Rangitoto Island's Volcanic Story

Rangitoto Island is a symmetrical shield volcano reaching 260 metres high.

Rangitoto Island sits in the Hauraki Gulf near Auckland, New Zealand.

The 5.5 kilometre wide island covers 2,311 hectares total.

Rangitoto is the youngest of approximately 50 Auckland volcanoes.

The volcano erupted about 600 years ago.

A causeway links Rangitoto to the older Motutapu Island.

Visitors walk through lava tubes formed by cooling pāhoehoe flows.

The longest known cave stretches about 120 metres long.

More than 40 types of ferns grow across the island.

Several species of orchid thrive on Rangitoto Island.

Prison labour built roads and a summit track from 1925.

Rangitoto remains a perfectly symmetrical volcanic cone in the gulf.