Rangitoto Island

Rangitoto Island (Rangitoto Wharf / Summit)

A 600-year-old volcano island, up black lava to the crater

⚠ No shops; bring water

Hours

Island always open; in practice you're tied to the ferry timetable (a few sailings a day, seasonal)

Tickets

Island free. Fullers360 ferry: booking sites in early 2026 listed adults NZ$30, ages 5–15 NZ$13, under 5 free (one-way vs return unclear; check the official site)

Address

The volcanic island northeast of the city; about an hour's walk from the wharf to the summit (around 260 m)

That symmetrical island you see from all over Auckland rose from the sea about 600 years ago, the youngest volcano in New Zealand. From the wharf a path climbs through sharp black lava fields with pōhutukawa forest growing out of the rubble, reaching the summit crater in about an hour. Up top it's 360 degrees of city skyline and Hauraki Gulf islands. On the way down, torch-lit crawls through the lava caves are a hit with kids.