Tramp Reflections 814 - Rangitoto Island

3 May 2009

We had a great response to the trip, 24 of us. All went according to plan and we set off on time. The weather being a cool start but it was very clear and still. We had a trouble free trip to Auckland and made it in plenty of time to the ferry. The ferry was very full it went unnoticed that only 23 of our group were aboard the first ferry until it was announced over the boat’s intercom that we had a member missing and she would be arriving on the next ferry, fifteen minutes later.

Once we were all there, we split into two groups and set off on separate paths to meet at the summit for lunch. The tracks, being scoria, attracted the heat so it was not long before we were feeling the warmth of the day. Our group headed off on the main summit track. We made the odd stop at different look-outs on the way, before reaching the summit. We took the 15 min track to the lava caves and most people went through the first cave and then we did the loop through the second cave. Both were very interesting. We then headed off towards the summit, firstly coming to the crater then taking a short but extremely scenic walk around and then to the summit. The weather was so perfect that the views around the Auckland Harbour were awesome and once at the top we could see for miles.

After lunch both groups once again headed off on different routes. We descended many stairs and after about an hour of walking we came to McKenzie bay where we sat and just took in the warmth and scenery, then headed back for about an hour’s walk to the wharf where we waited for the ferry to take us back. It wasn’t a hard day but very social and for the few new people, it would have been a good introduction to the club. A great day and well worth the trip.

Sue Kempthorne

Photographs by Sue Kempthorne (Panasonic DMC-TZ15).