Simple BeautyBeginner - Intermediate

Description

This route is a simple beginner's introduction to Rangitoto that takes you through the most beautiful glades on the island while including a summit, and minimising time on the vehicle tracks.

From the starting point, follow the Summit Track. After exactly a mile you'll branch onto Wilson's Park track on the left. There's a small bit of technical running here across scoria although this eases. After another mile on the track you'll come to down a short series of steps to a vehicle road which you follow uphill to you right. After a couple of hundred meters this reaches a clearing where the road descends in front of you. To the slight right is access to a boardwalk, and further to the right of that access to another track. Take this track which will lead you up the steepest section of this route to the summit rim and keeping right the whole way you will eventually reach the summit trig and viewing platform where you can stop to take in the view, water, and food!

Crossing the platform, descend the stairs until you come to another junction with trails to the left and right, and directly ahead a boardwalk that you'll descend. This will take you back to where you started the summit ascent from the vehicle road. You'll now follow the vehicle track to your right down the hill - but don't get too carried away with a fast descent, as in 400m there's a branch track to your right you'll be taking.

Follow this narrow rocky track for another 400 meters, until you come to join a wider gladed track. To your left (not included in the route plot) is a small there-and-back diversion option to the lava caves. Taking the right will lead you to a large glade, and taking the trail off this to the left will lead you back down the summit track and past where you entered Wilson's Park Track. Follow the summit track down back downhill towards the start. Near there a track is marked on the right for Kowhai Grove - follow this until you come to a vehicle track, then take a left and you have a short section of road to the end.

Features of interest

Emerging from the sea just 600 years ago, pest-free Rangitoto Island is the youngest volcano in New Zealand. An Auckland icon and deeply enriched with history, it's long been a favourite day trip for walkers. Experience a unique volcanic landscape amongst tui and tieke (saddleback).

Make Up of Run

Moderate Single Track: 20%

Easy Single Track: 72%

Farm Road / 4WD Track: 8%

Route Data