors. However, they are fun to explore, so tread carefully and go for it!

The Hauraki Gulf has more than 1,500 sq. nautical miles of cruising and has been the perfect venue for the America's Cup yacht race.

There are many sheltered anchorages and deserted beaches around the numerous islands.

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In the 1920's and 1930's, three 'bach' communities were developed on Rangitoto Island at Rangitoto Wharf, Islington Bay and Beacon End. The baches were comprised of private weekend or holiday cottages, bungalows, and boatsheds. Built by families during the Depression, the architecture of the baches shows how the people made do with what they had, and cobbled together comfortable and sometimes unique buildings out of both materials brought from the mainland and those found on the beaches.

In 1937, further building of holiday homes was prohibited on the island and most of the baches remaining today reflect the era in which they were originally built. A historical society is working on preserving the baches of Rangitoto for their architectural and social significance. Please respect the volunteer work that they are doing, and do not damage or take anything from the buildings on the island.

The island is fairly unique because its quite symmetrical in shape. It has become a local icon to Aucklanders. The Island is right at the entrance to the Waitemata Harbour . The distinctive shape can be seen all over Auckland.

The Crown purchased Rangitoto in 1854 and it was designated a public domain in 1890. During the 1920s and 1930s prisoners built the stone walls, handpacked roads and trails on the island. Some of the Bach sites which were built and leased to help pay for island developments. Are now preserved as historic buildings. During World War II there were extensive defence installations on the island which including a fire command post on the summit.

As you tour back down the island you will drive past bare lava fields, lava caves, pillars and tunnels and different types of lava flows which are remnants of the Islands volcanic activity.

Amazingly even with these seemingly barren areas, the island hosts over 200 species of native trees and flowering plants. There are more than 40 kinds of fern and several types of orchid – all seem to have adopted strange behaviours because of the unusual conditions

The Hauraki Gulf Marine Park is considered to be one of the most biologically and geographically diverse marine parks in the world.

Rangitoto is just one of the 48 islands within the park which is administered by the Department of Conservation.