Rangitoto Island highlights

Rangitoto Island is Auckland’s youngest and largest volcanic cone, rising 260 meters above the Hauraki Gulf. Formed approximately 600 years ago, its rugged basaltic landscape supports the world's largest pohutukawa forest. This guide covers the central volcanic crater and specific coastal locations used as nesting grounds by native seafowl, including black-backed gulls. These sites offer insight into the island's unique geological formation and its role as a protected sanctuary for New Zealand birdlife.