Rangitoto Island: Places to go in Auckland

Introduction

Emerging from the sea just 600 years ago, pest-free Rangitoto Island is the youngest volcano in New Zealand. An Auckland icon and deeply enriched with history, it's long been a favourite day trip for walkers, and a much loved boating destination.

Video

Brochures

Map of Rangitoto Island (PDF, 183 K)

Find things to do and places to stay

Rangitoto Island

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Walking and tramping

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3 results for walking and tramping tracks

Rangitoto Island longer walks

Explore Rangitoto Island Scenic Reserve on these longer walks. Walk around the coast of Rangitoto, to adjoining Motutapu Island, or continue on from the summit to Islington Bay.

Duration:1 hr to 3 hr 45 min

Difficulty:Easy

Rangitoto Island shorter walks

Take a short walk around Rangitoto Island Scenic Reserve. Stroll through a kowahi grove or glen of kidney ferns, or walk along the coast to a gull breeding colony.

Duration:Under 1 hr return

Difficulty:Easy

Rangitoto Summit Track

A steady climb through pōhutukawa forest and lava fields, with panoramic views of Auckland and the Hauraki Gulf from the summit of this volcanic island.

Duration:2 hr return

Difficulty:Easy

Bird and wildlife watching

Look out for saddleback/tieke, whitehead/popokatea, kaka, NZ parakeet/kakariki, tui, bellbird/korimako and tomtit/miromiro in the forest around the cone and crater on Rangitoto.

Flax Point, a 30 minute walk from Rangitoto Wharf, is a good place for spotting NZ dotterels/tuturiwhatu and gulls. You may also see native skinks basking on the rocks.

Boating

Rangitoto is a popular destination for boaties. Boats can be landed at the Rangitoto or Islington Bay wharves. Small boats can also be landed at the beach at Islington Bay (on Motutapu Island - walk across the causeway to Rangitoto), and this bay also provides a sheltered anchorage.

Diving and snorkelling

Wreck Bay on Rangitoto’s northern coast is a good spot for diving or snorkelling. It was once used as a “ship graveyard”, a dumping ground for obsolete ships - at least 13 ships were dumped in and around Wreck Bay between 1887 and 1947. Some of the wreckage is just offshore and attracts a variety of marine life.

To get to Wreck Bay take the Wreck Bay Track from Islington Bay Road.

Fishing

You can fish off the rocks anywhere round the island’s rugged coastline.

Kayaking and canoeing

Rangitoto is accessible to experienced kayakers. It takes about 2 hours to kayak to Rangitoto Wharf from the mainland. You can also kayak to Rangitoto from the nearby islands of Motutapu or Motuihe, or as part of a tour of the islands of the Hauraki Gulf.

There are commercial operators that offer guided kayak tours and kayak rentals for Rangitoto.

Transport

Fullers Group

Regular ferry service to Rangitoto Island and guided tours of the island.

www.fullers.co.nz

Activities: Boating

Services: Transport; Guided activities and tours

Equipment rental

Auckland Sea Kayaks

Independent rentals and guided kayaking tours including overnight camping in and around the Hauraki Gulf.

www.aucklandseakayaks.co.nz

Activities: Kayaking and canoeing

Services: Equipment rental; Guided activities and tours

Facilities

Rangitoto Island Historic Conservation Trust

Guided walks, museum and shop on Rangitoto Island.

www.rangitoto.org

Services: Facilities; Guided activities and tours

Guided activities and tours

Fullers Group

Regular ferry service to Rangitoto Island and guided tours of the island.

www.fullers.co.nz

Activities: Boating

Services: Transport; Guided activities and tours

Fergs Kayaks

Guided walk on Rangitoto Island as part of kayaking tour.

www.fergskayaks.co.nz

Activities: Kayaking and canoeing

Services: Guided activities and tours

Antipodes Travel Ltd

Tailor-made tours for independent travellers or group tours within New Zealand. Guided walks for the Tongariro Alpine Crossing in Tongariro National Park and Queen Charlotte in Marlborough.

www.antipodes-travel.com

Activities: Walking and tramping

Services: Guided activities and tours

Auckland Sea Kayaks

Independent rentals and guided kayaking tours including overnight camping in and around the Hauraki Gulf.

