After  a long hard slog up the 300 steps, with more people coming up behind us and lots going down, Gaal and I finally made it to the top, where Peter and Zoe had finished their lunch. Gaal and I sat down (my first sit since leaving the ferry) and ate our lunch and had some water to drink (which we carried up). We also applied more sunscreen. Peter and Zoe walked around the rim of the volcano while we did that.

We then took lots of photos before heading down.

Two views from the boardwalk. The top one is of the adjacent (joined by a causeway) Motutapu Island and the bottom one is of nearby Motuihe Island.

 

 

 

The top picture is of a lava field. The bottom picture is of the boardwalk. It is not as close as it looks as I zoomed in on it. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After applying lots of sunscreen we set off up the road. It was not a steep climb at this stage. Peter and Zoe were looking at some of the old baches while Gaal and I plodded up the road, since we are slower than they are. We were passing through lots of lava fields. I zoomed in on the board walk as we were going up. (Photo later of the lava fields and the board walk).

P & Z soon passed us and we kept going, in hot sunshine with little shade. Many people were passing us. Eventually we reached the board walk going up to the top. According to the map it is a 20 min walk up the board walk. Huh!!! The map also says there are about 300 steps. I can well believe that. At least we were in shade.

There were several places with good views, so a good excuse to stop and take photos.

 

      This is one of the few remaining baches on the Island, in Islington Bay, just opposite the wharf.

RangitotoClimb2012

On 31 December 2012 I had the alarm set for 6.00 a.m. but woke at 5.00 so got up at 5.15.  My son Peter and his friend Gaal arrived at 7.15 and after unloading some of their camping stuff into my basement for safe-keeping we set off at 7.35.

We picked up Zoe in Papakura at 8.00 and drove through to Auckland and over the Harbour Bridge to Devonport where there is free all-day parking for ferry users. We had plenty of time to buy our ferry tickets for Rangitoto, before the ferry arrived to pick us up at 9.30. 

Due to the heavy swell the ferry didnt take us in to the Rangitoto wharf which is the usual starting point for the climb (also shorter and shadier) but took us to Islington Bay.