Rangitoto Island

---

We're finally here in Auckland! After the loooong flight from Los Angeles, we got our rental car and made it downtown by 8:30 this morning. Our hotel is right next to the Ferry Building, so we walked over and got tickets for the Fuller's volcanic tour of Rangitoto Island. Rangitoto Island - from the Maori words Rangi (sky) and toto (blood red) - was created by an undersea volcanic eruption about 700 years ago. The island is made of black volcanic rock, onto which a number of plant and bird species have migrated and managed to survive. Our tour included a ferry ride over to Rangitoto and a tram up the mountain, leaving us to climb the last few hundred feet to the crater and summit.

We'd planned to take the 12:15 tour, but it turned out the next tour was at 9:15 and they'd given us tickets for that. We debated trading them in but decided that since we were there, we might as well go. A very good decision - what a great way to shake off the jet lag and breathe some fresh air! The plants and views were beautiful, the hike refreshing, the volcanic rocks fascinating, the bird songs soothing. It started to rain a bit during our hike, more of a drizzle than anything really. After a nice ride around the back of the mountain we caught the ferry back to Auckland. Then it was off to Wagamama (yummy Asian food) for lunch.

After that, Ben and Gary took a nap to catch up on the sleep they'd missed during the flight over. Rich and I were strangely able to sleep 6-7 hours on the plane, so we took a walk over to Victoria Park, then sat and had some coffee at Esquires for a bit (mmm - chai tea latte with cinnamon on top...). It was amusing to watch the war of wills between a small bird who kept flying into the coffee shop to bounce around looking for food, and the manager who kept walking over and shooing the bird, and closing various doors/windows to try and keep the bird out. Then it was back to home base for a quick dinner and a good night's sleep in a real bed.

So far, so good! Oh, except that the Star Mart around the corner didn't have banana cake with chocolate frosting, which I fondly remember from our last visit. It will be mine - oh yes, it will be mine.

---

Photos

On the ferry
Ben, Mike (in foreground) and Gary on the ferry to Rangitoto.

Rich on the rocks
Rich in the middle of a volcanic wasteland

Kidney Fern
One of the hardy plant species on Rangitoto who manage to survive with no soil.

The Descent
Ben, followed by Mike and Gary make the descent from the Rangitoto summit.

Rocks and towers
Auckland CBD as seen from the craggy shoreline of Rangitoto Island.

Mike and Rangitoto
Back at the hotel, Mike enjoys the view with Rangitoto Island in the distance. Hard to believe we were just at the top of that a couple of hours ago!

Comments

[Sandy]

Volcano...
Mmm... volcanic wasteland...

[jenny]

yowzaa!!!!!
wow-you are hardy souls to climb all that right after such a long trip! but, you were right-it is beautiful-I love that you're sharing it with us! It's semi, not really, but like, being there!?!?!? hahahaha

[Brian]

birds
What you need -- and I saw this Friday -- is just a sign that says "No Birds Allowed" I didn't see any birds in the restaurant I was in. :-)

[The Carolyn]

Kidney Plant
I like the kidney plant picture -- it looks like something that would grow in the ocean or somethin'