Rangitoto Island in Auckland

  -   Location: Hauraki Gulf, Auckland 1020, New Zealand
  -   Phone Number: +64 9 379 6476 (Department of Conservation Visitor Centre)

You must visit Rangitoto Island in Auckland, the largest and youngest volcano of 48 volcanoes in the Auckland Volcanic Field If you stand on the top of Rangitoto Island in Auckland, you will get spectacular views of Kawau Island on the north and Great Barrier and Little Barrier on the north-east. Located in the Hauraki Gulf, you can reach the place via Fullers Ferry services. You can also spot Rangitoto Island in Auckland at a height of 850 feet from the city. It is the most recent and the largest of the approximately. There is a central crater which you can see from the summit.

History says that Rangitoto Island flared up about 600 years ago and the present state was the result of series of such volcanic eruptions. If you visit it today in Auckland in New Zealand, you will find it filled with bushes and shrubs interspersed with barren lava flows. The original name of Rangitoto Island in Auckland is Nga Rangi-i-totongia-a Tama-te-kapua meaning the days of the bleeding of Tama-te-kapua, the captain of the Arawa canoe, who was badly wounded on the island.

Rangitoto Island in Auckland still contains remnants of WW II sites which sheltered U.S. troops or mines. You can visit the old observation post on the top top. Interestingly enough, even today during tide, you can spot the ruins of wrecking grounds for which the northern side of the island was used.

Rangitoto Island in Auckland is devoid of any waterbody and you will find strange species of plants dependent on rainfall. There are kidney fern and a dense forest of cross-bred p?hutukawa and rata trees dotted with some spots where lightweight, clinker-like black lava stones can be seen bare.