www.aucklandseakayaks.co.nz

Activities: Kayaking and canoeing

Services: Equipment rental; Guided activities and tours

Rangitoto Island Historic Conservation Trust

Guided walks, museum and shop on Rangitoto Island.

www.rangitoto.org

Services: Facilities; Guided activities and tours

Places to go

See the classic kiwi holiday baches (around 30) that remain on Rangitoto Island today, largely unchanged since the 1930s. Many of the baches can be seen by taking the track from Rangitoto Wharf to Flax Point. Bach 38, adjacent to Rangitoto Wharf, has been turned into a museum about the history of this unique piece of kiwiana.

Find out more about Rangitoto Island bachs and the Bach 38 museum.

Getting there

Rangitoto Island is in the Hauraki Gulf close to Auckland city.

There are two wharves – Rangitoto Wharf, serviced by public ferries; and Islington Bay Wharf, a popular anchorage for private boats. Private boats may use the wharves for loading and unloading passengers only.

You can take a public passenger ferry or charter. Ferry timetable and fares.

Staying overnight

Three historic baches are available to rent. Bach 78 and Bach 114 are located at Islington Bay and Bach 52 is located at Rangitoto Wharf. More about staying overnight.

Find authorised transport operators to this island.

Rangitoto is also accessible to experienced kayakers. It takes around two hours to kayak to Rangitoto Wharf from the Auckland's North Shore.

Know before you go

Be prepared when visiting Rangitoto Island

Bring your own food and water. There are no shops on the island.
Wear sturdy walking shoes that can cope with the rugged lava surfaces.
Wear sunscreen and a hat. The heat reflecting off the ground can be intense.

Wasp presence increases over the warmer months. If you have an allergy to wasp stings make sure you have appropriate medications to deal with any reactions.

There is a total fire ban on Rangitoto Island.

All access to the controlled mine base is not allowed until further notice. This is because there's asbestos at the site.

Take care not to miss your ferry. There is no overnight accommodation and alternative transport back to the mainland is expensive.

Rules for the Hauraki Gulf Maritime Park

Fires and portable barbeques are not allowed.
Take your rubbish with you – there are no rubbish bins.
Some activities such as weddings need a permit.
No camping.

These are part of the Hauraki Gulf Maritime Park by-laws. Read the full by-laws.

All drone use must be authorised by DOC

You must have a permit to fly a drone on public conservation land.

Visit our Drone use on conservation land page for more information.

Nature and conservation

Rangitoto Island is known for its contrasting rugged lava terrain and abundant native plant life. It has the largest pōhutukawa forest in the world, and is a safe haven for endangered native birds. Read about nature and conservation on Rangitoto Island.

History and culture

Rangitoto Island is one of the youngest land masses in the Hauraki Gulf/Tīkapa Moana, but it has a long human history. Read the Māori and European history of Rangitoto Island.

From 1935-1957, it was also considered a prime location for military operations as it sits between both channel approaches to Auckland Harbour. Read about the military defences on Rangitoto Island

No dogs allowed

To protect our native wildlife, dogs are not allowed anywhere in this place.

Check you are pest-free

Check, clean, and seal your gear to ensure you don't bring pests, soil, and seeds.

See island biosecurity requirements.

Rangitoto Island

Introduction

Video

Brochures

Find things to do and places to stay

Walking and tramping

Rangitoto Island longer walks

Rangitoto Island shorter walks

Rangitoto Summit Track

Bird and wildlife watching

Boating

Diving and snorkelling

Fishing

Kayaking and canoeing

Transport

Fullers Group

Equipment rental

Auckland Sea Kayaks

Facilities

Rangitoto Island Historic Conservation Trust

Guided activities and tours

Fullers Group

Fergs Kayaks

Antipodes Travel Ltd

Auckland Sea Kayaks

Rangitoto Island Historic Conservation Trust

Places to go

Getting there

Staying overnight

Know before you go

Be prepared when visiting Rangitoto Island

Rules for the Hauraki Gulf Maritime Park

All drone use must be authorised by DOC

Nature and conservation

History and culture

No dogs allowed

Check you are pest-free

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