Rangitoto Island

Take a ferry from the Devonport Wharf or the Ferry Terminal in Quay St, downtown Auckland for about $20NZ. I lived near the Devonport Wharf and to make this trip perfect I recommend having breakfast in Devonport and exploring the shops before catching the ferry. There is nothing except a toilet Rangitoto Island so take a backpack with water bottles, snacks and anything else you might need. I recommend a picnic lunch after you've hiked up and down the volcano before catching the ferry back. You can choose different hikes, some longer and harder than the others.

This is a great 1/2 day trip on a sunny day. We hiked to the top of the volcano rim, walking over chunks of volcanic rock on the way. Wear tennis shoes. I didn't go into the caves, but bring a flashlight to do this.

The views are breathtaking!!

The best time to go is in December, when the Pohutukawa are in bloom, covering the island in red flowers. I went in May but plan to make it back sometime in December.

And don't worry, the volcano hasn't erupted in 600 years and is considered dormant.